Prescription Snorkel Mask

Enterprise_1701C

I would love to be able to get a prescription snorkel/dive mask without having to take out a second mortgage, but this seems to be a little tricky. Anyone got any idea about where to get one of these for the best price?

Thank you.

Kavanne

Might not be suitable but contact lenses may be cheaper? My bf did this when we went to Egypt, took him a little while to get used to them but meant he could enjoy snorkelling much cheaper! lol.

Was £55 for prescription + fitting (they spent an hour with him) and £30 for 30 days of disposables.

FLINT

I have to agree regarding the disposable contact lenses, I myself have glasses and a couple of years ago bought a pair of prescription swimming goggles from Asda for £20, they were ok but for my last holiday were I did a lot of snorkelling I took 30 pairs of disposable contacts, I use specsavers who are £21 for 30 pairs.

diamond57

Would googles be OK, because that was what I used for little bits when on holiday (sometimes under the snorkle mask). Alternatively, I have found a website called waterfrontscuba.com which seems to offer the snorkel for about £25 and the lenses for about £15 (not sure about postage etc). I cannot wear contact lenses which is why I hunted on line after hearing daft prices in the opticians.

caitybabes

These aren't specifically snorkelling masks but swimming goggles, perhaps they could be useful? I'm a newbie so can't post links but it's at the spex4less . com website. HTH.

Enterprise_1701C

Thanks for all that. I have got prescription goggles but they are no good for the snorkelling I want to do, and I would like to learn to dive.

I have used disposable contact lenses with goggles before and they worked well, but I was warned not to swim in them and when you do a dive course you have to fill the mask with water in order to learn to purge it. Have contact lenses changed in the last few years, are there now some disposable ones that you can swim in?

Kavanne

Not a diving pro so wasn't aware of the filling of the mask. Sorry! Have you called some diving places around the UK and asking them where they get prescription masks from? Also, have you looked on eBay?

scuba_girl

You could try speaking to your local dive shop - they may well be able to recommend someone.

I wouldn't recommend wearing lens when you are doing your Open Water. Other than filling your mask with water, you are going to have to fully remove the mask and swim without it.

I'll have a look through some diving magazines and see if I can find any ads for prescription scuba masks.

Good luck with the diving - it's great fun :-)

Enterprise_1701C

Thanks for that - I shall have alook for my local dive store and see what they can do. Did some snorkelling in Mexico and Jamaica - can't wait to go deaper!

needtoearnmoremoney

I have to say I did splash out on prescription mask when I learnt to dive. I ordered mine through the local dive shop.

MrsBartolozzi

Re swimming with contacts in. I was informed by my Opthalmologist that this is perfectly fine as long as you either change them (disposables) or clean and soak them for the recommended time (reusables) after swimming.
Other than perhaps losing them in the water there's only the risk of bacteria/chemicals from the water sticking to the lenses and remaining in the eyes which is minimised by removing the lenses after swimming.


I'm a bit concerned about the open water test now - I am going to learn to dive later in the year. I am absolutely useless without lenses/specs and a liability in the house never mind in open water without lenses! How did you others fare with this?