Choosing the Right Prescription Snorkel Mask – Expert Tips and Top Picks
If you wear glasses, snorkeling doesn’t have to be a blur! Investing in a prescription snorkel mask can transform your underwater experience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through choosing the right dive mask with corrective lenses, using contact lenses safely while swimming, and exploring additional options like magnifying lenses. Let’s find out how to see the underwater world in crisp, clear detail!
Solutions for Snorkeling and Diving with Vision Problems
Snorkeling or scuba diving with bad eyesight is absolutely not an issue anymore. There are many solutions available from cheap quick fixes to professional solutions that will provide glass wearers with a clear view underwater.
What to do if you want to go snorkeling or diving but have vision problems?
- use the magnifying effect of the water
- put glasses inside the mask
- wear normal day contact lenses
- add magnifying lenses to your mask
- change the lenses of your current snorkeling mask
- buy a prescription snorkeling mask
- order a customized mask (for complex problems)
Exploring the Natural Magnification Underwater
Have you ever noticed how objects seem larger when you look at them underwater? This is because water naturally magnifies things by about 30%, making everything appear closer and bigger. If your vision issues are minor, this magnifying effect might just be enough for you to enjoy snorkeling without needing a special prescription mask. Keep this in mind as a potential, simple solution to enhance your underwater view!
DIY Snorkel Mask Modifications for Glasses Wearers
Do you have an old pair of glasses you’re willing to repurpose? Try gluing them inside your snorkel mask. This DIY modification is a quick fix for glass wearers who snorkel only occasionally and prefer not to invest in a prescription mask. Keep in mind, though, this is not a professional solution and may not be durable over the long term. For frequent use or more reliable visibility, consider other more permanent solutions tailored for underwater vision needs.
Using Contact Lenses Safely While Snorkeling
Can you wear contact lenses while snorkeling? Absolutely! Thanks to modern advancements, contact lenses are not only comfortable but also safe for use in water. They are designed to provide optimal vision and remain nearly undetectable.
When choosing contact lenses for snorkeling or any water activity, opt for soft day contacts for maximum comfort. It’s crucial to remember to keep your eyes closed when removing your mask underwater. This simple precaution helps prevent your lenses from being washed out, ensuring you keep clear vision throughout your adventure.
Opting for Dive Mask Magnifying Lenses
For those who typically use reading glasses, removable magnifying lenses for your dive mask offer an affordable and effective solution. These inserts are ideal if your vision issues are straightforward, without complex eye problems. They are especially helpful for activities that require close-up focus underwater, such as reading the screen of a waterproof camera or checking a dive watch. This way, you can enjoy enhanced visibility where it counts most, without the need for a full prescription mask.
Choosing a Dive Mask with Drop-In Lenses
Opting for a scuba mask with changeable lenses is a flexible solution that can accommodate various vision needs over time. Major dive gear manufacturers, such as TUSA, offer popular masks like the TUSA Liberator Plus, which feature removable lenses. These lenses can be easily swapped out to match your current prescription needs, making it a cost-effective choice for divers whose vision might change.
This option is particularly advantageous for divers who anticipate changes in lens strength over time. Instead of purchasing an entirely new mask, you can simply replace the lenses as needed. If you’re looking for a durable and adaptable solution, consider the TUSA Liberator prescription dive mask a reliable choice that adjusts to your changing needs.
Buying Prescription Snorkel Masks with Pre-Made Lenses
Opting for a prescription snorkel mask with pre-made lenses offers the best value for money. These lenses are typically available in a range of strengths to correct nearsightedness (from -1.0 to -10.0) and farsightedness (from +1.0 to +4.0), with increments of 0.5, depending on the manufacturer. Additionally, some options include bifocal lenses to accommodate more complex vision needs. You can even order different strengths for each eye to ensure optimal vision underwater. Check out our top picks in this category below!
Order custom-made corrective lenses
This is the most expensive solution but the best if you need special lenses to correct astigmatism. You can contact dive shops who are specialized in prescription dive masks and can customize it to your personal needs. They can either change the lenses of your old mask, or offer you a new prescription scuba mask.
Tip: If you need help with buying snorkel gear, read how to choose mask for snorkeling, see the best snorkel fins and don’t forget about sun protection clothing.
How to Choose the Right Prescription Snorkel Mask
Choosing the perfect prescription snorkel mask is crucial for clear underwater vision. It’s important that the corrective lenses in your snorkel mask closely match your everyday eyewear to provide the best sight possible.
When selecting your mask, consider these key factors:
- Complexity of Vision Problems: Assess the severity and specifics of your vision issues. This will determine the type of correction you need.
- Frequency of Use: Think about how often you plan to snorkel. Frequent use might justify a higher investment in a durable mask.
- Budget: Decide how much you’re willing to spend. Remember, quality and durability often correlate with price.
Renting a prescription snorkel mask is another possibility, although this option might be limited to certain locations. If you’re an avid snorkeler, investing in your own mask ensures that it is perfectly tailored to your vision needs and personal comfort.
Understanding the Cost of Prescription Snorkel Masks
In the past, custom-made prescription dive masks were limited to a few manufacturers and could cost between $150 and $250, primarily due to the specialized manufacturing process involved. However, the market has expanded, offering a broader range of options for those who need vision correction underwater.
Today, you can purchase a new prescription snorkel mask starting at approximately $50. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, consider mask inserts, which are even less expensive. These alternatives provide an economical way to achieve clear underwater vision without the higher cost of custom masks.
Where to Buy Prescription Snorkel Mask?
If you need custom-made corrective lenses, you need to look for a dive shop who can order them for you and replace the original ones to the corrective ones. If you don’t have complex eye problems like double vision or astigmatism, you can simply order optical snorkeling mask from Amazon. You just choose the prescription and you get a brand-new mask with the correct lenses.
Nearsighted and farsighted versions are both available when ordering online and it is possible to get different strengths for each eye. Some manufacturers offer bifocal version too. Buying a prescription snorkel mask with pre-made corrective lenses offers the best value for money.
Popular Prescription Masks for Snorkeling and Diving
IST Optical Corrective Snorkeling Mask
A classical style, versatile snorkel goggles with corrective lenses at fair price from IST. The soft skirt provides comfortable wear. It is made from the highest quality hypoallergenic silicone making the product suitable for sensitive skin.
The low volume design offers a wide field of view, the frame fits the best for narrow face divers. Swivelling buckles allow fine adjustments to achieve the perfect fit. New wider split strap ensures that the strap won’t push your head painfully by spreading across the pressure.
The IST prescription snorkel masks come with far sight options from +1 to +4, near sight from -1 to -7.5 (0.5 decrements). Thanks to the teardrop shape and close-to-eye positioning, the lenses provide a wide panoramic view. The mask is available in various colors from full black to clear one to match your outfit!
Promate Prescription Mask
This Promate set offers good value for money because it comes with a submersible dry snorkel. The low-profile snorkeling mask with easy-adjust buckles made with soft silicone skirt for the best comfort. The tempered glass corrective lenses are customizable with different strengths for each eye from 1- to -10 (near sight) and from +1 to +4 (far sight).
Durable materials and user-friendly design guarantees that this Promate set is a good choice for everybody.
Easy-to-adjust swivel buckles on the mask ensure a customizable fit, while the nose pocket is designed for easy equalization. The snorkel is fully-submersible thanks to the dry top ending and can be quickly disconnected if needed.
Cressi Snorkeling Prescription Lenses
This Cressi Focus Mask is one of the best prescription dive masks that features a classical, 2-window design and sturdy construction and supports interchangeable lenses. It can be very helpful for divers to read the gauge or the computer.
It offers a great fit for a wide variety of faces. Soft silicone double edge shirt guarantees good seal and maximum comfort. The easy-to-reach one-hand nose pocket provides equalization even when wearing thick gloves, while the swiveling buckles ensure precise and quick adjustments.
Prescription Full Face Snorkel Mask
The popularity of full face snorkeling masks created a demand for prescription full face snorkel masks. For a while, the company Promate offered a full face mask that was available with a replaceable viewing window design. Like this, you could choose the prescription you need and you won’t have to carry corrective lenses separately, but this model is currently unavailable at most places. At the moment, the only option is getting a normal full-face snorkeling mask and adding a prescription lens insert to it.
If you think that you case is too difficult, we recommend contacting the local manufacturer of the mask you intend to buy who can certainly help you to have the prescription lenses that you need!
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