Total Newcomer... With a Question.

[Dead Weight]

I have no diving experience, but am keen on trying it out. I'd like to take up freediving, and eventually reach my ultimate goal, spearfishing.

Unfortunately I wear glasses for my nearsightedness (can't see distant objects well, -3 in both eyes). I'm wondering how much I'll need to budget for a mask with custom lenses? My student budget is not to flexible so I'm trying too see if investing in contact lenses would be cheaper.

 

[Chris_C_NZ]

Hey, and welcome to the beer-bottle club :friday

You dont mention if you have astigmatism or prisms etc. If you do (like me) things will get quite complicated and will limit your options.

Ideas:

1. HydroOptix do a cool mask that is bug-eyed to correct shortsight through the refraction properties of water.

2. Contact lenses.

3. Rx lenses in masks - usually limits your options in terms of what mask you can go for

4. Bonded Rx lenses in masks - pick a mask, and they bond a lense to the inside of the mask.

5. Do without (like me).

My prescription is pretty poor in left eye and virtually blind in right eye due to astigmatism. I'm ok with viz up to about 15 feet (granted, I cant make detail but I see enough to be OK). Right eye is -2.25 cyl, -5.5 sph, i.e. munted.

I'd suggest you borrow a friends mask and take it to your local swimming pool and go 'test the water'. You might be surprised that you can see more than you bargained for!

 

[Dead Weight]

Thanks Chris for the insightful information!

After doing some googling, it seems that disposable contact lenses are quite affordable. I do have astigmatism, but it's not a big deal for me. I've found very little difference in vision quality between glasses with my astigmatism correction, and those of a friend. I'll try and get a mask that fits me well. If the contacts irritate me enough, I'll get some prescription lenses that I'll set on the inside of the mask.

 

[Chris_C_NZ]

No problemo. Just remember to keep your eyes shut if you ever flood your mask!

 

[Salehthefish]

Hello and welcome on DB

All best

 

[_Aaron_]

I wear soft disposables. I havent had any problems. If you have never worn them before, you will qant to get used to wearing tgem before you try putting on the mask.