Best Prescription Snorkel Masks & Goggles: Full Face+ DIY Guide

Snorkeling is such an enjoyable water activity but it can be a challenge for those who have eye problems. Luckily, some companies have come up with prescription snorkel masks for avid snorkelers with weak eyesight.

Cressi, Promate prescription masks and Scuba Spec lens inserts are our top picks. Read on for details. We also have a full-face option plus a DIY.

Promate Prescription Purge Mask

[amazon link=”B00Q5L9UMM” title=”ProMate’s Prescription Purge Mask” /] is one of the top-rated prescription goggles offered at an affordable price.

ProMate Purge Mask for Snorkeling

Snorkeler’s can choose from a wide range of tempered glass optical lenses. Special customizations are also available for those suffering from astigmatism; uneven number or blurry vision.

Additionally, Promate has added a purge valve near the nostril area for easy expulsion of water and it works by blowing through the nose forcefully. No matter what power is your eyesight number, or how challenging are your optometric requirements, Promate assures quality purchase with guaranteed durability.

The adjustable strap is also split in the middle to allow a better grip around the head and prevents it from slipping once you’re in water. Additionally, the strap also has an adjustable buckle which can be tightened or loosened, depending on the size of your head.

The Promate Prescription Purge Mask also comes with its own dry snorkel with a one-way valve. The snorkel’s mouthpiece is made out of silicone to make breathing and holding the snorkel easier.

Cressi Dive Mask with Inclined Lenses

The Focus is one of the first dive masks with inclined glasses designed by Cressi, an Italian brand pioneer in scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming equipment since 1953.

Cressi Dive Mask with Inclined Lenses
Cressi Dive Mask with Inclined Lenses

 It is made with soft hypoallergenic silicone skirt, complete with a double feathered edge seal that provides an excellent fit

 This mask is lightweight and compact meaning that carrying it with you won’t be an issue.

Low volume with minimum eye-lens distance for ensuring excellent field of view in all directions

It also comes with revolving strap buckles for instant adjustment

ProMate Scope Optical Corrective Mask

This mask is ideal for medium faces and fits a wide range of face shapes.

Promate: Best Prescription snorkel mask
ProMate Scope

It features Corrective Tempered glass: Bifocal Optical correction lenses, also called Gauge Reader available +1.0, +1.5, +2.0, +2.5, +3.0, +3.5, +4.0./OP251. Other features that the promate scope comes with include;

  • Two-window mask with Broad peripheral view.
  • Crystal, liquid silicone injected skirt and strap, Double edge comfort seal, low volume.

Scuba Spec Prescription Lens Insert for Dive and Full-Face Snorkeling Masks

Full-face prescription snorkel masks are quite scarce in the market. The easiest fix is to get prescription lens inserts then use them with standard full-face snorkel masks.

One of the best lens inserts is Scuba Spec insert which uses a suction cup to securely attach to the inner surface of the mask faceplate. There must be at least 1.5 inches of space between the nose pocket and the top rim of the dive mask to attach the suction cup.

Scuba Spec lens insert for full face snorkel masks
Scuba Spec

 Its features include;

  • Can accommodate any power prescription lens: single, bifocal or reading lenses.
  • Compatible with single lens dive masks and full-face snorkeling masks.

However;

  • Optical lenses for the Scuba Spec insert are custom-made. Lenses from another pair of eyeglasses cannot be used in the insert unless they are cut (edged) to fit the Scuba Spec frame.
  • Scuba Spec CAN NOT be used in a goggle-type dive mask that has two separate eyepieces.

Prescription Full Face Snorkel Mask-PROMATE

If you are looking for a full-face prescription snorkel mask, promate has got you covered. This mask comes in two colors; black and blue. It is best for those with nearsightedness problems.

Full-face Prescription snorkel masks kids and adults
Promate Full face

It comes with Rx lenses (tempered glass) available from -1.5 to -6.0 by increments of 0.5, which can be adjusted for each side

Being a full-face mask, it allows you to easily breathe through your nose and/or mouth. It does not fog and the head straps are adjustable for an easy fit.

 Prescription Full Face Snorkel Mask
Promate Full-face- white/blue

Prescription Masks Types Guide

There are many options now available for you to choose from when it comes to prescription snorkel masks. The best ones can burn a hole in your pocket; however, our buying guide will help streamline the process of selection for you.

How to choose the right prescription snorkel mask
Prescription mask

Hopefully, by the end of this guide you will know what options to consider when buying prescription glasses and which ones will work best for you without you having to compromise on quality or functionality.

Many professional snorkelers choose to wear contact lenses under their goggles as it gives a more natural feel but that comes with risks such as bacterial contamination.

 However, let’s look at a few of the options available to snorkelers with weak eyesight.

Bonded Corrective Lenses

A bonded lens is when corrective lenses are glued or ‘bonded’ to your dive mask lens from the inside. Local shops that sell equipment will be able to help you with this task. Simply, give your retailer your mask and prescription and they will send it to the authority in charge.

The company will then grind out a lens based on your specifications and glue it to the inside of your mask lens; bonding it. The entire process takes a maximum of ten days. A regular prescription will cost you around USD 180 for a basic lens. Bifocals will cost more.

While the price is lower than what it would be for customized lenses, the few downsides to this are that the shape of the bonded lens may not be a perfect fit to your mask lens, creating segmentation in the viewing field.

Bonded lens also increase the weight of your mask which may need some getting used to and last but not least, people suffering from astigmatism will find these lenses ineffective.

Custom Prescription Lenses

If you want a mask that is perfect for you, then you can have it custom made. The lenses can be made out of plastic or even glass but will cost you a hefty amount the stability and clarity you will have underwater will definitely be worth it.

 If it is within your budget, all you have to do is buy a normal snorkel mask and send it to your dive shop, along with your prescription. They will have your custom mask ready in no time.

This method involves the complete replacement of your mask’s lens with your prescription lens and is costly. However, this method deals with the downsides of bonded lenses. There is no added weight to the mask and the mask retains its field of vision.

This method is more often used by snorkelers with uncommon eye problems, such as blurry vision, which cannot be fixed by bonded lenses.

One pro tip worth mentioning is to always try out your mask before spending a ton of money on the lenses. The last thing you want is to have the lenses put into a faulty or leaky snorkel mask.

Drop-In Lens Mask

This kind of mask combats the expensive nature of custom lenses and can be available for USD 70. Masks are designed specifically to have their lenses removed with ease and ‘drop-in’ corrective lenses that are manufactured beforehand. This is still not a good option for those with extremely poor eyesight.

Generally, it is recommended for you to try on your snorkeling equipment beforehand and find one that is most compatible. This is even truer for prescription lenses; always make sure to test a mask before using it for long periods.

DIY Prescription Snorkel Mask

If you have got no other choice or if your budget does not allow for more expensive options, don’t worry, you have got one last trick up your sleeve. Here is what you should do.

First off, find an old pair of prescription glasses. Take the lenses out of them. Then, just stick them onto the lenses of your diving mask. Pretty simple, right?

Of course, it takes a bit of precision. Here are a few things you should do to make sure you get it right on the first try.

  • Put on the mask, get a marker, and put a dot on the lenses as a reference to where you want the lenses to go.
  • Don’t forget to clean the mask and lenses thoroughly and to get rid of any dust.
  • When applying super glue, make sure you stay on the outer border of the prescription lenses and then stick them onto the snorkel mask.

Can you Rent Prescription Snorkel Mask?

Snorkeling is not a regular activity for most, which is why most of its equipment is rented out through rent shops.

If you don’t see the point in buying optical corrective masks for a one-time trip you can always rent one out. This way you will be able to choose from a large range of prescriptions and even exchange it if it doesn’t work for you.

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