SCUBA dive with goggles instead of mask?

[GatoMedio]

I have seen a fairly old thread about SCUBA without mask, with nothing else as a substitute, but that didn't answer my question.
So, here it goes: I am shortsighted, have been from age 10-12 years and the condition has got worse over the years. To say that without my glasses I'm as blind as a bat would be only a slight exaggeration. This may have been one of the reasons why I didn't take much interest in any kind of water sport.
Then I found out that I can have goggles made with lenses according to my prescription. I took swimming classes and now, with my goggles and fins, I am a so-so swimmer. Not going to win any gold medals, but then, I wouldn't know what to do with them.
Earlier this year, I went on a trip to a place where snorkeling is one of the main activities. The problem was that the snorkels that were available all needed to be attached to a mask, slipped into a loop in the strap that held the mask in place. And, of course, the masks didn't have any lenses. I tried to use the snorkel with my goggles but the strap wasn't made for this purpose and didn't manage to hold the snorkel in place. I ended up "snorkeling" without snorkel, dipping below the surface and coming up for air every minute or so.
In the meantime, I have bought myself a snorkel, made by Finis, that is attached with a strap around the head, so it doesn't need a mask to hold it in place. I haven't yet tried it in ernest but I think I'll be alright for snorkeling. At my next destination, Fernando de Noronha, a group of islands off the north-east cost of Brazil, they also offer what is called a "baptism" dive. It's a one-on-one deal (1 instructor, 1 learner) and I'm tempted to give it a go. But there are some doubts about the need of a mask. Not knowing the first thing about diving, I wonder whether the mask is an essential part of the gear, needed to secure all those tubes and things. I've had a look at some pictures in google but didn't come to any conclusion.
Of course, I can wait until I get there and ask the instructor, but I'd like to have an idea up front what my chances are. I'd hate to get there and be told, "It might have been possible, if ..."
So I'd appreciate whatever advice you can give me. Thanks in advance.

Gato

Yes, I know that I can have a mask made according to my prescription. But the price I have been quoted is around 700-800 USD, not the kind of money I'm willing to spend when I don't know yet if this is for me.

 

[Hawkwood]

One of the other air spaces, besides your ears, that can squeeze while descending, is the air space in a diving mask. A mask squeeze can be uncomfortable at the least and progress to ruptured blood vessels, etc. if not alleviated.

Masks are designed to enclose your nose so that you can put a bit of air into the mask to eliminate that squeeze. This is called equalizing.

You cannot do that with swim "goggles" that only enclose the eyes.

 

[toddthecat]

I wonder whether the mask is an essential part of the gear, needed to secure all those tubes and things.

Yes, a mask is necessary for diving. About as much as tires are needed for driving a car. And other than the snorkel, what are you attaching to it?

Yes, I know that I can have a mask made according to my prescription. But the price I have been quoted is around 700-800 USD, not the kind of money I'm willing to spend when I don't know yet if this is for me.

Who quoted you that much? Rx lenses are expensive, but not THAT expensive...

 

[agilis]

I'm not sure what the import duties are these days in Brasil, but there are many mask manufacturers that make corrected lenses that simply replace the original lenses. These are widely available in the US, Europe, and Asia, and inexpensive You simply pop out the original lens, and pop in the corrected lens. No prescription needed, but you need to know the diopter correction you require. This changing of lenses is very easy to do, and masks are far better than goggles.

The entire lens is corrected, but only for basic levels of nearsightedness (shortsightedness) and are offered in diopters, like -2.0, -3.0. -4.5, etc. Commercial optometrists would much prefer you to have a more elaborate and precise correction ground into the existing lens, but it's not necessary, in my experience, and absurdly expensive. The diopter for shortsightedness will always be prefixed with a minus (-) sign. A diagnosis/ prescription of -3.0 diopters is very nearsighted, -5 and you will have trouble seeing anything. These corrected lenses will not correct for astigmatism, etc, but for snorkeling you will not require that kind of thing.

The masks cost about $60 to $90, and the corrected lenses may be $30 to $40 each. Check with US mail order operations like Scubatoys in Texas or Leisurepro in NYC. There are dozens of sources here in the US. Any simple snorkel will attach to the headband of any standard mask with a rubber device that is simple and cheap. Check online catalogs and don't believe things you are told by those who make money by selling things you may need. Do your own research. These may be available in Brasil already, but you will not find out from an optometrist.

Good luck and best wishes.

 

[TXreefer]

Contact Jim Lapenta. I remember reading a thread that mentioned he had something to so with prescription masks.

 

[diversteve]

Check with US mail order operations like Scubatoys in Texas or Leisurepro in NYC.

Some examples: diopter - Search Results for diopter - www.leisurepro.com

Less import duties/taxes you should be able to get the mask and diopters for under $100 US
Leisurepro ships worldwide.

These people also ship internationally. http://prescriptiondivemasks.com/

 

[dytis-sm]

I have seen people at my gym's pool using a snorkel with swimming gogles, but it is some gadget that was centered and attaches on your head. It goes over the gogles and does not attach to them. I think it also pinches your nose so you do not get water into it. People using it appear to have so disability that does not allow them to twist their head to breath while they are face down in the water. Search online for a "swimming snorkel" and you will find it.


As far as diving, that is another story because without the covered piece for your nose, you cannot empty water out of your gogles. That is the least of the big issues. They will also be very uncomfortable because of the water pressure.

 

[toddthecat]

We sell the Scubamax Navigator with Rx lenses installed for $75. The lenses are bifocals but it's a start.

 

[Imla]

I dont know if you are exclusively a glasses-type, or if you also use contacts.

I am also "blind as a bat nearsighted"... I wear contacts. Have never had problems with them. Even with maskoff exercises.
I make sure to keep a spare set in my car/saveadivekit.

 

[tracydr]

I tried diving in my pool with my swim goggles just because I had my goggles on and grabbed a scuba tank. You will get a terrible squeeze, even at a depth of 9-10 feet. There is no way to equalize the swim goggles.
But, as others have said. You can get prescription mask.

With that said, I did find that snorkeling with my swim goggles was the only way that I finally taught myself not to nose breath. After years of not being able to remove my mask without getting a nose full of water, I taught myself to be totally comfortable breathing without a mask, by snorkeling with my swim goggles. For some reason, I was unable to stop the nose breathing for the longest time. This was a really hard skill for me to teach myself. I spent hours in the pool trying to drown myself with a snorkel and swim goggles. So, anybody with mask issues, I highly recommend swim goggles and a snorkel, in the pool. It will teach you how to not breath through your nose when breathing on your regulator.