Cressi Duke Full Face Snorkel Mask Review

Christos, DIVEIN editor, smiling with the ocean and coastline behind himTorben Lonne
By
Christos
Christos, DIVEIN editor, smiling with the ocean and coastline behind him
Staff writer at DIVEIN.com
Hailing from the island of Cyprus, Christos could swim before he could walk. He found his passion for water sports with scuba diving at 15 and...
Torben Lonne
Editor and Co-founder at DIVEIN.com
Torben traveled to South East Asia for scuba diving and never really stopped his search for new adventures. His affinity for gear that works and his...
Our reviewer wearing the black and blue Cressi Duke full face snorkel mask on a rocky beach
The dark skirt is the opposite trade to Cressi's clear masks: it cuts side glare and makes the lens easier to look through in hard sun, but you feel more enclosed while you wear it.
Our tester wearing the blue Cressi Duke full face snorkel mask at the shoreline
The Duke wears a solid blue frame instead of the Baron's all clear build, which hides scuffs and salt film far better over a season.
Rear side view of our tester wearing the Cressi Duke, showing the blue frame and tube mount
The tube mounts high and well forward on the Duke, so it clears the surface early but gives a passing wave more to push against.
Back of our tester's head showing the Cressi Duke branded strap and upright black snorkel tube
Cressi prints the model name on the strap itself, which is handy on a boat where four identical looking full face masks end up in the same rinse bucket.
Cressi Duke full face snorkel mask lying face up on a pebble beach, showing its clear single lens
Full face masks live or die on sightline. The Duke's single curved lens leaves nothing crossing your view, which is the main reason snorkelers pick this style over a separate mask and snorkel.
Back of the Cressi Duke full face mask on pebbles with the padded head strap laid across the skirt
The split strap is the part worth checking on any full face mask. It spreads pressure across the back of the head instead of pinching, and it is what keeps the skirt sealed all the way round.
Close-up of the Cressi branded snorkel tube and the Duke mask's breathing valve grille on pebbles
The valve housing does the real work on a full face mask, splitting the air you breathe in from the air you breathe out so the lens stays clear instead of fogging over.

The Cressi Duke is the premium version of the Cressi Baron and is constructed using higher quality materials. That means more robust and better seals over time.

Watertight and with excellent panoramic 180° view the Cressi Duke full face snorkel mask is high quality and durable. Additionally, the elastic straps along with the silicon mask skirt minimise any water leaking through.

About this review

To help you find a Full Face Snorkel Mask that will fit your needs, we’ve tested, researched, and reviewed the best ones available today.
We test both in the water, diving in various conditions - and in our lab - so we can give you accurate answers on quality, performance, and the overall value.

Read about our test of Full Face Snorkel Masks

Recommended in: Full Face Snorkel Mask

Things we like:

  • Lightweight
  • Panoramic 180° view
  • Good field of view
  • Easy to breathe
  • Durable

Things we don't like:

  • Not suitable for all face shapes

Review

Cressi Duke full face snorkel mask lying face up on a pebble beach, showing its clear single lens
Full face masks live or die on sightline. The Duke’s single curved lens leaves nothing crossing your view, which is the main reason snorkelers pick this style over a separate mask and snorkel.

The Cressi Duke is the premium version of the Cressi Baron and is constructed using higher quality materials than the Baron. That means more robust and better seals over time and more durable and lightweight materials used in constructing each piece of the mask.

With an excellent panoramic 180° view the Cressi Duke full face snorkel mask offers snorkelers a good view of the underwater world. Additionally, the elastic straps along with the silicon mask skirt minimise any water leaking through.

The innovatively designed Fog Stop Cressi Deflector technology also means there is no fogging. This allows for greater visibility when exploring on your snorkel adventures.

Overall, the Cressi Duke is a premium full face snorkeling mask that has an innovative design and construction and offers users a larger field of view and a higher level of comfort and breathability than other cheaper masks on the market.


Features

Our tester wearing the blue Cressi Duke full face snorkel mask at the shoreline
The Duke wears a solid blue frame instead of the Baron’s all clear build, which hides scuffs and salt film far better over a season.

The Cressi Duke full face snorkel mask has a 30% larger viewing area than most traditional full face snorkel masks, like the Tribord Easybreath or the SEAC Unica. This allows snorkelers to see all the underwater world has to offer without feeling claustrophobic.

The mask has a large breathing area around the nose and mouth, with the valve’s innovative design providing the user effortless and natural breathing. It also has an air baffle that eliminates fogging in the mask.

The Cressi Duke has water draining valves that safely remove water that might enter the mask. There are also special safety valves for purging water from the mask. Additionally, the face skirt on the mask is made of soft hypoallergenic silicone creating a fitting seal that provides comfort.

The frame and lens of the mask are made of polycarbonate material providing a combination of durability and lightweight. The straps are composed of a two x-cross system making them easy to use and providing a comfortable fit.

Finally, the snorkel has a dry system that keeps water from entering the mask and makes the Cressi Duke suitable for water with small waves and chop.


Price/Quality Ratio

Close-up of the Cressi branded snorkel tube and the Duke mask's breathing valve grille on pebbles
The valve housing does the real work on a full face mask, splitting the air you breathe in from the air you breathe out so the lens stays clear instead of fogging over.

The Cressi Duke is Cressi’s premium full face snorkel mask model and is more expensive than the Cressi Baron. However, the price is justified as this model uses polycarbonate materials that make the mask more durable and lightweight.

Moreover we believe that the Cressi Duke’s price is justified based on the fact that it provides more visibility than other masks on the market.


Do we recommend it?

Back of the Cressi Duke full face mask on pebbles with the padded head strap laid across the skirt
The split strap is the part worth checking on any full face mask. It spreads pressure across the back of the head instead of pinching, and it is what keeps the skirt sealed all the way round.

Although we recommend the Cressi Duke full face snorkeling mask for snorkelers looking for a mask that can provide an excellent level of visibility, we believe that the Cressi Baron is the better choice of the two masks. This is because the Cressi Baron offers an extremely similar level of visibility and protection compared to the Cressi Duke, but at a much more affordable price.


Cressi produced the first ever full face snorkel mask in 1946, the Medusa. The Cressi Duke is the evolution of this full face snorkel mask and offers snorkelers one of the best full face snorkel masks.

The Cressi Duke is made with high quality materials and provides more visibility than normal full face masks.

Positioned as the premium version of the Cressi Baron, this mask is more expensive than some other full face snorkeling masks, however the price is justified thanks to the many features and high quality design that this mask has to offer.

Specs & Features

Strap type Soft elastic
Field of view 180°
Distortion No
Dry snorkel Yes
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