Introduction
Omer has a very rich line of masks, but in this dossier we will focus on the ones that will still be available in 2023. Omer masks are the new Wolf, the Apnea, the Alien and Alien Action and the Aqua. Such line, hoping for additional novelties in 2023, already represents a very rich and complete offer.
Wolf
We have definitely to start with the Omer Wolf frameless mask, the new model offered by the company part of Aqualung group. It is available in various color combinations of skirt and chassis. Grey skirt/black chassis, red skirt/black chassis, black skirt/red chassis, brown skirt/beige chassis make the Wolf offer extremely attractive.
Construction and compactness
As anticipated, the Omer Wolf is the latest frameless offer by the now Marseille based company. The integrated chassis is extremely stiff, also between the lenses, following a theory also applied by Salvimar. This is probably a plus, as it keeps the shape of the mask constant and also the position of the lenses versus the eyes. The design of the Wolf in general is based on a very compact skirt fused with big dimension lenses. This should lead to a great field of view, also dew to the frameless solution that helps keeping the eyes very close to the lenses. The internal step around the lenses is limited to 2.7 mm.
The skirt
The skirt of the Omer Wolf is extremely refined. It is matt externally and internally. A key detail is that the internal band coming to contact with the face is instead glossy to improve water seal. The external surface of the skirt also shows smooth and rugged surface areas which give the mask an aggressive design. The rough areas are present also externally on the side of the nose to help grip during equalization.
The silicone of the skirt does not go all around the internal chassis, keeping the lenses as clear as possible. This is an important aspect to improve to the maximum the field of view. In the past some limits of field of view were generated in fact on good masks like the Mares Viper. The internal part of the nose profile has a more vertical angle at the top. This solution is visible externally where the external upper part of the skirt has the nose profile with a step. This is done to release any possible pressure on the nose and forehead of the diver.
Rear strap adjustment and design
The rear strap has a nice design with a central X which adheres well to the head. The silicone of the strap is black and glossy. The connection of the buckles is directly to the skirt with two small silicone tongues. The micrometric adjustment system is regulated with two vertical opposed buttons. This system is very easy to use even when the mask is already worn on the head.
Dimensions and weight
The Omer Wolf has large lenses, with 56 mm of width and 56 mm of maximum height. The maximum width of the chassis is 15.8 cm, while the height is 6.8 cm. The skirt is 9.8 cm high in the center and 11.5 cm wide in the profile which is in contact with the face. The weight of the Omer Wolf is 150 grams.
Alien and Alien Action
The Omer Alien and Alien Action are the same mask, without or with camera support. These are traditional double lenses dismountable masks.
Construction and compactness
Two medium compactness masks with wide lenses, the Omer Alien and Alien Action are designed with a main frame and two smaller ones going all around the lenses profile. These frames have small protuberances that permit to dismantle the mask quite easily. Such solution is even more needed as the two masks offer the important option of optical lenses. The Alien and Alien Action are available in black, Camu 3D, SeaGreen e BlackMoon, the latter with mirrored lenses.
The skirt
The skirt is in black silicone. This is externally matt to reduce light reflexes towards the fish, with rugged areas on the forehead and the side of the nose. The latter solution is done to help grip during equalization, but also for a more aggressive design. The internal surface of the skirt is instead glossy. The base of the nose internally has two protuberances to improve the fit of the mask on the face and reduce internal volume. The internal step of the skirt around the lenses is 6 mm, quite high. This aspect does not help the field of view, but can improve comfort.
Rear strap adjustment and design
The rear strap on both the Alien and Alien Action is simple with two bands linked by a vertical one. The silicone is black, glossy internally and matt externally. The connection of the buckles is directly on the skirt with a vertical pin. The silicone connection is of extremely big dimensions, a very good design to improve resistance, well done Omer! The buckles are positioned in a back position to improve water penetration during the dive. The buckles have a micrometric adjustment system with a lever which is not particularly easy to action compared to the more simple opposing vertical buttons.
Dimensions and weight
The Omer Alien and Alien Action weight respectively 160 and 165 grams. The dimension of the lenses are 53 mm wide and 58 mm high. The chassis dimensions are 15.2 cm wide and 7.2 cm high for the Alien. The Alien Action of course has to consider also the camera support, so total height is 8.8 cm. The skirt is 10.4 cm high in the center ans 12.4 cm wide at the profile.
Aqua
Particularly compact, Omer indicates 110 cm3 as internal volume of the Aqua mask. This is a good but not extreme value. Anyway, we will check this number. Its compactness makes the Aqua indicated for deep spearfishing and freediving.
Construction and compactness
A very detailed mask in all parts, the Omer Aqua is designed with a narrow structure in the vertical direction, while it develops more in the horizontal one. The black frame is compact in its profile dimensions. It is actually one single piece with openings on the two external sides for dismounting the lenses and the entire mask. The two lenses have a profile with 6 straight sides.
Skirt
Extremely refined, the skirt of the Aqua mask is matt externally, with reduction of light reflexes towards the fish, and glossy internally. The internal glossy surface of the silicone skirt can produce some slight reflexes towards the eyes of the diver. On the other hand the glossy surface in contact with the face can improve water seal.
Externally the design of the skirt is perfectly integrated with the frame. The forehead area sees a continuous profile from the skirt to the frame. This improves compactness and water penetration. The same applies in the lower part of the frame.
The nose area is particularly detailed. The areas on the sides of the nose are thinner and have rugged external surface to easy the equalization action. In addition, such areas are convex towards the internal of the skirt with a minor volume reduction. The entire nose area internally has a number of accentuated protuberances to reduce internal volume efficiently. The upper part of the nose has an excellent design with a groove to avoid any pressure on the face in such area.
Rear strap adjustment and design
The rear strap has a very complex and refined designed, with various bands and differentiated thicknesses. It is in matt silicone. The internal surface which comes to contact with the head has small veins to improve adherence and avoid slipping away.
The side buckles are nicely designed. They are positioned backward and behind the chassis and lens for a better water penetration during the dive. The micro adjustment system is activated lifting a lever. This solution works fine, but it is not the easiest to act on when the mask is on the head and one wears gloves.
Apnea
In the Omer masks line is also the Omer Apnea, a single lens mask. It is structurally frameless as the single lens has also the function of giving rigidity to the structure. Available in transparent and mirrored lens, the Apnea aims to a great field of view and a low internal volume.
Construction and compactness
The single lens is large and with net straight sides, for a total of 7, with small connections. There is a fusion connection between the skirt and the lens, but there is also a rigid plastic chassis all around the lens border.
Skirt
The skirt is available black and brown, the latter matched with green external chassis all around the lens. Externally the surface of the silicone skirt is a mixed of matt and glossy solutions, which give the Omer Apnea a more aggressive design. The matt surface, predominant, has the aim of reducing light reflexes towards the fish. Internally the skirt has a glossy surface.
The base of the nose internally has two protuberances to best fit the mask on the face and also reduce internal volume. The sides of the nose are in thinner silicone with rugged surface both internally and externally to help equalization. There are some smudges on the skirt, which have no negative effect except the look being a little less refined.
The internal part of the nose area has a straight oblique profile which reaches the central part of the lens. It then goes horizontal until it reaches the lens to go up vertically. The step could be felt by the spearo when the mask is well pressed on the face and depending on the shape of the nose. This is anyway quite a standard situation. In fact, single lens masks always have the central part of the lens which needs to be thick and tall enough not to break. This design determines a vertical area that can come close to the nose.
Externally, on the two sides of the skirt, two ribs are present on each side to avoid the skirt bending too much. The same solution is applied on the forehead area.
Rear strap adjustment and design
The rear strap and micro adjustment system are exactly the same as the Aqua.
