Can I still dive if I wear glasses?

One of the questions we often get asked is whether someone who wears glasses can dive. The short answer is yes, there are a few different options for those who wear glasses and want to dive.

One option is to wear dive contacts with daily disposable lenses as they are the best in case you lose one during some of the mask skills which can happen occasionally. Although the soft contact lenses are the most popular type of lenses worn, there are some contact lens wearers who prefer the hard/ridged gas permeable lenses. The soft lenses are a much better option for diving, as they are less susceptible to suction as atmospheric pressure increases. Gas permeable lenses may cause pain and discomfort to your eyes, also being permeable they let gases flow through to the eyes, meaning nitrogen bubbles can easily form between the lens and the eye, blurring your vision.

Remember, when diving with contact lenses, to close your eyes when removing your mask during flooded, cleared and retrieved skills practice. This will help to avoid your contact lenses floating out and becoming lost. Additionally, it will ease any discomfort and irritation from salt water, as well as reducing the risk of infection.

If you are not a contact lens wearer, then a mask with prescriptive lenses is an ideal choice. This type of mask has corrective lenses built into the mask itself, which means you can still wear your glasses underneath.

If you do not wear contact lenses, a prescription mask can be an excellent choice. Masks that require a prescription are also considerably more expensive however, they can be a valuable investment for those who plan to dive frequently. If you have difficulty reading but can cope with distances (long sighted), then you can purchase Hydrotac Lenses that you attach to the lower portion of a regular mask; these functions much like wearing bifocal reading glasses.