7 Best Prescription Snorkel Masks in 2023

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.

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.