How to snorkel with glasses or contacts
Five ways to see clearly while snorkeling if you wear glasses: corrective masks, swap-in lenses, custom lenses, contacts and stick-on lenses, compared on cost and convenience.
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If you wear glasses, you have probably tried snorkeling with a blurry reef. You do not have to. There are five practical options.
The 5 options compared
| Option | Cost | Best for | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready-made corrective mask | Low | Simple nearsighted prescriptions | Limited strengths, no astigmatism |
| Swap-in corrective lenses | Low to mid | Different strength each eye | Specific mask models only |
| Custom bonded lenses | High | Astigmatism, complex prescriptions | Price, lead time |
| Contacts under a regular mask | Low (if you wear contacts) | Contact lens wearers | Infection risk, can wash out |
| Stick-on optical lenses | Low | Reading gauges, mild needs | Limited, can peel |
Our picks
| Pick | Best for | Skip it if | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Promate corrective lens maskReady-made corrective | Simple nearsighted prescriptions | Astigmatism | Check price |
Cressi Big Eyes Evolution + optical lensesSwap-in lenses | Different strength each eye | Strong astigmatism | Check price |
Ready-made corrective
Promate corrective lens mask
Pre-fitted corrective lenses in common strengths.
- Lenses
- Pre-fitted
Good
- Cheap
- Ready to use
Not so good
- Limited range
Swap-in lenses
Cressi Big Eyes Evolution + optical lenses
Buy the mask and a lens for each side.
- Lenses
- Per side
Good
- Flexible
Not so good
- Two purchases
Contacts: the risks
Eye-care organizations advise against exposing contact lenses to water because of infection risk. If you choose contacts, use daily disposables, close your eyes if water floods the mask, and discard the lenses afterward. Ask your eye doctor first.
Tips
- Water magnifies, so many people choose slightly weaker corrective lenses than their glasses.
- Tour boats on the Great Barrier Reef and elsewhere sometimes carry prescription masks; ask when booking.
Full product picks in best prescription snorkel masks.
