diving mask

Question
Mike-

Sadly, my diving gear has been in storage for the last 2-3 years.  I just pulled
it out to see that the rubber (clear) around the mask and on the joint of the
snorkel has become slightly brownish.  All of this has been stored in the clear
plastic cases they came with at purchase, and has been in dry indoor storage
the whole time.

So here's the question... What do I do to get rid of the brownish tint, or is this
possible?  Can I use diluted bleach, or will this destroy the rubber/plastic?

Thanks much.

Michael

Answer
Hi Michael,

The short answer is that you cannot remove the brownish stain on the "rubber" parts of your mask and snorkel.  Actually, the material is silicone and not rubber although old masks were, indeed, made out of rubber and neoprene.  These materials tended to break down with exposure to sun and skin oils so switching to silicone made perfect sense.  Quality dive masks and snorkels made during the past 30 years or so are almost all made out of silicone.  The good news is that the discoloration you see is only cosmetic and will not degrade the silicone itself.  This browning can be caused by exposure to the sun or even the effects of artificial lighting.  I believe (but am not certain) that even the effects of heat can cause the silicone to take on a brownish tint.  If a clear silicone product is stored in contact with a darker material (like a wetsuit or a colored plastic object)the color will actually migrate into the clear silicone.  Once inside the silicone, it cannot be removed.  

In summary, the discoloration is permanent and trying to remove it will probably damage or destroy the silicone.  Look at it like this:  at least your gear will be easy to identify!!

Happy diving, Michael!!

Mike Giles
Mike's Dive Center
mikescuba.com