While some people are heading outside in snorkeling masks as makeshift protection, a group of scuba divers is using their social distancing time to help people and the oceans. They’re making face masks from plastic water bottles recovered from the oceans, as CNN reported.
The masks are made by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), in partnership with Rash’R, a company that sells eco-friendly activewear. According to Scuba Diving magazine, one size fits most adults. The masks have five different patterns, are machine washable and double-layered. Every mask is packaged with five reusable carbon-activated filters, which last eight hours each. Replacement filters are sold online at various retailers, but not yet by PADI, though it plans to offer them soon.
The masks are not cheap, though. The mask and the five reusable filters are $20.40. PADI, however, claims there is no profit being made from the sale of these masks because the price you pay reflects the actual cost of turning plastic waste into functional face masks.
PADI is not the only ones using recycled plastic to create masks. Float Digital, an online marketing firm based in the UK, used recycled plastic for 3D printing protective masks for healthcare professionals.
