Prescription Dive Masks And How Far They Have Come

For anyone interested in prescription dive masks, there have been a lot of advancements in the past few decades. When they were first invented, they were rather clumsy, and only provided slight vision correction. Plus, it could be difficult to obtain a prescription dive mask if you lived far away from a specialty scuba gear store. Nowadays they have been developed into lightweight, very comfortable, and can be custom made to fit any prescription. Availability is no longer a problem, either, thanks to the internet.

The first pairs were available only in what was called a step-diopter option. A diopter is the unit of measurement used to describe prescription strength; the higher the diopter number, the stronger the prescription. When they were only available in the step-diopter option, people could choose a strength that was close but not exactly what the diver needed. This option thrilled people at the time considering that the alternative was not being able to see while scuba diving or snorkeling.

Step-diopter masks can still be purchased, or rented. They actually offer many benefits. In the first place, they can be mass manufactured this way and sold with a low price tag. Additionally, scuba gear rental shops can stock a bunch of them and have instantly available for anyone who wants them without much planning or preparation.

However, because everything in our modern world comes with options, they are also manufactured with custom built into the lenses. While the step-diopter mask works fine for a lot of people, many other people have needs that can only be met with a custom-made mask. Divers who have astigmatism or who wear bifocal lenses need a specially manufactured mask. The same goes for anyone who has a super-strong prescription.

Of course, many serious divers simply prefer to have it fit to their exact needs. When a personal item is used very frequently, people like for it to be as precise as possible.

For the most part, they are used by divers who regularly wear glasses. People who cannot wear contact lenses, either for personal or medical reasons, need these types of masks because it is their only way to see while snorkeling or diving. Still, divers who wear contact lenses might want to consider these types as well.

Contact lenses and water usually do not mix well. Whether diving in freshwater or ocean water, or even chlorinated water, contact lens wearers run the risk of infection. Contact lenses absorb microscopic bacteria. The invisible bacteria clusters together in little colonies and begins to cause irritation, then more serious medical problems. It may be a good idea to keep the contact lenses away from water altogether.