Snorkeling with Contact Lenses?

[anlashokna]

Probably a stupid question. I've never snorkeled! Has anyone done this with contact lenses? I would never swim in a pool with them. Does the mask keep your eyes dry? No point in doing it if I can't see

Stacey

 

[Laura]

Yes, I've snorkeled wearing my contacts and my eyes stayed dry. Just make sure your mask fits. How? Stand up straight and put the mask to your face without putting the strap around your head, and then sniff a couple of times to create a vacuum inside the mask. It should stay on when you take your hands away.

I don't know much about the availability of prescription snorkel masks where you're going, but you can buy them.

 

[thevolcanogod]

I guess it depends on how careful you are. Water does occasionally get into the mask - but if you are careful you can probably keep from loosing a contact. Just ask yourself the following question:

If I was swimming out a ways from shore and lost both contact lenses, would I have a problem finding my was safely back to shore?

If your answer is no, you can always buy your own mask and get it fitted with prescription lenses for about $25 more. Better to be safe than sorry.

Note: this is for snorkling only. SCUBA divers should never dive with contacts.

 

[JenKatt]

Originally posted by thevolcanogod


Note: this is for snorkling only. SCUBA divers should never dive with contacts.

Depends on who you talk to. You can SCUBA with contacts depending on how deep you are going. I just did DiveQuest at Epcot and had no problem at 25 feet. If I was going to 60 or 90 feet no I wouldn't wear them. But I learned at shallower depths that I can clear my mask and swim better with them in.

 

[m-sjaxjag]

I wear contacts and always swim with a dive mask (even in our home pool). I have never had a problem with my contacts while swimming/snorkeling.

As others have said just make sure the mask fits properly and you should be fine.

The thing about being able to get back to shore in the event that your contacts do get wash out is also important .

Have fun !!

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

i swam on CC last year with contacts and had no problems. my eyea stayed dry while in the mask. even wore my contacts at Blizzard Beach on the same vacation.beat swimming blind

 

[ldb1030]

I've also been wondering about this!

I change my contacts everyday so I always have some with me but it would just be a pain and I don't want to do it without them because that would be pointless if I could not see!

 

[1stNoel]

I have a friend that windsurfs in contacts and tells me that sea water actually feels good on them, just like saline solution. I would worry about losing one if they aren't disposables though. I did Lasik 5 years ago and LOVE IT!!!

Volcano God is right about diving with contacts. It's a big no no.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

I've been snorkeling with contacts for 15 years and have never had a problem. However, I have my own mask, which I know fits me very well. I'm blind without my contacts, so I could never snorkel without them!

 

[Riodog]

My brotherinlaw is snorkeling with us for the first time in Jan 2006 and he can't see a thing without his glasses. There are several places that make prescription masks. We just typed snorkeling equipment or prescription masks into a web search engine and a list of places came up. I wear my contacts and never have had a problem.

Hope this helps

Sandy

 

[MCazer]

I always snorket with my contacts in. But when I scuba dive I always wear my prescription mask.

I remember having to do my ceritification dives with my contacts in and having to clear my mask and then having salt water dripping on my eyes inside the mask actually stung a little. Also, although it did not happen, I kept thinking they would pop out.

I also carry an extra set of contact lenses on any trip, just in case! Although I could use my prescription mask for snorkeling, I choose not to, because I am so much more confortable in my lenses and would want to pop them back in after and of course, a beach is not the perfect place for doing that. I have terrible vision, so walking back up the beach with my mask on looks pretty silly. Although I have in the past tucked my glasses into the cleavage on my bathingsuit. This of course does not work for the men (or at least I hope not! LOL)

 

[thevolcanogod]

Originally posted by JenKatt
You can SCUBA with contacts depending on how deep you are going.

I would re-consider doing this in the future. If the contacts pop out and you can't see your depth or tank pressure you are in a dangerous situation. Even in 25 feet of water you can be seriously injured if you run out of air, come up too fast or can't monitor how deep you are and pass your target diving depth/ exceed the decompression tables. Are these things likely to happen? Probably not, but with all things SCUBA, are you willing to bet your health and life on it?

Seeing how easy it is to get fitted with perscription lenses in your mask, it's much better to be safe than sorry.

 

[JenKatt]

That's the thing tho, I can see well enough without my contacts in to see where I am and my gauges. I was certified not wearing my lenses, so I am safe not wearing them. There is no reason not to wear disposable soft contacts if you can dive safely if you were to lose them. I also never dive without a buddy so if I did have a problem I would not fall into a life or death situation.
To say you can not dive with your contatcs in simply isn't true.

 

[pdarrah]

Just a comment on the prescription masks - if you wear "hard" contacts full time, there is an adjustment period (from hours to days) when you switch from contacts to glasses. I would assume you would have the same adjustment with a prescription mask. I have snorkeled with my contacts for 15 years. A prescription mask just doesn't make sense if I have to wear it (or glasses) for hours prior to snorkeling to be able to see! I know that it takes me nearly a full day to adjust to my glasses (and it is a very uncomfortable day with everything a little out of focus!).

I am very near sighted and ALWAYS snorkel with a partner (my DH) who will be there to help me find my way if I were to actually lose both lenses. In 15 years, this has never happened - (knock on wood!)

Pamela

 

[anlashokna]

Gosh this has been more helpful than I can imagine.

First yes I can quote "see" albight don't ask me to read anything that isnt more than a couple of inches away from my face. I would be able to see the fuzzy blob that is land and make it out better as I get closer. I would honestly hate to loose one since they run $30 apop. On the upside my prescription is identical in each eye so they're interchangeable and my spare set actually gives me two back ups since its unlikely I would loose two contacts at once.

Two more questions after reading. Has anyone had an infection set in from contact exposure to salt water or bacteria in the water? I had one when I first got my contacts ...stye and an allergic reaction in one go. Not something I want to repeat. Had to come up with the creative story as to why my eye was swelled shut till the med kicked in.

And the other. Where is the best place to find a good fitting mask? I live in Wisconsin...so as you can imagine...beach items are not a novelty here more on the rare side. Fall and Winter clothes are already hitting the shelves!! Are those snorkel sets at Walmart good or should I invest in something more?? Wait till I get to Cocoa Beach? Good shop there perhaps with someone who would be able to help?

Again Thanks loads for all the information.

Stacey

 

[Riodog]

Dicks, Outdoor World, check online, etc.. We ordered ours through a catalog - Harringtons (I know we paid more than we probably should... but I love my mask and matching dry snorkle complete with case for mask I sometimes wear it just to paddle around in Lake Michigan and check out whats on the bottom. Never find anything but sand and rocks.....I guess the colorful fish prefer the warm carribean water rather than the chilly Lake Michigan water.)

 

[tvguy]

I used to Scuba dive, and I am VERY nearsighted. However, I see fine underwater through a standard mask. The optics of the water correct my vision. I just can't see squat above water through the mask.
I found the equipment at Castaway Cay just fine. But I have a better understanding of why I saw some families getting on board with what seemed like a pickup truck load of luggage. You guys bring your own mask, flippers, soda, coffee, coffee pots, ketchup, wine, beer and white noise machines on board. Yikes, we are a family of 4 (kids are 13 and 17) and boarded with 2 suitcases for the week.

 

[Karel]

Originally posted by tvguy
I.
I found the equipment at Castaway Cay just fine. But I have a better understanding of why I saw some families getting on board with what seemed like a pickup truck load of luggage. You guys bring your own mask, flippers, soda, coffee, coffee pots, ketchup, wine, beer and white noise machines on board. Yikes, we are a family of 4 (kids are 13 and 17) and boarded with 2 suitcases for the week.

For some, if they are snorkeling in more than one port,it's cheaper to bring their own mask and snorkle than renting everywhere. Also, the cleanliness fact comes into play - there is an 'ick' feeling when you think how many people stuck that snorkle into their mouths.

And because I wear contacts, I do want a tight sealed mask and if you bring your own, there are no worries.

As to what pdarrah said: I used to wear hard lenses and now wear gas perms but have no problems what so ever switching back and forth between my contacts and glasses.

 

[thevolcanogod]

anlashokna - there are a couple places you can find equipment in Wisconsin. You can check your local sporting goods store (there is that big Bass Pro Shop in the Gurnee Mills Outlet Mall near the Illinois border). Also Sportsmart, Sports Authority etc. These places will have your cheap sets that may include the mask fins and snorkle for pretty reasonable prices. This gear will be decent, but by no means top of the line. It might also not fit that great - most of the time you can't try it on before you buy it from these places - but at least with buying your own gear, you get gear that only YOU have used, you can practice with it before you go and you can save money over the price of several rentals if you will be using it multiple times on your trip.

My advice for decent gear is to go to a SCUBA store. Check your yellow pages, I can almost guarantee there is one near you. You can get a very good mask that you can try on to make sure it fits for probably $30-60. This mask will last for years (I've had mine for 6 now), will fit great and provide a great snorkling experience. If you wear glasses, you can get the mask fitted with prescription lenses for about $25 over the price of the mask alone.

That price on the Ocean Master Dry Snorkle that 1stNoel linked to from the other snorkling thread on the top pages of this board is a great price - $40 for a great dry snorkle (my brother has that exact one and loves it for snorkling) - you can just order that online. I would not advise ordering a good mask online - you need to see if it fits you first.

Fitting a mask: for those that are buying one and don't have a salesperson to help you, try the sniff test. Place the mask against your face lightly. Make sure you don't have any strands of hair between the silicone of the mask skirt and your skin. Now inhale slightly through your nose. Don't suck in a lot - this will give you a false impresson of a good seal. Just breathe in a bit to create a suction. Now take your hands away - does the mask stay on your face for more than just a second or two? If so, it is probably a good seal. Now look up and down and side to side - does the mask have a good field of vision? You want one with the best field of vision you can find that fits well. Finally, put the mask on with the strap - is it easy to tighten and loosen, is it comfortable?

These above three factors are the big ones you should consider if you are looking to buy a decent mask - Fit, Field of View and Comfort.