Genesis Icon Scuba Mask Review

By
Julie Shetler
Contributor at DIVEIN.com
Julie Shetler's lifelong love for the ocean and marine life has taken her on a remarkable journey of exploration and discovery. Growing up on the Gulf...
Rebecca Strauss
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Rebecca has been an avid traveler and scuba diver for many years. She began her editorial career by updating travel guides, which took her all over...

In a sea full of options, it can be hard to know which mask is right for you. People also look for many things when choosing a mask, including color, type of lens, or shape of the mask.  Among all of these reasons, we can all agree that one factor is key when choosing a mask—comfort. The Genesis Icon promises just that.

The Genesis Icon features a medium-width, 100% silicone, double feather-edged skirt along with a wide split-strap. Quick-disconnect buttons offer a fit that is not only perfect but also easy to adjust.

The Icon also has two teardrop-shaped lenses and a low-profile shape that lets it sit closer to the diver’s face, providing both comfort and increased vertical vision. Five available colors allow you to personalize your look.

The Genesis Icon is the perfect mask for divers who want something affordable and not too technical, but will get the job done just as well. Furthermore, the Icon is a great mask for new divers or recreational divers who don’t need any of the high-tech features associated with more expensive masks. Its user-friendly design and relatively low cost make it a solid mask, especially for beginners. 

Let’s dive into an in-depth review of the Genesis Icon.

About this review

To help you find a Scuba 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 Scuba Masks

Recommended in: Scuba Mask

Things we like:

  • Crystal silicone skirt provides a comfortable fit
  • Strap is easy to adjust in or out of the water
  • Doesn’t break the bank
  • Low profile creates less drag in the water
  • Five colors to choose from

Things we don't like:

  • Lenses lack anti-fog treatment
  • Does not provide UVA or UVB protection
  • Design is basic and quite simple
  • Clear skirt may turn yellow over time

A Mask for Everyone

Quick disconnect buttons on either side of the mask make it easy to adjust in and out of the water.
Quick disconnect buttons on either side of the mask make it easy to adjust in and out of the water.

Genesis was founded in the mid 1990s with the mission of creating quality, affordable scuba equipment to make diving accessible. Although nearly three decades have passed, Genesis continues to support this mission by producing only the highest quality diving equipment at consistently competitive prices.

The Genesis Icon is just further proof of this. At around $50, the Icon is an affordable mask for anyone who doesn’t want to spend a fortune on something they can’t trust. Although it’s not recommended if you’re an experienced diver looking for something a little more technical or complex, this mask would be perfect for a beginner or just as a good back up. The Icon would also be a great mask for dive shops to have on hand for dive students or rentals.

This mask offers good quality for the price and the strap design with quick disconnect makes it super easy to adjust in or out of the water. Genesis has also stood the test of time and continually produces quality dive gear on par with its competitors.


Comfort is Key

The crystal silicone, medium-width feathered skirt provides a comfortable seal on the face.
The crystal silicone, medium-width feathered skirt provides a comfortable seal on the face.

A mask could have every high-tech, complex feature under the sun but if it isn’t comfortable, who wants to wear it? We often break the bank for something we don’t end up wearing because it simply doesn’t feel good or fit right. The Genesis Icon not only provides divers with the perfect fit but it does so on a budget.

The medium-width skirt uses crystal silicone technology, which creates the perfect suction on a diver’s face. This, paired with the wide, split-style strap, helps the mask stay comfortably in place so you won’t be left adjusting it in the water. But even if you do need to adjust it in the water, the quick-disconnect buttons on the strap make it easy to do so without help.


Price/Quality Ratio

At around $50 MSRP, the Genesis Icon is definitely on the affordable side in terms of masks. While it might not have some of the high-tech, complex features of more expensive masks, this is still a quality mask for the cost. Simple as it may be, the Icon is a solid and trustworthy mask to have on hand.

Tempered glass, dual tear-shaped lenses and a lower profile mean more vertical vision underwater, giving the diver a larger field of view. The Icon isn’t as bulky as a lot of masks on the market, and the design brings the frame closer to the face, which improves vision and reduces drag.

Quick-disconnect buttons on the Genesis Icon straps make it easy and simple to adjust—another reason this is a good mask for your money. For the price point, you can’t go wrong with this quality product.

Do we recommend the Genesis Icon?

At its price point the Genesis Icon is a solid mask for someone who isn’t looking for all the bells and whistles of higher-priced masks. While it is pretty simple, the Icon holds up against competitors when it comes to quality.

This would be a great first mask for someone just getting into diving. It would also be ideal as a backup or even for dive shops to have on hand for rentals and lessons. As long as you’re not looking for something really high-tech, we recommend the Genesis Icon, especially for its comparatively low cost. 

If you are an experienced diver, someone who dives frequently, or someone looking for features such as UV protection and anti-fog treatment, then you might want to look at some higher-end masks.

Specs & Features

Dimensions 8.4 x 4.3 x 4.2 inches
Frame or frameless Frame
Lens Dual
Skirt Soft silicone skirt available in clear or black, with a striped design over the skirt.
Lens treatment No
Volume Low
Corrective lens compatible No
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