Are you looking to buy a diving mask and unsure about which glass type to choose? You've come to the right place — and don't worry, you're not alone.
Although two masks might look almost identical, the choice of glass makes a huge difference in terms of safety, comfort, and how you use them in the water.
There are generally two types of glass, and here’s how you can distinguish them:
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Tempered (hardened) glass is your go-to for calm snorkeling and diving, where clarity and pressure resistance are most important.
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Plastic glass (PC/polycarbonate) is what you choose for playing, jumping, and swimming pools, where shatter-resistance and lightweight are key.
Instead of a long technical review, here's a quick and easy guide to help you choose the right glass in 10 seconds.
And if you feel like diving deeper afterward, you can definitely read on in the rest of the article, where we explore why the difference matters.
Let's start with a clear overview 👇
Quick Overview of Both Glass Types - Which Should You Choose
When we talk about diving masks, it’s crucial to select the right glass type because it greatly influences how you should use the mask in the water.
Tempered Glass vs. Plastic Glass (PC) in Diving Masks
| Feature | Tempered Glass | Plastic Glass (PC) |
| Diving Entries | Not allowed, as the glass can shatter | Can be used for jumps and play |
| Typical Use | Snorkeling and calm diving | Play, jumps, beach, water parks |
| Visibility | Very clear, minimal distortion | Slightly less clear, but still good |
| Scratch Resistance | Very high | Scratches more easily |
| Impact Resistance | Strong, but can break with a hard hit | Highly impact-resistant, nearly unbreakable |
| Pressure Underwater | Ideal for diving/snorkeling | Not designed for deeper dives |
| Weight | A bit heavier on the face | Light and comfortable (especially for kids) |
| Typical Users | Snorkelers, divers, adults | Kids, families, beach and water park users |
So to sum up:
Tempered Glass = When you want to explore underwater life calmly. (NOT TO BE USED FOR DIVING ENTRIES)
Plastic Glass = When you (or the kids) want to jump, play, and not treat the equipment too gently.
What is Tempered (Hardened) Glass in Diving Goggles?
Tempered glass is the type of glass you find in diving goggles designed for snorkeling and serious diving. And here’s something important to clarify right away:
Tempered glass is not suited for play, jumping, or diving entries.
If the mask gets a hard hit, such as when diving headfirst, doing cannonballs, or hitting the water face-first, the glass can shatter, potentially leading to eye injuries.
So if the plan involves water parks, jumping from the edge, or play where the mask might get bumped, tempered glass is not the safe choice, whether it's for kids or adults. Instead, you should opt for plastic glass (PC).
That said, tempered glass is fantastic for its intended purpose:
Calm snorkeling and diving, where you move gently and want to clearly experience underwater life. Tempered glass provides a clear and natural view, with almost no distortion, and is highly resistant to scratches. This means the goggles remain nice and clear for a long time — even with frequent use.
So:
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If you're going to snorkel and explore corals, fish, and seabeds → Choose tempered glass.
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If you'll be playing, jumping, or bringing kids into the water → Then choose plastic glass (PC), which you can read more about in the next section 👇
Our Most Popular Diving Masks with Tempered Glass
What is Plastic Glass (PC) in Diving Goggles?
Plastic Glass – or PC, which stands for polycarbonate – is the glass type you typically find in diving goggles and masks meant for play, jumping, and water activities. While tempered glass is designed for calm snorkeling and visibility, plastic glass, on the other hand, is made for movement, impact, and energy.
The key thing to understand here is:
Plastic glass can withstand impacts.
It is extremely impact-resistant and almost impossible to break, making it much safer when jumping off edges, doing cannonballs, or rough play. That’s why plastic glass is the best choice for kids and families, where the mask isn't always handled gently.
Plastic glass is also incredibly lightweight, making the mask more comfortable to wear for extended periods — especially for kids, who might otherwise find tempered glass heavy on their face.
The trade-off with plastic glass is that visibility might be slightly less clear than with tempered glass, and it may get scratched more quickly if the mask is tossed in the sand, in swim bags, or wiped from the inside. But in exchange, you get a mask that can handle how most people actually use it: jumping, playing, slides, beach, and swimming.
Our Most Popular Diving Masks with Plastic Glass
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Former elite swimmer and founder of Watery.dk
Daniel has over 10 years of experience as a competitive swimmer at the elite level and has worked professionally with swimming and training equipment for more than 8 years. He is the mastermind behind Watery.dk, where he combines his passion for swimming with expert knowledge to guide you as best as possible.