USVI-On-Line

Hi everyone,

Just a little over 2 months until my trip to St. John! I have to confess, that I don't snorkel I am the one that sits on the beach smiling while the others in my troup of 10 venture out. This trip, my darling boyfriend is coming He hasn't been able to make any previous trips and I think he would love snorkeling. I would like to buy him some gear, but I don't know what I should be looking for. He wears glasses (no contacts); is it possible to get a mask that he can wear over his glasses?

No, but there are prescription masks available. They look like ordinary masks, but have lenses set into frames which snap into the mask. Sue (SuefromMA), and I are exploring this option for me. I will need bi-focals to be able to read my camera settings while underwater.

I suggest you visit Diver's Den Dive Shop (diversdendiveshop.com), in nearby Manchester - (603) 627-2536. At least give them a call to check it out. I have been there, and they are very helpful.

Jim

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Hi
I would suggest getting him a gift card from a good!!! dive shop and let him go in and get fitted for the mask and fins. My mask I had the lenses groud to my prescription.
Tom

I know it seems like a lot of money - you will spend between 100 and 200 dollars on a prescription mask - but after spending all that money to go to the Virgin Islands you have to be able to snorkle and see the fish - I have gone through a couple of prescription masks (changing prescriptions, broken mask that could not be repaired) but it is so worth it - the memories will live with him forever!!!!

Anyone with prescription masks use the bi-focal lenses? I am thinking of doing that and will be following my own advice and returning to the dive shop I recommended to PSWLRW. There is more than one type of bi-focal (progressives seem too expensive), but I am anxious to hear others weigh in on this topic too.

Jim

My hubby wears trifocals and went for years not seeing much when he snorkled. He has since invested in 2 pair of prescription masks. The first one he bought through a local dive shop (they're the kind that has the prescription lens glued/added to the mask). He was so amazed at what he was able to see he didn't want to risk being without so he bought a second (backup) mask. He can't believe he waited so long. The second one he had his prescription ground into the mask (done by our local ophthalmologists). We always take both masks so if he springs a leak (which he hasn't as yet) he's got his second mask as his backup. Some of us STJ addicts are a bit obsessive about or snorkling. Now when we snorkle he is able to point things out to me instead of the other way around.

Get your prescription mask. It's so worth it.

Paula can I ask why you don't snorkle Took my sister down last year and she wouldn't because she couldn't put the mask on. Well her kids kept telling her what she missed that made she practiced on her couch at home then in the bath tub to get used to it. When we went down this year she started to cry after her first time at what she missed with her kids last year. Now she is hooked.
tom

Tom,

Every time I go I say "this is the year I'll snorkel". I used to be prone to anxiety attacks and just the thought of snorkeling would induce one!! I've gotten much better so I am considering trying this year, especially since you don't have to go very far out in St. John to see some amazing stuff! Without snorkeling, I have seen 2 barracudas, a turtle, and lots of sweet little schools of fish swimming past my legs. But I am going to give it a try this year. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can ...

You go for it girl

My husband had a bad experience with snorkeling the first time we were on STJ. He had a mustache and, of course, couldn't get a seal with the mask. He has now shaved off the mustache (I had never seen him without it!) and we both invested in prescription masks. We'll try them out on Sat. I think being able to see well increase a person's confidence a great deal.

I have friends that have graduated from standard masks to prescription masks and they have all said that it was a great investment. One of the grandfathers in the Gang of 24 trip put an old pair of glasses with the ear peices cut down in his mask and he thought it worked fine for him. I thought it looked like a hassle

Me? Still 20/20 and 20/15 after 44 years. But, I keep calling the kids by the wrong names...

Cheers, RickG

My husband just got a prescription mask with bifocals last month (from local dive shop and ground to his prescription). He took it to the pool and tried it out. He LOVES the bifocals in it and could easily see his watch clearly and in detail underwater. He is big into taking pictures (we just bought an underwater case for our nice Canon camera) and was concerned that he wouldn't be able to see the camera controls underwater. The bifocal feature is great for him. Unlike lucky Rick G, we are over 40 and need reading glasses!
The last prescription mask he had was the kind where you snap the pre-made lenses in a mask at the dive shop. It worked ok for one year, but developed a leak last year in STJ. (Nothing more irritating than a leaky mask.) The dive shop said they sometimes have problems with the snap-in type, and recommended getting one where they make the lens and install it in the mask at the manufacturer. I agree with the others - if you can afford one that is custom made to your prescription, it is well worth it.
So he hasn't tried it while snorkeling yet (trip coming up in April), but he thinks its going to be great based upon using it in the pool.

Thanks everyone for the info. I will defintely check out the Manchester NH dive shop and get him a prescription mask. I can't wait to share St. John with him!!

Paula,
You HAVE to try snorkeling! Just relax and go slow. You will love it. Sometimes a dive shop will give snorkeling lessons. We took my son to try on masks and they said that if we bought one there that they would give him a lesson for free. It really is very easy though.
Have fun!
Terese