By: Ami Everett
We gave our Gear Lovers one job:
Find the best and most popular products and review them.
Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews.
There is a lot to consider when buying a new mask—fit, price, style, and whether or not you want treated lenses are just a few of the factors. Treated lenses are typically designed to either protect your eyes or to enhance colors underwater. The TUSA Paragon mask does both.
This mask features CrystalView optical glass and anti-reflective treatment, which lets in more light to increase the clarity and vibrancy of colors underwater. In addition, the Paragon’s lenses are treated with UV 420 protection, which guards against not only harmful ultraviolet light, but also High-Energy Visible (HEV) light, thought to cause retinal damage.
The TUSA Paragon mask was designed for professional divers and underwater photographers. However, the Paragon may also be a good fit for frequent divers or those who want a little extra when it comes to mask performance and visibility. The Paragon is also compatible with corrective lenses.
Let’s dive in to see if the TUSA Paragon mask is right for you.
Our Overall Review
We have thoroughly tested - and read reviews from other experts and users. In summary, this is what we think:
Things we like:
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Professional look of the mask -
Comfortable skirt
-
UV protection
-
Ability to add corrective lens
-
Five-angle strap adjuster allows diver to easily adjust strap position on head
-
Anti-reflective lens
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Easy to tighten or loosen strap
-
Comes in multiple colors
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Excellent for both diving and snorkeling
Things we don't like:
Wide skirt may come up to the hairline for some divers- Deep frame and lens shape traps water at bottom of mask and can be difficult to clear
- Does not have built-in anti-fog technology
- Pricey
Wide skirt may come up to the hairline for some diversSpecs & Features
- Tri-mix frame
- Dual lens
- UV 420 lens treatment
- Anti-reflective lens treatment
- CrystalView glass
- Angle strap adjuster with side hold assist
- Quick-Adjust Buckle system
- Round Edge silicone skirt
- 3-D silicone mask strap
- Corrective lens compatible
Paragon Features
TUSA has been manufacturing some of the world’s top dive gear since 1952, when the company began by hand-making dive masks out of a garage. Since then, TUSA has gone on to create high-quality dive gear for both professional and recreational divers. The TUSA Paragon mask is a great example of TUSA’s innovation.
This mask features TUSA’s Anti-Reflective (A/R) Lens Treatment to decrease reflected light and CrystalView Optical Glass lenses, which improve both clarity and color while diving. By transmitting up to 95% of available light, the Paragon mask gives its divers a crisp view of colorful marine life, corals, and sponges.
In addition to its sleek design, the TUSA Paragon was created to be durable. The Tri-Mix Frame, consisting of a protective bumper and metal frame, increases the toughness of this mask, which will help it last for years.
See the World in High Definition
The TUSA Paragon is considered a treated-lens mask, meaning that it has a protective coating that reduces glare and shields the eyes from harmful light. Because of this coating, the Paragon’s lenses are reflective—which makes this mask look super sleek and professional on any diver.
The Paragon protects the eyes from harmful light through a UV 420 protective treatment. Unlike other treated masks, which only protect against UV light, the Paragon protects against UV-A, UV-B, and High-Energy Visible (HEV) Light. Pair this protection with the anti-reflective treatment and you’ll no longer be squinting while diving in full sun.
As divers, we learn that water absorbs light, making colors appear muted as depth increases. TUSA designed the Paragon to take full advantage of available light, increasing the clarity of colors while diving. The TUSA’s CrystalView Optical Glass transmits up to 95% of available light whereas traditional glass lenses lose up to 15% of available light.
One downside of this mask is that it did not come pre-treated, as compared to the Cressi A1 anti-fog mask, which is ready-to-dive right out of the box. Prior to diving, make sure that the inside of the Paragon has been sufficiently scrubbed and use mask defog to ensure a fog-free dive.
Mask Comfort and Fit
Fit is one of the most important features to look for when purchasing a new mask. TUSA’s Freedom Technology enhances fit and performance in their masks by using a dimpled skirt with varied silicone thickness to create a better seal on a diver’s face.
The Paragon features the Freedom Fit Technology as well as a Round Edge Skirt design to ensure a soft fit and better seal. While the skirt’s silicone is very soft and comfortable, the skirt on the Paragon extends farther from the mask’s frame than other mask brands, such as Cressi and Scubapro. Therefore, this mask may not provide the best fit for divers with a smaller face or low hairline.
While testing this mask, minor leaking occurred near the hairline, which caused a small amount of flooding. While the Paragon’s skirt form was designed to be easily cleared, our reviewer found the mask not as easy to clear as the Cressi A1 due to the shape of the Paragon’s lenses. However, every mask and diver is different, so it is important to try on a mask for proper fit before buying.
The Paragon’s 3-D designed mask strap, with its Quick-Adjust Buckle System and angle strap adjuster, made this mask extremely easy to put on and adjust around the head. The strap itself was made of the same soft silicone as the skirt and stayed in place, both with and without a hood. The buckle system features an angle strap adjuster with five positions to enable better vertical and horizontal positioning. This was one of the best features of the TUSA Paragon because it allowed the reviewer to easily adjust and tighten the mask without pulling hair.
Sleek Design
The TUSA Paragon mask has a double lens design surrounded by a Tri-Mix frame. The Tri-Mix frame is composed of three distinct layers—a polyurethane bumper, a cross-beam metal frame, and polycarbonate frame—to increase the toughness of this mask. This not only increases the durability of the mask, but also creates a sleek design.
The Paragon is available in eight different color options, all of which feature the chrome metal and a black skirt. Options include black, orange, blue, yellow, red, pink, white, and green. There is also an all-white version of this mask that includes not only a white frame but also a white skirt. This allows divers to coordinate with their other dive gear to create a more personalized gear setup.
While DIVEIN tested the double lens TUSA Paragon M2001S, TUSA also makes a single lens version, the TUSA Paragon M1007S. The advantage to the double lens M2001S version is that double lenses are able to accommodate corrective lenses, which makes it a DIVEIN favorite feature of the Paragon for divers who don’t want to wear contact lenses while diving.
Price/quality ratio:
TUSA makes high-quality, professional dive gear and the Paragon mask is an example of their higher-end designs. The TUSA Paragon falls at a higher price point for treated-lens masks compared to similar masks such as the Aqualung Mistique DS Mask. So is it worth the extra money?
In short, the TUSA Paragon is a great choice for divers who want a mask that has treated lenses and a durable design, or for those who need corrective lenses. However, there are other comparable products out there at a lower price point (e.g., Cressi A1) that may be better suited to the budget of most divers. It all comes down to your needs, finding a mask that fits, and what you’re willing to spend.
Do we recommend it:
Due to the high price point, we recommend this mask for professional divers, underwater photographers, or divers who need corrective lenses. The mask is durable, stylish, and has many great features to provide greater clarity underwater. However, the TUSA Paragon may not be the best fit for divers with a narrow face or those with a low hairline due to the design of the skirt. For recreational or casual diving, there are other great mask options available at a lower price point. Check out our list of top masks to find your perfect fit!
Related Reviews
Our Overall Review
We have thoroughly tested - and read reviews from other experts and users. In summary, this is what we think:
Things we like:
-
Professional look of the mask
-
Comfortable skirt
-
UV protection
-
Ability to add corrective lens
-
Five-angle strap adjuster allows diver to easily adjust strap position on head
-
Anti-reflective lens
-
Easy to tighten or loosen strap
-
Comes in multiple colors
-
Excellent for both diving and snorkeling
Things we don't like:
- Wide skirt may come up to the hairline for some divers
- Deep frame and lens shape traps water at bottom of mask and can be difficult to clear
- Does not have built-in anti-fog technology
- Pricey
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the TUSA Paragon HD mask is compatible with corrective lenses, which can be purchased at your local dive shop or online from TUSA. Note that you must know what your prescription is in diopter increments. Some corrective lenses even have the option for bifocals, which are great for divers who have difficulty reading gauges.
Every mask fits a little differently. It is important to choose a mask that provides a proper fit for your face to avoid leaking. Here are some guidelines for testing a mask’s fit:
- Remove or loosen the strap so that it is not holding the mask in place. You want to make sure the mask seals to your face without the assistance of the strap.
- Make sure there is no hair under the skirt—even the smallest amount can break the seal of a mask. Place the mask on your face, gently breathe in through your nose, then let go of the mask. iIf it has a good seal, it will stick to your face for several seconds.
- Make sure to repeat this test with a snorkel and regulator in your mouth to make sure the seal holds when your mouth is distorted by a mouthpiece.
There are many factors to consider when it comes to choosing between a single or double lens scuba mask. However, most often it comes down to personal preference. Here are a few differences between the two styles:
- Corrective vision: You may want to choose a double lens mask if you are thinking about swapping to corrective lenses. For double lens masks that are compatible with corrective lenses, divers can easily swap out the regular lenses for corrective lenses. However, single lens masks are not typically compatible to swap with corrective lenses.
- Mask fit: When choosing a mask, it all comes down to fit. Double lens masks may work better on a narrower face. Other considerations are the size and shape of your brow. Double lens masks typically offer a larger nose pocket, whereas a single lens mask typically reduces pressure from a mask frame on a larger brow.
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