A prescription snorkel mask is the best alternative to having to wear contact lenses when snorkeling. Buying one can provide you with a way to avoid the hassle and discomfort of wearing contact lenses while snorkeling.
Available off-the-shelf for nearsighted and farsighted snorkelers, there are also bifocal options. It’s also possible to get a mask customized for a particular prescription.
Clear vision and comfort is key, but so is some durability so these slightly more expensive masks don’t shatter and ruin your vacation.
There are many prescription masks on the market and having to choose between the different models can be challenging. For this reason, we’ve done the work for you and have found the best prescription snorkeling mask on the market.
Review of Promate Scope Prescription Snorkel Mask Prescription Snorkel Mask review
The Promate Scope corrective mask is great for divers and snorkelers alike. It’s best for those with small to medium-sized faces. There are plenty of options for people who are nearsighted or need bifocal lenses, but this mask has the most lens options for people having trouble focusing on nearby objects.
The Promate Scope is a low-volume mask, making it easier to clear out the water and setting the lens closer to your eyes, which increases the view. It has a liquid silicone strap and skirt for extra comfort and fit.
There are lots of different colors to choose from and a wide range of lens strengths available, making this a versatile and suitable mask for most snorkelers and divers.
Review of ScubaPro Zoom with prescription lenses Prescription Snorkel Mask Prescription Snorkel Mask review
ScubaPro’s Zoom is a low-volume, dual-lens mask that allows you to change the lenses yourself. This is a mid-range, comfortable mask for medium to large faces that should last for many years.
This mask is ideal for divers with less-complicated prescriptions. Lenses are available only on half diopter (+/- 0.5) adjustments. Buy a pair of corrective lenses to switch out yourself (around $60) with gauge readers in one or both sides or get a the mask with corrective lenses already inserted for between $150-$170.
Review of Pro Purge Prescription Snorkel Mask Prescription Snorkel Mask review
The Promate Purge prescription snorkel mask is the company’s most affordable mask and snorkel kit option.
While the kit is ideal for snorklers, the mask itself is also well suited for diving.
The Purge mask is an easy to use and affordable. Ideal for snorkelers with regular faces, the Promate Purge has a silicone injected skirt and strap that provides snorkelers with a high level of comfort where the mask makes contact with skin.
Review of Promate Pro Slender Prescription Snorkel Mask Prescription Snorkel Mask review
The Promate Pro Slender has an innovatively designed purge system. A little pricier, it has more than little extra technological features for comfort and keeping the goggles clear of fogging.
The Promate Pro Slender prescription snorkel mask has a double-edged comfort seal, liquid silicone-injected skirt and strap, and good adjusters that don’t slip when engaged. Considering how affordable this mask is, the lenses offer crystal clear visibility, making the Pro Slender one of the stronger options for prescription snorkel masks.
Review of Genesis SL RX Prescription Snorkel Mask Prescription Snorkel Mask review
The Genesis SL Prescription Snorkel Mask is a great choice for snorkelers who like a standard mask shape with a soft, but not too bulky, silicone dress around the frame.
The Genesis SL RX prescription snorkel mask uses silicon on the skirt and straps of the mask making it an excellent choice for comfort. With a variety of prescription options, this mask offers snorkelers the flexibility to choose a mask that can be customized specifically for the most optimal snorkeling experience.
What to Consider When Buying a Prescription Snorkel Mask
When snorkeling you want to be able to see all the beauty that’s below the surface. Those with 20/20 vision have no issues. But people with near- and far-sighted vision can’t use glasses in a mask. Only contacts work.
But using contacts with a mask can be bothersome. You don’t want to leave them on land if you have a considerable prescription, because you don’t want blurry scenes when you could have clear views.
Note: You can also check out our Guide to Prescription Scuba Mask
Do I Need a Prescription Snorkel Mask?
When you wear a mask underwater, everything looks 25 percent bigger because of refraction.
If you wear glasses on land that only correct your sight by a small amount, you may not need a prescription mask, however, it is always more enjoyable to have crystal clear visibility when snorkeling.
If you require glasses or contact lenses to drive then you will benefit from buying a prescription mask for snorkeling.
The difference for night diving is also surprising for people with refractive problems. Having small myopia for some means they don’t bother with contacts. But after trying out an appropriate mask at a depth where there is less light or at night, the advantages will be made clear.
Premade or Custom-Made
When buying a prescription snorkel mask, you need to order the correct corrective lens based on your current glasses or contact lens prescription. Snorkel masks usually come with premade lenses available in optical factor increments of 0.5. If your prescription is +3.75, you have to decide whether to order +3.5 or +4.0.
Ordering custom-made lenses means that you do not have to make the decision to go higher or lower. They are tailored to your exact prescription requirements. However, this comes at a price as custom-made prescription masks are always more expensive.
Additionally, people with astigmatism might need specific spherical correction lenses that will need to be custom-made.
Bifocal Lenses
Bifocals have two lenses that are plain glass with a small corrective area in the lower section of the window. It is possible to get different bifocal lenses for your mask depending on what your prescription is.
Bifocals come in handy as farsighted people might need the “+” lens to read their gauges for example on your new Garmin Descent Mk 2. Alternatively, they might need the “-” lenses to see further away.
Tempered Glass
Like with any Snorkeling mask, be sure to buy a snorkel mask with tempered glass. You don’t want to make the mistake of buying a prescription snorkel mask that won’t stand up to the increased pressure at depth.
Prescription Mask or Contact Lenses
Before prescription masks, snorkelers with poor eyesight could only enjoy the underwater realm while wearing contact lenses under their masks. This is a simple, and affordable alternative but it isn’t the most effective.
Contact lenses seem like a good option, but what happens if your mask floods? To avoid losing your lenses, you have to dive with your eyes closed, even if momentarily. In the event that you do lose your lenses, the rest of your dive will be a blur.
On the flip side of this equation, bring your lenses on your trips if you have some in case your mask malfunctions. You can always borrow or rent a mask without any script.
Soft contacts are also known to absorb some of the chemicals used in defogging agents which can cause irritation. Though rare, they also increase your chances of contracting an infection if bacteria in the water get trapped under your lens.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Prescription Snorkel Masks
The best prescription snorkel masks are comfortable, durable and provide you with crystal clear visibility when snorkeling.
Here are the top 7 prescription snorkel masks on the market:
Promate Optical Corrective Snorkel Mask
Genesis SL RX Prescription Snorkel Mask
Promate Hawk Eyes Prescription R/X Snorkel Mask
IST Search Prescription Snorkel Mask
Promate Pro Slender Prescription R/X Snorkel Purge Mask
Tilos Universal Prescription Snorkel Mask
Promate Brigadier Prescription R/X Snorkel Mask
To find out more about these masks click here to read our prescription snorkel mask review.
When ordering a prescription snorkel mask online, make sure to select your specific prescription from the available options.
Read on to find out what the best prescription snorkel masks are on the market today.
Prescription snorkel masks usually come with premade lenses available in optical factor increments of 0.5. If your prescription is -1.25, you have to decide whether to order -1.0 or -1.5. For near sighted people it’s better do go down as if you go up, the mask becomes uncomfortable to use
Make sure to check the companies website for this information and if you are still not sure you can always send them an email for confirmation.
You can always order custom-made lenses so that you can get the prescription just right.
The choice is up to you, however prescription lenses are the solution to wear contact lenses when snorkeling. Additionally, people with astigmatism might need specific spherical correction lenses that will need to be custom-made.
To learn more about, the benefits of prescription snorkel masks read this article.
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