Boarders,
I'm getting on in age (52) and what used to be 20/20 vision is now still pretty good, but I have to use +1.75 glasses for reading. I'm looking into getting an off the rack mask with bifocals. I've been doing some research and found a few I am interested, The H2O Alpha 4, The XS MA280 Gauge Reader and the SeaVision 2600 IV. I'm looking to get them not only to see my gauges and camera but for also looking at small critters, so I've eliminated some models as they have downward looking windows for guages only. I would like to hear your opinions on these models if you have used them, or others if they are easily available. With the aging population, seems like someone should have done a comprehensive reveiw on off the rack bifocal masks, but they haven't so let's do one here. The manufacturers sites are sorely lacking on up close pictures and details. Things I would like to hear about :
1. Fit - I have a thinner face with moustache. Does the mask have double skirt?
2. Far Vision - Can you see clearly at distance without annoying bifocal line?
3. Near Vision - Can you see up close easily without cocking your head too much? Can you see with both eyes?
4. Side vision - Can you see peripheral images?
5. Availability - I can't possibly shop 6 different LDS looking at all the brands so they need to be available online. You could get exotic and order custom prescriptions, but then they wouldn't be off the rack, i.e. expensive and unavailable if you need to pick some up quickly.
Another question I'll pose here which I cannot find the answer to : I use +1.75 reading glasses, do I need to adjust this for underwater with the figures quoted on the lens? In other words, if I use +1.75 in air will a +1.75 look the same underwater or will I need to order a +2.5 or a +1.5 or ? In other words, are the correction factors the mask manufactures quote equivalent to those in air?
Here is my experience and some of the masks I've found.
Stick on Bifocals - I have had much experience with these. You can either buy the Optix brand for a whopping $30 or there are many alternatives for much less. I bought a pair at Walgreens for $5. They work pretty good for what you pay for them (if you get the $5 version) but they are a half circle and don't fit nicely into a mask unless you cut them. They are hard to position so that they are positioned at the bottom snugly so they don't waste far vision area on your mask They stick pretty well but I have lost 2 of them as they do work loose when constantly soaked in water (see below). The real problem that I found with these is that these will usually always fog up long before the rest of the mask fogs up, must be the plastic construction. I have found that I have to keep a bit of water in my mask to slosh around and clear the fog from these, fog drops don't help, in fact it seems to make it worse. If you are cheap or need something at the last minute these will do in a crunch. I have a pair in my save-a-dive kit.
H2 Odyssey Alpha 2 - $50 + $54 for lenses = $104
H2 Odyssey Alpha 4 - $60 + $54 for lenses = $114
http://www.diveremporium.com/h2odysseymasks.html
The Alpha 4 seems to be similar to the Alpha 2 except they have clear plastic sides for peripheral vision. I like this and have it in my current mask. You can't really see out the sides but you can see your dive buddy or cave wall out of your peripheral vision and is a feature I seek.
XS Scuba Down Look MA280 Gauge Reader w/+1.75 bifocal - $68
http://www.scuba.com/shop/diving.asp_cat_53_scuba_1_gear_027145_pn_XS-SCUBA-DOWN-LOOK-MASK-WITH-GAUGE-READER
Seavision 2600 IV w/ Gauge ReaderT +2.00 lens - $210
Seavision 2000 w/ Gauge ReaderT +2.00 lens - $210
Seavision 2200 Ultra comfort w/ Gauge ReaderT +2.00 lens - $210
http://www.seavisionusa.com/index.html
A few others I've seen that have bifocals:
Tusa Splendive IV or Platina - can only find these on UK sites
Mares Xvision - can only find these on UK sites
- Mike (aka tuffshed)
I'm getting on in age (52) and what used to be 20/20 vision is now still pretty good, but I have to use +1.75 glasses for reading. I'm looking into getting an off the rack mask with bifocals. I've been doing some research and found a few I am interested, The H2O Alpha 4, The XS MA280 Gauge Reader and the SeaVision 2600 IV. I'm looking to get them not only to see my gauges and camera but for also looking at small critters, so I've eliminated some models as they have downward looking windows for guages only. I would like to hear your opinions on these models if you have used them, or others if they are easily available. With the aging population, seems like someone should have done a comprehensive reveiw on off the rack bifocal masks, but they haven't so let's do one here. The manufacturers sites are sorely lacking on up close pictures and details. Things I would like to hear about :
1. Fit - I have a thinner face with moustache. Does the mask have double skirt?
2. Far Vision - Can you see clearly at distance without annoying bifocal line?
3. Near Vision - Can you see up close easily without cocking your head too much? Can you see with both eyes?
4. Side vision - Can you see peripheral images?
5. Availability - I can't possibly shop 6 different LDS looking at all the brands so they need to be available online. You could get exotic and order custom prescriptions, but then they wouldn't be off the rack, i.e. expensive and unavailable if you need to pick some up quickly.
Another question I'll pose here which I cannot find the answer to : I use +1.75 reading glasses, do I need to adjust this for underwater with the figures quoted on the lens? In other words, if I use +1.75 in air will a +1.75 look the same underwater or will I need to order a +2.5 or a +1.5 or ? In other words, are the correction factors the mask manufactures quote equivalent to those in air?
Here is my experience and some of the masks I've found.
Stick on Bifocals - I have had much experience with these. You can either buy the Optix brand for a whopping $30 or there are many alternatives for much less. I bought a pair at Walgreens for $5. They work pretty good for what you pay for them (if you get the $5 version) but they are a half circle and don't fit nicely into a mask unless you cut them. They are hard to position so that they are positioned at the bottom snugly so they don't waste far vision area on your mask They stick pretty well but I have lost 2 of them as they do work loose when constantly soaked in water (see below). The real problem that I found with these is that these will usually always fog up long before the rest of the mask fogs up, must be the plastic construction. I have found that I have to keep a bit of water in my mask to slosh around and clear the fog from these, fog drops don't help, in fact it seems to make it worse. If you are cheap or need something at the last minute these will do in a crunch. I have a pair in my save-a-dive kit.
H2 Odyssey Alpha 2 - $50 + $54 for lenses = $104
H2 Odyssey Alpha 4 - $60 + $54 for lenses = $114
http://www.diveremporium.com/h2odysseymasks.html
The Alpha 4 seems to be similar to the Alpha 2 except they have clear plastic sides for peripheral vision. I like this and have it in my current mask. You can't really see out the sides but you can see your dive buddy or cave wall out of your peripheral vision and is a feature I seek.
XS Scuba Down Look MA280 Gauge Reader w/+1.75 bifocal - $68
http://www.scuba.com/shop/diving.asp_cat_53_scuba_1_gear_027145_pn_XS-SCUBA-DOWN-LOOK-MASK-WITH-GAUGE-READER
Seavision 2600 IV w/ Gauge ReaderT +2.00 lens - $210
Seavision 2000 w/ Gauge ReaderT +2.00 lens - $210
Seavision 2200 Ultra comfort w/ Gauge ReaderT +2.00 lens - $210
http://www.seavisionusa.com/index.html
A few others I've seen that have bifocals:
Tusa Splendive IV or Platina - can only find these on UK sites
Mares Xvision - can only find these on UK sites
- Mike (aka tuffshed)
