I read "nearsighted's" post and had already called my opt. for a price for pres. lens put in a snorkel mask. $130+/- Then I decided maybe I needed a better snorkel mask - I have a US Divers model. Now....I have never ever snorkeled before...but I did try it out in a pool with my contacs and it was fine....no problems with any of it. But my buddies didn't make waves for me - there is some type of thing on the snorkel part about keeping water out and then letting it out. You people know what I'm talking about.
So....can you snorkel in salt,surf with contacs? I've swam with them before with no problem.
Advice? Please?

Shirley, I have heard and read in the past that it is not good to wear contact lenses while diving or snorkeling. I believe the risk of elements entering into the mask chamber and your eye brings the risk of damage to your eye. There are more "formal" reasons for NOT wearing the contacts under water, but they escape me at the moment, so please forgive me. I recall having this conversation years ago with a friend of mine...she swims with her contact lenses in place and did not have a problem on her trip, but I do believe it does carry risks with it. I am hoping someone else on the board will come up with a much better response than mine! There is a mechanism in the air intake tube in most snorkels that does prevent water from entering your mouth, which enables you to blow the water out of the tube, but I don't think this has any bearing on your contact lenses and a mask. I would fear sand or salt water entering my eyes and damaging a cornea or having the lens actually "rolling back" into my eye and/and losing one or two lenses, to boot! I think you should go for the prescription mask...I have one and absolutely love it..don't know how I existed for years beforehand without being able to see everything under water crystal clearly. (no contact lenses, you see). I am certain someone else will help us out, here! You can even drive with your mask on in a pinch, too! Carole

PS My mask with prescription lenses was not terribly expensive at all....$85 for the mask and maybe $40 or $50 for the prescription lenses placed into the mask. I have had it for years, too and no problems at all. Just LOVE it!

Shirley, you can get prescription lenses for a lot of two window diving masks for about $25 or less per lens. You just need your prescription to make sure you order the correct lens. However, the masks are a little more expensive. The mask is in the neighborhood of $60. Divers Direct is a good place to look at your options. Good luck.

I have dived (taking the mask off underwater and flooding it) and snorkeled for years with lenses and never had a problem.

I have not been diving long, but I did get my certification and completed all the necessary skills (clearing flooded mask, taking off mask, etc.) with contacts and did not have a minutes problem, and had no problems with my first ocean dives. I would suggest using disposable lenses so it would not be such a big deal if one did happen to float away. I always keep a spare pair with me just in case.

Well, it sounds as if it works with Contacts! I don't wear them at all, so I am by no means an expert. It appears you now have a choice. Either way, have fun and enjoy Bonaire and her beauty! Carole

I too dive with contacts and have never had any problems. definetly use disposables, as if you do lose one, you won't be bummin...

I don't know if there are any opthamologists reading this, but I seem to recall that at least with non-disposable contacts, there was a risk of attracting/contracting a marine fungus trapped between the lens and the cornea). Not a pleasant thought. I suspect with disposables this is not an issue (although it may be for extended wear lenses).

Jake

I wear hard semi-permeable contacts and if you follow the proper cleaning regimen, I believe that the risks of any problems with nasty microscopic critters are pretty small. That being said, on dive trips I use soft one-day disposables - about $1.75 a pair. If I were to lose one - or both - due to a flooded mask - it would not be a big deal and any contamination gets thrown away each night.

Shirley, add my two cents worth...I always snorkel with contacts. I use the two-week wear-then-throw-away version. I have never had a problem. There have been times that I was pleasantly surprised to discover salty sea water does not burn my eyes whilst wearing my lenses. As an added bonus, I can cut up all the onions I want while preparing dinner with narry a tear. :-) I wouldn't snokel any other way. It's nice to be able to see when you come out of the water and take off your mask. My husband, who cannot tolerate contacts, is forever trying to find a "safe" place for his glasses, and with the Bonaire breeze, he is constatly fighting the salt water spray that coats his glasses. Go for it, and have fun!

Hazel: Excellent use of the whilst word.

Thanks, Susan - I've been practicing, much to the chagrin of my students. They don't feel it is fair that they have to learn district-mandated Spanish AND the King's English at the same time. LOL!

OOPS! I forgot to add that your profile pic is beautiful, Susan. Cheers!

OK - thank you everyone. I hadn't even thought about the the fungal possibility. A friend of mine almost lost her eyesight from an infection from, of all things, planting a shrub. I'm going to call a place locally tomorrow (ad says 3-5 days) and see what they say. I checked the diver web page and I think I have a wide face - or my eyes are wide apart or something. (envision that) That and the contacs (with another mask that's just single lens) should get me through my practice run next month. I had planned on Bonaire this winter and then figured out that it was dumb to go to escape the non-existent Houston winter. So I moved it to summer, and low rates, to escape our incredible heat. I'm just doing one of those now cheap cruises that go to St. Maarten and St. John/Thomas to test this out.
Thanks again,
':>) Shirley

Shirley,

I wore my contacts while diving last year and couldn't have been more pleased. I wear soft, "mono" lenses (one eye for distance correction and the other for close up). I had reached the point that I needed special close-up lenses for my dive mask, and even tried that, but it didn't work out. I was absolutely amazed at the clarity of close-up vision that I had!

I took a spare pair of contacts with me, just in case my mask flooded or something happened that I would need them, but I never did use them. The bonus (other than improved underwater vision) was that in the moist environment of the mask, the contacts were more comfortable than I would ever have imagined. So, I say, go for it!

Hazel Scharosch ... FYI, I read a few weeks ago that the company that makes the Acu-vue disposable lenses had lost a lawsuit concerning their lenses. Seems that the one-day and two week lenses were the same lens even though one pair cost $1.75 and the other $20 or so.

Shirley, I have to add my comments! I dive with contacts (disposables) and have never had a problem. I try to have a towel handy when I get out of the water to keep the salt water from running into my eyes, but other than that, no problems at all. Just remember to bring an extra pair just in case. Have fun

Clay, thanks for the heads up - I'll look into it!

Here's the progress so far - called a place in Houston here that apparently does a lot of business long distance too. Going to take my mask & pres. to him tomorrow after work. $75 for the pair of lens - single vision, which may be higher than normal because of astigmatism. I'm going to try it both ways, with the other plain mask & contacs too. I'm glad I'm doing a practice run. But I'll need to know what things in the water bite and sting. I didn't pay enough attention at the last aquarium I went to. Is there a website for this? All I remember is that tiny pretty frogs are evil.
Thanks again,
':>) Shirley

Shirley-
Save your money. I've been diving with contact lenses for 16 years. Never had a problem or fungal infection, nor have I ever heard of anyone who did.

Shirley, regarding what bites and stings, about the only unprovoked stings you will get are from tiny jellyfish and similar critters. Wearing a Lycra dive skin will protect you from that and sun exposure as well.
It's been my experience that nothing else will bother you unless you touch it, and of course the easy way to avoid those problems is to not touch the critters.

Shirley: Just happened to have gone to the eye Dr. yesterday and I quizzed him on the matter. He said there should be no problems with contacts and diving. He did say that when finished diving for the day you may want to rinse and clean to be on the safe side, especially for us extended wear folks.

Y'all have been great. I knew from reading the board before that this was the best place to go for info. I think what got me was the post on being able to drive with the mask on if necessary. I'm in sad shape vision wise - a minus 5 - so I can find my way, but it's not easy. So the snorkel mask is with the eye guy and will be ready in about a week. I had been looking at the dive skin stuff. So, after this first test adventure, I'll be asking all of you about ml thickness, fabric, fit, etc.
But one question I've wondered about for a long time. If Bonaire is a lot like Arizona - why don't I hear anyone mention snakes? Do the donkeys stomp them out?
Thanks again - all of you have been wonderful.
':>) Shirley
Thanks again

Shirley, there are folks on Bonaire who will argue the "high humidity" aspect, but it is not as bad as Florida or other "high humidity" areas while the trade winds are blowing. The terrain is very desert-like in a lot of areas with rocks and boulders and cactus short and tall (a lot of cactus fences, too) but to the North (the Park area, too) there is a lot of green with trees and shrubs, etc. Lots of beautiful birds, but also iguanas, donkeys and goats. Just a wonderful blend of everything you can think of from good places...and, of course, that wonderful water...the Caribbean Sea...what better combo could one come up with?? Cactus/Rock desert terrain with blue Caribbean waters...my perfect match, for sure! Here are some photos for you to see the diversity our island holds: Gotomeer Lake with the Flamingos, an Iguana in the Park on a trail, Road to Rincon, the Salt Flats and Windsock Beach by the airport. I think it's funny that you appreciated my comment about using the mask while driving...I had to do it once! Not the best way to drive,but it got me home. LOL. Enjoy! Carole (Shutterbug)

Well, the system became "stuck" at 100% download/upload, so I will try again...here you go, Shirley! Carole (Shutterbug)

Linnea, I am re-posting your post on snakes and Arizona so Shirley can see it on this thread in case she does not catch it on the original one you posted this on...make sense? I hope you do not mind my doing this..could be a bit cheeky of me, I guess! Just wanted to be certain Shirley saw your response to an inquiry she made. Thanks. Carole
...........................................
By Linnea Wimberly on Wednesday, November 28, 2001 - 10:15 pm:

Well, somewhere in the threads, someone mentioned snakes or legless lizards. Whcih ever they are they are buzzless, venomless and rare. The scenery is like lower elevation Arizona, but the humidity year-round is high, and they have wild parrots and parakeets to boot. If you like birds, be sure to allocate some time for checking them out. Do a search on 'birds' and you will find lots of discussions and pictures.

You're just trying to torture me with those photos. I knew I was making a mistake in doing this cruise thing to test snorkel instead of going on ahead to Bonaire. It just sounded so cheap and I was feeling lazy....too lazy. I'm going to be a trapped rat. The bright idea that I should make the trip to Bonaire during the low season and escape the heat here....well phooo...it seems forever away now. And on the cruise boards it sounds like there are going to be a bunch of irritable people on board just like the ones at home and at work that I'm trying to get away from. I haven't seen any of that grumpiness here.
I adore birds. That is as big an attraction for me to Bonaire as the water.
And the traveling van with the lockers and refreshments sounds to me to be the best thing ever. I've wondered where stolen stuff was sold. I guess that maybe the people living there feel that the situation is a happy medium of some sort. Well...at least I will have the vision thing figured out before I get there this summer.
I still think there're bitey bugs y'all aren't telling me about. It's ok. I've spent some time in backwoods, desert, gulf, river surroundings. Not an inch of my body hasn't been biten by something.
':>) Shirley

Ah, but sometimes "torture" can bring pleasure....well, I'm not into that sort of thing, but if the photos are torture, then bring it on! Glad you enjoyed them. I do hope your cruise will be a blast. When and where?? Carole

In two weeks: to St. Martin and St. Thomas. Plan to go to Pinel Island, Coki Beach and Trunk Bay - may change to Cinnamon Bay, Dawn or Honeymoon Beach.
':>) Shirley

Sounds wonderful, Shirley. Relax and enjoy yourself and all that Mother Nature has to offer in her beauty. What a way to "break in" your prescription mask! Certainly beats the bathtub testing method!! Carole

Shirley, just caught this conversation, fours things to do on St. Martin 1) Four Island Tour with Allen at Oyster Pond (includes Pinel Island), 2) Butterfly Farm (near Orient Beach), 3) Shopping in Phillipsburg and 4) dinner at Sabastiano's.

Following up a bit on the original thread question, and especially Jake's comment, there is an article in the latest Alert Diver magazine about an infection of the eye caused by a protozoa...VERY nasty. Sorry, do not have the magazine with me now, so I cannot quote chapter and verse, but this is an amoeba that inflitrates the cornea, and although very rare, can apparently cause great damage if unchecked. The danger to any givien individual is statistically extremely small, but what if you are the unlucky one?
That said, I have been diving with contact lenses for years, using gas permeable rigid lenses.

Y'all are not going to believe this. Yesterday I picked up my mask. Yes, I can see with it. But, next time I'll ask. I never dreamed this could happen. There are now lens glued onto the inside of the original lens. I guess they could look goofier looking. Since the mask is sort of a clear frame with side windows, it not as noticeable as it could be, I suppose. And I really don't care what they look like, but I just wonder if they're going to stay put. So, I will be testing them out in the bathtub - I have sea salts. A long soak with my mask before I go.
Cecil - the four island tour - is it four little islands like Pinel Isl.? I see Oyster Pond on my map - east side on the way to Dawn Beach.
':>) Shirley

Shirley, that's how my prescription mask is --- original glass, then the prescription lens glued on to it on the inside. I've been using it like that for over ten years and have had no problems.

Shirley, yes it is, Allen takes you out with his boat and a jet ski for the tour and snorkling. The first island used to be inhabited now it's deserted except for the lizards and an old wall built by the slaves. The second is Pinel and the adjacent sand bars. The last had some great snorkling with almost a wall. You could book a trip at the front desk at the Oyster Ponds Resort, he leaves daily from their dock.

Hmmm, mine isn't like that at all. Looks like a regular mask only I know my prescription is in there instead of the original mask lenses. Maybe mine are double glass (don't think so,tho) but if they are, they are the same size in each side so that you don't know it is prescription lenses. As long as you can see perfectly under water and it works well, that's all that counts! Have fun, Shirley~~~ Carole

Josie - that's great to hear. Thank you. And I hear that they're probably in quite securely. Cecil, thanks for the info on Allan's trip. I'm taking the info with me. I'll let all of you know how the 1st big snorkle adventure goes. Thanks to everyone for all the help - and the photos, too.
':>) Shirley