USVI-On-Line

My teenage son will be making his first trip this June and is looking forward to snorkeling with me. He wears glasses (far-sighted) and will not even consider contacts (probably a decent $ saver for me!).

What is the process in getting him a mask with a prescription lens? He is 14, and we spend a fair amount of time in our pool, so the cost won't be just for a one-week trip. I'm assuming I need a copy of his prescription from the eye doc?

How many of you use a prescription mask, and is there any alternative (other than contacts) that would allow him to wear glasses under a mask?

I use the Sea Vision Ultra mask with Prescription lenses when I don't feel like using my contacts. I can't remember where I ordered it, but if you google it, I'm sure there are several places that sell them. I don't know of any masks that would accommodate glasses underneath.

My husband can't see a thing without his glasses. His eye doctor actually told us to buy a Rx mask on line. (The reason being it was not for scuba, he does outfit a number of serious divers)

The eye doctor gave us the Rx and I ordered the mask from snorkelmart.com. My husband loves it. I think the cost was less than $100, $75 sticks in my mind. He has never had a problem with fit, which is why he was comfortable ordering on line.

KT
I JUST PURCHASED A RX. MASK FROM WWW.GETWETSTORE.COM
VERY SIMPLE PROCESS .ALL YOU NEED IS YOUR PRESCRIPTION . I CANT WAIT TO USE THEM IN MAY/JUNE.THE PRICE I PAID WAS $74.95.THEY WORK GREAT.I CAN SEE WITHOUT MY GLASSES.

My husband is extremely near sighted. He got prescription lens from a local dive shop. He loves them. Wears them instead of his contacts when he snorkles now. I am far sighted. The same shop had some stick on lenses that would correct for farsightedness. (+1.0, 1.25, etc) They also worked real well. They were a thin clear plastic that stuck to the inside of a mask. I would think any dive shop would be able to help. It's not like we have a lot to choose from here in KS.

Someone, please resurrect the snorkel mask thread so mom can see why she needs to bring an extra pair of glasses in addition to buying the snorkel mask.

Prescription lenses for a snorkel mask are well worth the money. We went to a local dive shop with our prescriptions and they simply popped in the appropriate lenses. We have not had any problems with them leaking. We did not order online - went to dive shop instead in order to get the best fit. We love them.

I highly recommend buying the mask first, to verify the proper fit, then order the lens through the dive shop.

JF

It's great that your son was upfront with you about his unwillingness to use contacts. I've struggled through two visits now, forcing myself to put contacts in, so I could snorkel. It's torture, if you're just not into contacts!
I bumped benchill's snorkel mask story cause it's so funny it should be a sticky

I got my prescription lenses and mask at Low Key - right in Cruz Bay. Just brought my prescript with me, and they have lenses to match. Easy, and they do it right then and there!