Best prescription snorkel masks (2022 update)
We evaluated top-rated prescription snorkel masks to find the best products for glasses-wearers. Here are the masks we recommend for a range of budgets.
With around 75% of adults in the United States needing some type of vision correction, many snorkelers require products to help them see better underwater 1. If you snorkel and have vision problems, finding a quality snorkel mask that meets your needs and budget can significantly improve your experience underwater.
While there are various solutions for snorkelers who wear glasses, buying a prescription snorkel mask is the best way to ensure you’ll have a clear view of marine life. A good prescription snorkel mask should be tailored to your needs and face shape, feel comfortable, and provide you with a clear picture of the underwater world.
We’ve selected the Scubapro Zoom Diving Mask as the best overall mask for snorkelers with glasses.
Scubapro Zoom
Promate Scope
TUSA Paragon
Scubapro Zoom
Promate Scope
Top pick: Scubapro Zoom Diving Mask
Scubapro Zoom Diving Mask
With a wide range of prescription lenses, high-quality construction, and a reasonable price point, this mask is a top choice among spectacled snorkelers and divers.
Check PriceThe Scubapro Zoom is a low-volume dual-lens mask that fits a range of face shapes and sizes. The mask has a wide array of prescription lenses, quality materials, and various features for improved comfort. As a result, it’s an excellent choice for snorkelers seeking a prescription mask that will stand up to frequent adventures in the water.
Thanks to the fast lens-change system, it’s simple to pop in your prescription lenses at home without any tools or hassle. While the mask’s universal fit may not be ideal for those with especially narrow or large faces, even some reviewers with small faces found a comfortable, leak-free fit with the Scubapro Zoom.
The low profile makes this mask a good choice for snorkelers who also plan on using it for scuba diving or freediving.
Budget pick: Promate Scope Scuba Dive Mask
Promate Scope Scuba Dive Mask
This affordable mask is a great value, fits a variety of face shapes, and comes in a wide range of prescriptions.
Check PriceThe Promate Scope Scuba Dive Mask has proven performance and offers excellent value for money. It has the largest range of prescription lenses of any product on this list and is a great choice for nearsighted and farsighted snorkelers. The bifocal lens options also make it a good fit for underwater photographers and scuba divers who wear reading glasses and need to read a screen, watch, or camera settings in the water.
Designed for medium faces, the low-volume mask provides a comfortable fit for most snorkelers and offers good peripheral vision. Since the seller typically installs the lenses, you’ll need to order a new mask or contact them for an upgrade if your prescription changes over time.
High-end pick: TUSA Paragon Scuba Diving Mask
TUSA Paragon Scuba Diving Mask
With extra features to enhance color and clarity underwater, this prescription mask provides frequent snorkelers and divers with premium visibility and comfort.
Check PriceWhile the TUSA Paragon comes at a higher cost, this well-built mask provides top-notch performance and an excellent fit. From vivid colors under the surface to a comfortable leak-free seal, TUSA’s technologies create a first-rate underwater experience.
The reinforced Tri-Mix frame offers outstanding durability while maintaining a lightweight feel. Additionally, these prescription lenses block harmful rays and allow in maximum amounts of light for a crystal-clear view of sea life.
Common questions and concerns
What are some alternatives to a prescription snorkeling mask?
Besides wearing a prescription snorkel mask, snorkelers with vision problems can wear soft contact lenses or rely on the water’s natural magnification properties. You can also make a DIY prescription snorkel mask using an old pair of glasses or by attaching a stick-on magnifier lens to a regular mask.
These options may be preferable to you if you are looking for the cheapest solution or only plan on snorkeling a couple of times on vacation. You can read more about the alternative options in our article about how to snorkel with glasses.
Can you rent a prescription snorkel mask?
Some gear outfitters and tour companies may have prescription masks available, but the options are generally limited. You can contact them ahead of your trip to see if they have a mask that fits your needs. Still, it’s safer to come prepared with a mask you know will allow you to see clearly underwater.
Can you get a different prescription in each eye when buying a snorkel mask?
Yes, certain products and sellers allow you to get different prescription lenses in each eye. Many lenses are sold separately from the mask and can be purchased individually, so you can order whatever prescription you need for each of your eyes.
Detailed product reviews
Top pick: Scubapro Zoom Diving Mask
Scubapro Zoom Diving Mask
With a wide range of prescription lenses, high-quality construction, and a reasonable price point, this mask is a top choice among spectacled snorkelers and divers.
Check Price-
Large range of available prescriptions
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Lenses are easily changeable
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Comfortable
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Fits most face shapes and sizes
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Good peripheral view
Pros
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Not ideal for very small or narrow faces
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No astigmatism correction
Cons
Although it’s priced higher than the budget-friendly Promate Scope, the Scubapro Zoom mask has several features that make it worth the extra money for some snorkelers.
The most notable is the fast lens-change system, which makes it easy to swap out the standard lenses for your prescription lenses. You can do this at home without any tools in a minute or less 2. According to reviewers, other masks with replaceable lenses can be more finicky and time-consuming.
Scubapro’s user-changeable optical lenses are sold separately - you can purchase them here. The pop-in lenses make this mask an excellent choice for those who expect their eyesight to change over time. If your prescription changes, all you’ll need to do is buy new lenses and then insert them into your mask.
The optical lenses available for this snorkel mask range from -1.5 to -8.0 and +1.75 to +4.0 in increments of 0.5 2. Bifocal lenses are also available from +1.0 to +3.0 in increments of 1.
Users loved the Scubapro Zoom’s comfortable fit. The silicone skirt has a double feathered edge to form a better seal, improve comfort, and prevent leaking. The nose pocket has a high bridge and is soft for easy equalization if you dive under the surface.
Thanks to the mask strap’s swivel buckle, you can position it however you like without creating any pressure points on your face. The mask is also compatible with Scuapro’s optional Comfort Strap check price on Amazon.
The Scubapro Zoom has a 12-month warranty and comes with a box for easy storage and transport. You can choose from a variety of colors and use Scubapro’s optional color kits to change up the look and match the mask to the rest of your gear.
The bottom line: The Scubapro Zoom is a high-end prescription snorkel and scuba mask with easy-to-change lenses, a comfortable fit, and numerous available prescriptions. It’s a fantastic option for snorkelers looking for a balance between longevity, customizability, and price.
Budget pick: Promate Scope Scuba Dive Mask
Promate Scope Scuba Dive Mask
This affordable mask is a great value, fits a variety of face shapes, and comes in a wide range of prescriptions.
Check Price-
Extensive range of prescriptions
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Good value
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Comfortable
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Wide field of view
Pros
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Lenses not user-changeable
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A visible line separates sections on the bifocal lenses
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Not ideal for especially narrow or large faces
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No astigmatism correction
Cons
The Promate Scope Scuba Dive Mask is a solid choice for nearsighted and farsighted snorkelers, as well as those looking for bifocal mask lenses. Promate offers prescription lenses ranging from -1.0 to -10.0 and +1.0 to +4.0 in increments of 0.5 and bifocals from +1.0 to +4.0, also in increments of 0.5 3. This is the widest available prescription range of any mask on our list. You can also get different prescriptions in each eye if needed.
Unlike the Scubapro Zoom, the seller typically installs the lenses when you purchase the Promate Scope mask. Make sure to contact them with your prescription when you place your order.
This budget-friendly mask is designed for medium faces and fits most people comfortably. Like many masks, it may not be an ideal fit if your face is particularly narrow or broad. The Promate Pro Slender Purge Mask check price on Amazon may be a better choice for those with smaller faces, although there is no bifocal option available.
The Promate Scope’s low-volume design allows for a wide peripheral view. The liquid silicone injected skirt features a double edge seal for added comfort and protection against leaking.
Another perk of the Promate Scope is that it’s available as a set (check price on Amazon). Those looking to buy new snorkel gear can save money by purchasing the mask as a combo package with prescription lenses, a dry snorkel, and fins.
The main drawback of this product is that the lenses are not sold separately. If your prescription changes over time, you’ll need to purchase a new mask or send it to a gear shop rather than just swapping out the lenses yourself.
The bottom line: Thanks to this mask’s comfortable fit, affordable price tag, and strong performance, snorkelers and divers frequently give it excellent reviews. If you want a quality prescription mask at a low price, the Promate Scope is the best choice.
High-end pick: TUSA Paragon Scuba Diving Mask
TUSA Paragon Scuba Diving Mask
With extra features to enhance color and clarity underwater, this prescription mask provides frequent snorkelers and divers with premium visibility and comfort.
Check Price-
Professional quality materials
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Durable
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Excellent clarity and color underwater
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Premium comfort
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Fits most face shapes
Pros
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No farsighted or bifocal prescriptions
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No astigmatism correction
Cons
While the TUSA Paragon mask comes at a premium price, it’s a fantastic option for snorkelers and divers with nearsightedness who are looking for a top-of-the-line product to support them on frequent underwater adventures.
TUSA’s prescription lenses are sold separately and can be purchased here. The lenses are made of CrystalView Optical Glass and come with several treatments that protect your eyes and improve your vision underwater. For example, the UV 420 treatment blocks the harmful effects of high-energy visible (HEV) light. TUSA also included an anti-reflective (A/R) treatment to reduce the influence of reflected light and boost clarity, color, and contrast underwater.
According to the manufacturer, reflectivity and impurities in the standard glass lenses typically used in dive masks can result in a loss of up to 15% of available light 4. By transmitting up to 95% of available light, the CrystalView Glass creates a better underwater experience with enhanced color and a crisp field of view.
The Paragon mask is also extremely comfortable. The durable silicone skirt varies in thickness and has a dimpled surface for a secure fit. This design makes it more comfortable to use a snorkel or regulator while also preventing leaking.
Additionally, the mask has stability ridges around the cheekbones to maintain a leak-free seal without putting too much pressure on the face. These features make the TUSA Paragon a great option for snorkelers who also want to use the mask for scuba diving or freediving.
Although some people with very narrow faces experienced leaking, most users found a great fit with this mask. Even some snorkelers with mustaches and small faces managed to get a tight seal that felt comfortable and didn’t leak.
Other than the high price tag, the main drawback of this mask is the narrower range of compatible prescription lenses. TUSA offers lenses ranging from -1.5 to -6.0 in increments of 0.5 and does not have any bifocal lenses 5. However, if you want to get this premium mask and wear bifocals, you can always use stick-on bifocal lenses (check price on Amazon).
The bottom line: The TUSA Paragon Scuba Diving Mask offers top-notch comfort and performance. It’s a good fit for frequent snorkelers and divers looking for a high-end, durable product that will last for years, even with heavy use.
Conclusion
Finding the right prescription snorkel mask can make a huge difference in your enjoyment in the water. The Scubapro Zoom, Promate Scope, and TUSA Paragon on Amazon are quality products that will help you see clearly underwater and make the most of your snorkeling adventures. The best prescription snorkel mask for you will depend on your budget, eyesight, and how often you snorkel and scuba dive.
Resources
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Kian, Meena. “A Change in Worldview: Vision Correction Explained.” Saltman Quarterly, UC San Diego, 1 June 2020, sqonline.ucsd.edu. ↩
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“Zoom Dive Mask.” Scubapro, scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com. ↩ ↩2
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“Scope Mask (Rx-Able).” Promate, promateusa.com. ↩
Last updated 01 November 2023
