While many claim there is no need for vision correction while diving, as the water magnifies your vision, this is not necessarily true for everyone. Things appear approximately 33% larger/closer underwater due to refraction, so if you have only slightly corrected vision, you may be able to see just fine underwater. But for the rest of us to truly appreciate the splendor of the coral reefs in macro detail or to be able to read our depth gauges accurately, there are quite a few options available.
Options for Lenses for those Who Want to go Scuba Diving
Contact Lenses
Disposable soft contact lenses work brilliantly underwater and are a more readily available and cost-friendly option. The main benefit of contact lenses is that they can be used both on the surface and in the water, making them extremely popular with the eyeglass-wearing diver community. Though there is always the risk of them occasionally floating away should you take off or clean your mask underwater, many still swear by contact lenses and have completed numerous dives without losing one. Still, keep those eyes closed while clearing your diving mask underwater, and carry along an extra set just in case.
For hard contact lens wearers, make sure you first check with your optometrist whether you can dive wearing them, as they may not be suitable against the pressure as you dive; you may want to switch to soft lenses for your dives.
For those who are uncomfortable with wearing contact lenses while scuba diving, there are still options. Prescription-fitted masks are becoming increasingly popular, with several opticians offering custom-fitted prescription lenses as inserts into swimming goggles or scuba masks. You can also get corrective lens-compatible masks from the mask manufacturers themselves. Buy the lens according to your need and have it fitted into the mask at the dive store itself. Many manufacturers also offer unique masks for those requiring bifocals or astigmatism correction.
Scuba Masks with Prescription
Prescription masks are often expensive, but if properly maintained, they will last the user a considerable amount of time and may be well worth the investment.
If you dive infrequently or don’t want to spring for a prescription mask, you could always check with your local dive operator before you set out to see if they stock prescription masks that can be rented along with your dive gear and save you the trouble and cost of purchasing your own set.
“The few wonders of the world only exist while there are those with the sight to see them.” So don’t let your eyesight hold you back from witnessing the wonders of the underwater realm and the joys of Scuba Diving.
