Snorkling with glasses?

[Toni Adkins]

We're going on our first cruise ever in April and we all would like to try snorkling, but my dh and I both wear glasses. Is it possible to wear a mask over glasses?

Thanks,
Toni

 

[mketting]

No, because the mask won't be able to seal out the water. I got contacts to wear just for the snorkeling on our trip.

 

[Joel110]

It's not really possible to wear glasses, as you need a watertight seal between the mask and your face. I've heard of people using an old pair of glasses and gluing the lenses to a cheap mask w/silicone glue, but I'd probably check into contacts first. If you do contacts, you'd want to wear them some prior to snorkeling to get your eyes used to them. The ideal option (if you think you'll snorkel multiple times or on future trips) is to buy a mask w/prescription lenses. You're probably looking at least $65 for such a mask, but could be worth it if you're a regular cruiser as disney charges $25/day for rentals and if you snorkel at other sites, you'd pay additional rental fees.

Here's a few links to browse as examples, or you can google for snorkel gear.

http://www.snorkelcity.com/opticalmasks.html
http://www.scuba.com/shop/product.asp_category_53
Or you might find one on ebay like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=71161&item=7125575867&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

[BabyBird]

I didn't wear my glasses to Castaway Cay. They are plastic and fairly pricey - the thought of losing them or squishing them on the beach amidst our 'stuff' was too much pressure. I just went without for the day.
My Rx is not too strong but I can't see distance very well with out them. I did okay snorkleing - it was fun and I could see the fish that were in the general area we were in.

 

[Magic_Fan_Bruce]

I have a mask with corrective lenses in it that I purchased from Sports Authority. It works great and I’m sure most major sporting goods stores would have them.

 

[momsgoofy]

I spoke with my eye doctor about this...I wanted to snorkel badly at CC during Thanksgiving 2004 and my vision is considerably worse than when I last snorkeled before DS was born...12 years ago. I still had my own mask which fits my face very well...nice and snug. I thought about getting Rx lenses put into it but the cost was outrageous...about $90 which I know the Rx will change before I snorkel again...so the doctor said why not wear disposable contact lenses? Wear them while you snorkel and then toss them out! I actually opted for a box of 30 lenses and wore the disposable durnig the entire cruise. My eyes felt great! They were fine for snorkeling...I had no problems. If you can wear contacts, it's a great option and was less expensive than the Rx swim mask. (I have different scripts in each eye so 2 boxes of 30 day supply cost me about $40 and my eyes felt very refreshed while on the cruise.)

Laura ºoº

 

[tiggrbaby]

Check online; I know they make prescription swim goggles for about $25. Then you just need to use noseclips and your own snorkle. That is what my boys do. They have the goggles for swimming during team practice.

 

[tvguy]

I'm extremely nearsighted. I can't see clearly more than a foot from my face. But I can see just fine with a mask on, I guess the water creates the correct refraction for me. I've worn glasses for 37 years, and each year my eyes get worse, I have always been able to see underway if I wear a mask.

 

[my3kids]

I ordered a prescription mask from joediveramerica.com for my husband. The rest of wear contacts, but he hates them, so this was a good purchase. I think it was $99 plus shipping. The corrective lenes are the lenses of the mask; they are not lens glued to the regular mask lens.

 

[inkkognito]

This was the reason I had Lasik; I was so near sighted that I couldn't see a think without my coke bottle glasses. The frustration finally forced me to have my eyes zapped; now it's no longer a problem! But if I hadn't done that, I would probably have gone the prescription route.
Barb

 

[Toni Adkins]

Thanks for all the replys. I guess snorkling is out for us. I have extremely dry eyes and had to give up on contacts about 10 years ago. Plus my eyes are so bad that it would cost a fortune to have a special mask made. I can't see spending a lot of money on it anyway since it would probably never be used again. Dh can't wear contacts either since he's been allergic to every kind he's tried. I guess we'll have to just be content with lying on the beach. Isn't that terrible? LOL

Toni

 

[bobbiwoz]

DH never goes snorkeling because he can't see much without his glasses plus he's color blind. However, once he came on the boat excursion with me and the guide said that he would be willing to take the temples off the glasses, and put the other part of the glasses, (the lenses within the frame with the nose piece) in the mask. This worked fine. However, the problem that no one anticipated was the fact that there was a spring action and it was very difficult to get the temples back on the frame. So, if you have an older pair of glasses that you are willing to take apart, this may be a solution for you.

DH still doesn't go with me, due to the colorblindness and he doesn't enjoy swimming in the ocean at all.

Bobbi

 

[WDWLVR]

I will say that investing in a pair of persription goggles was some of the best money I ever spent.