Buying a prescription dive mask for either diving or snorkeling mask can really revolutionize the way you see underwater enhancing your diving experience.
Maybe it seems a little obvious, but you will be surprised at just how many people go years without getting the best for their vision and just make do without. When they do decide to take the plunge, people become overwhelmed with the difference a diving mask designed with corrective lenses can actually make to their diving experience.
This is why prescription masks are a must-have scuba accessory for anyone who needs lens correction either through glasses or contact lenses. Although you cannot wear glasses while diving, even with one of the best full face masks, with contact lenses you can, although this can come with problems and put your safety at risk at times.
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Best Prescription Dive Mask Reviews
Sometimes, finding the right scuba mask with prescription lenses to complete your scuba diving gear can be a difficult task. But don’t worry, that’s why we’re here. We will help guide you on your way to finding the best diving masks with the prescription lens option on the market.
There are many styles but and our goal is to help you find the best scuba mask prescription product that fits both your needs and budget. We have put together a list of the best prescription diving mask reviews in order to help you find exactly what the one for you.
1. Scubapro Flux Twin Dual Len Prescription Dive Mask
High Quality & Best Performance
The Scubapro Flux Twin Dual Lens is the first option we have that is designed to accept optical lenses that improve your underwater view and replace the use of glasses. With a wide selection of optical lens strengths available, it makes picking the prescription mask for you so much easier.
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The hypoallergenic, silicone skirt features a double-feathered edge which provides a comfortable, watertight seal on a variety of face shapes. With a non-slip strap and easy to adjust buckles and offering all-over comfort it is another great product from ScubaPro.
A great option if you are looking for the perfect corrective dive mask and is available in a variety of colors.
2. ScubaPro Zoom Evo Prescription Dive Mask
Universal Fit & Ideal for all Divers
The Scubapro Zoom Evo is a low-volume dual lens mask, ideal for all divers. Especially suited to divers who use optical lenses and is good as both a scuba and snorkel mask for those of you that wear glasses and offers a brand new lens change system that lets you switch lenses yourself without using any tools and in under a minute.
An ideal design for divers looking for an all-around prescription swim mask, this model offers universal fitting for comfort and a watertight fit, along with integrated buckles that make adjustments easy.
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Although this does come in various colors to match other Scubapro products, you can get an optional color kit so that you can match this prescription snorkeling mask with the rest of your dive gear.
Please note that the optical lenses are sold separately and come in a large selection of strengths as well as bi-focal, ideal for replacing your reading glasses for reading your gauges and dive computers. As prescription masks go this certainly deserves to be on our list.
3. Atomic Sub Frame Prescription Scuba Mask
Durable & Lifetime Warranty
The Atomic Sub Frame has to be the top prescription snorkel mask for durability, with the manufacturers putting their money behind their product when saying it is the strongest and most indestructible two-window mask on the market, as it carries a lifetime warranty against frame breakage.
Although this brings the price up a little higher than some of the other products, this mask comes with UltraClear lenses which are a new and exciting optical quality glass providing exception clarity and high light transmission.
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There is no color distortion with these dive mask corrective lenses that you can find with standard lenses. An excellent choice for someone looking for a long-term purchase and an optimum underwater view.
These prescription masks are available in Regular, Medium (for narrower faces), and Slim Fit which gives a smaller, higher nose pocket and a narrower nose bridge to accommodate geometry common to Asian facial profiles and is also available in a variety of colors.
4. Cressi Big Eyes Evolution Crystal
Exceptional Field of View & High Quality
The Cressi Big Eyes Evolution Crystal option comes with ranked dive mask prescription lenses and uses exclusively the new silicone Crystal of Cressi that provides an excellent field-of-view. The mask itself is very well-designed with inverted teardrop lenses to improve downward visibility.
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Quick and easy-to-use buckles that are integrated into the mask on a swivel and, unlike some of the other silicone masks on the market, the resistance to yellowing. Built to accept optical lenses to replace the need for your glasses makes this option friendly and comfortable to use with no more struggling when you search your dive computer for info.
5. ProMate Scope Scuba Prescription Scuba Mask
Designed for off-the-shelf correction
The ProMate Scope Scuba optical corrective prescription dive mask is great for off-the-shelf correction for your vision. Its liquid silicone injected skirt and strap make it comfortable to wear, ideal for medium-sized faces. So if your vision isn’t 20/20 and you are looking for a dive or optical snorkel mask, as you can’t go diving or snorkeling with glasses, this is an affordable product for you.
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This scuba mask is available in all lens strengths to 10 and offers a bi-focal option for reading if needed, also available in various colors and all-around prescription face mask snorkeling or diving.
6. Cressi Focus Prescription Mask
High Quality & Graduated Optical Lenses
Cressi is known for its high-quality scuba diving products all over the world. And this mask option is yet another product of theirs that just doesn’t disappoint in fact it has been one of the most popular masks for years. The buckles are revolving allowing for quick and easy adjustment and the strap is a wide split design for even more comfort.
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The Cressi Focus is a compact and lightweight mask that has a soft hypoallergenic silicone skirt featuring a double feathered edge seal to provide an excellent seal with great comfort even after prolonged use. It is a low-volume mask with minimum distance between the eyes and lenses that ensures an excellent field of view.
These come with the option to install graduated strength of lenses, making it a great option for a prescription dive mask that is reliable and durable.
7. Tusa Paragon Prescription Diving Mask
Tri-Mix Frame & High Quality
The Tusa Paragon prescription mask is a higher price point but it is a new advanced professional dive mask. A reinforced tri-mix frame produces a superior structure for a long-lasting product. This corrective lens mask comes with CrystalView optical glass which provides both eye protection and ultimate clarity.
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The new technology adds not only rigidness but the strength to the skirt for use in tougher environments. Another brilliant feature of this mask is the TUSA’s patented 3D Strap which fits the natural curve of the head making it probably one of the most comfortable out there today.
Corrective Lenses are offered in both a variety of diopters for maximum flexibility. Definitely a mask for any professional diver.
8. Tusa Freedom CEOS Prescription Diving Mask
Affordable & Comfortable
The Tusa Freedom CEOS dive and snorkel mask have an amazing field of view, given that it is such a low-volume mask. Included with Freedom Technology, this provides ultimate comfort with a superior seal for minimizing leakage.
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This has quick, easily adjusted low profile buckles and is fitted with the TUSA’s patented 3D Strap which fits the natural curve of the head making it probably one of the most comfortable brands on the market today. This is a great choice for a reliable prescription mask without having to break the bank.
How to Choose a Prescription Dive Mask
When you are thinking about buying your own mask for better vision and you have some decisions to make, but it is important to remember first and foremost you should find the right mask for you. There is no point getting a mask with prescription lenses if it is ill-fitting and uncomfortable.
We have created this short list of comparisons to help guide you when you are looking at buying prescription dive masks. But, remember a lot of the manufacturers supply masks where the user can replace the lenses giving you even more choice. If you don’t see anything you like here pop over and take a look at our best scuba mask reviews you may be surprised at just how many options are out there.
To recap, here are our 3 most popular prescription diving mask picks:
- Low Volume Design
- Wide Field of Vision
- UltraClear Lenses
- Lifetime Warranty
- High Quality
- Custom Fit
- Tri-Mix Frame
- CrystalView Optical Glass
- Excellent Field of View
- Crystal Silicone
- Improved Visibility
- Inverted Teardrop Lenses
Different Types of Prescription Dive Mask Lenses
Lens configuration and specification present the biggest decision to make when you search for any mask. Add to the fact you want corrective lenses it can become a daunting task and a little more challenging.
Masks have either a single, twin or multiple lens configurations, with the glass specification, lens shape, and special coatings all being possible options. There are five basic types of lenses, which we have broken down for you below.
Single Vision – Any prescription, nearsighted, farsighted, astigmatic, or prismatic, including matching pupillary distance.
Bifocals – Bifocals for both distance and near.
See-Unders – See-under for the nearsighted person that takes off their glasses to read.
Classic Readers – Readers for close work with your gauges, camera or computer.
Executive Style Readers – Larger reader for the underwater professional.
Prescription Dive Mask Material
A mask is more typically made of silicone or rubber, although rubber is a cheaper material than silicone, it’s important to remember that rubber is not as durable. For that reason, nowadays, you will find most masks are in fact silicone. This is great for us because the silicone makes the masks soft and flexible with the durability needed and also provides a good seal around your face making leakage minimal and comfort heightened.
It’s very important if you are diving to buy a product with tempered glass. Otherwise, the material won’t be able to cope with the pressures when descending and could potentially break. If you have ever wondered how a scuba dive mask is made click here to find out.
Renting vs Investing in a Dive Mask
Since a mask needs to be right for your face specifically, we recommend that divers buy their own masks. Most dive centers will have a wide range of masks available and some even offer prescription masks for you to rent, which is also a good option should you accidentally forget to bring your mask or don’t have any space to travel with one.
What is the difference between diving and snorkel masks?
There are a few requirements in order for diving masks to be suitable for the job and even the best prescription snorkel mask can not be used instead. First, your mask should have strong tempered glass which will be able to withstand the pressures when diving.
Secondly, a mask for divers must have a skirt that encloses the nose in order to provide the airspace in a divers mask to be able to equalize upon descent. As with any scuba mask, it’s important to make sure your mask fits properly.
Frequently Asked Questions about a Prescription Dive Mask
Well there you have it, some of the most popular masks and brands that are available on the market. Any one of these will enhance your vision while diving and give you a better sight for reading your gauges, seeing the marine life around you and help prevent eye strain, even if you wear contacts this is a safer way to go.
So are you farsighted enough to go out and invest? To help you even further in your search for the best prescription masks, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions below.
Can you wear glasses under a dive mask?
Wearing glasses with a dive mask is a big NO we are afraid as this will prevent a watertight seal from forming around the face area and will, therefore, let water in.
However, although contacts can be worn it is not necessarily the safest way to go as these could get washed out should your mask accidentally fill, leaving you with no way of reading your instruments or finding your way to safety.
What is a diopter?
A diopter is a unit of measurement given for the strength, or the refractive power of a lens. The higher the diopter number the stronger the lens is.
How do you calculate a prescription diopter?
The easiest way to calculate a prescription diopter is through your glasses prescription. This will have a letter “D” and this number and a plus or minus (Near or Farsighted) will tell you your diopter count. You will need this number when choosing a mask or goggles to match your vision needs exactly or as close as possible.
What’s the difference between high and low volume?
Mask volume refers to the amount of airspace you have inside the mask. They each have their advantages. High volume masks offer a feeling of openness and also help to extend peripheral vision. They do, however, take that little more effort to clear. Low volume, also known as low-profile dive masks, sit closer to your face but can be cleared of water a lot quicker.
5 comments
I opted for the Cressi Big Eyes Evolution Crystal prescription dive masks, personally I would give them 5 stars! They have everything I was looking for and also within my budget.
I have the Atomic Sub Frame prescription dive mask, and cannot fault it at all! A great purchase.
Love this list of prescription dive masks. I have been looking for something like this for a while now, so thanks so much for sharing!
What mask do you recommend / what should I look for in a mask for people with deep “ smile “ lines ? Prescription needed . Thanks
Is there any masks made that darken in really bright sunlight over white sand?