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Snorkeling with Glasses?

I have very very poor eyesight. I will maybe be going snorkeling for the first time, if I can figure out a way to see. My contacts are the old fashioned hard lenses, so I would not want to snorkel in them. I dont want to invest 200 dollars in prescription masks. Is there anyway you can wear glasses under a mask? Thank you.

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Snorkeling with Glasses?

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Sep 03, 2010
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Glasses in mask? - Maybe
by: Galen & Nicole

I have seen someone do what you want. But you would probalby need to pull the lenses out of a pair of your glasses. Keep in mind that your glasses are designed to be a specific distance away from your face, and this may change that.

See this page for a basic description:

Instructions For Glasses In Mask

Also read this forum post where folks discuss doing this.

Glasses In Mask Forum Posts

That should get you started. Good luck.

Sep 03, 2010
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Snorkeling with hard contacts
by: Phyllis in Oregon

I'm an "extreme" snorkeler and also have done SCUBA diving?I am nearsighted with astigmatism. For diving I used a prescription mask. However, when I snorkel, I use my hard contacts. With over 40 years of snorkeling experience, I have never lost a hard contact lens. Of course, I always close my eyes when I clear my mask (blowing water out through side or through purge valve). Good luck!

Nov 27, 2010
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Glasses
by: SusanSims

I found a placed named www.101snorkel.com and they have prescription masks from $40 up, but they are having a sale right now and most of them are half price. I had one of the $200 snorkel mask and wore them one time at the Virgin Islands, set them down and literally turned around and someone had stolen them, so I know what you mean. I haven't gotten one there but do have something called "dioptics" (hope that's the right word) and they fit inside your mask. Those are ok and stay put but I'm thinking of trying a mask from this store. If I do and like it, I'll let you guys know.

May 16, 2011
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Try an Optical Mask as a Compromise
by: Anonymous

I am very nearsighted with astigmatism, and I don't wear contacts. When I took up snorkeling I made the best investment: At my local scuba shop, they had what they called "optical masks." These are regular masks that can take pre-made, general corrective lenses. Have you ever seen reading glasses in a store? They're labeled +1, +1.5, +2...This measurement would be the "sphere" or "SPH" if you look at your prescription. If you are nearsighted, your numbers will be negative. The shop plugged the nearest matches into my mask. Now, since these lenses do not include my other personal prescription values, like the "CYL" and "AXIS," they're not "fine tuned"--they're "in the ballpark." The key is to see "well enough." On land wearing the mask, my distance and peripheral vision aren't great, but underwater it's a totally different story--it doesn't matter. I can really see, it's awesome, and I can't imagine not having that mask. I have always loved to swim but never really saw anything until I bought it. It was a risk--what if I didn't like snorkeling? But the thing is, I'm not sure how I could have really enjoyed it if I couldn't see! It cost me around $140--I think the mask itself was only about $50. But a true prescription mask, they told me, could easily cost hundreds of dollars. Then I found optical goggles (these are much cheaper, about $20 from Speedo) for pool use and they're great too!

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Snorkeling with Glasses?

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Snorkeling with Glasses?