Hi folks, I'm Jen and will be coming to Bonaire in about 3 weeks- yay! Hope I've posted this in the right section.

One question- I need to buy a prescription mask (having contact lens trouble). If I leave it until I get to the island, how likely is it that I'll find a dive shop with a mask and the correct lenses for me?

Maybe it would be best to get online before I go, but my face is quite small and the mask might not fit well.

Also- is it worth bringing a little laptop or are the internet cafes pretty handy? We have a little Acer, which may or may not fit in the safes at Buddy Dive. Not sure it's worth it for checking email every 2 or 3 days!

Thanks guys, looking forward to it

Hi Jenny..welcome to BT! This is funny...my daughter is coming to BON with me and she is nearsighted. I didn't even think about this ahead of time and was going to ask the same question as you.

I am willing to just rent one for the week for her also..either way but if I don't get her a prescription mask, she will not fully enjoy the dive..


anybody???

thanks SOOOO much, Annemarie will be eternally grateful! (me 2!)

Jenny, I don't know about getting a script mask on Bon, however, this is where I got mine years ago and they did a rush job for me at the time. The mask is probably 6 years old by now and has held up perfectly. I'd be safe and get one before you go. You send your mask to them.

http://www.prescriptiondivemasks.com/

I got my daughter's script mask at my local dive shop, they had one in stock. My suggestion would be to get it before you go. At least you know it fits right and you have the proper script. I don't remember seeing script masks on Bonaire.

When you call your lds, ask them for the script masks with the lenses that you pop in for the mask as time is not a lot for either of you to get it done prior to going.

Jen - Welcome to BT.

I can't add anything to the prescription mask thing, but I can tell you the Buddy Dive has a computer at the main desk that you can buy internet time on for not too much money. So if all you need is to check email once a day - it's very convenient. It's also just a 3 minute walk from Buddy Dive to Chat-N-Browse where Michael Gaynor will be happy to sell you time on his computers as well, plus he has a great selections of island themed gifts and t-shirts.

The safes at Buddy Dive are small... a normal lap top will not fit in them, not sure how large yours is. The opening to the safes (at least in the rooms I've stayed in) are only about 6 inches across and maybe 3 inches high. Not big.

Good luck with the mask, have fun!!!!

Debbie..thanks..I don't have A LDS...bummer.
hmm. wonder what we will do...I really failed on this one huh...

Krispi, any dive shops around you at all that you can call to see if they have masks that you can pop the lenses out with script ones that they may have in stock?

Jen, welcome to BT. I got my prescription mask from Leonard Maggiore. (N.B.: I am in no way affiliated with this business; just a satisfied customer).

They take a week once you send them your mask (or you can buy a mask from them). I am nearsighted and I wanted my lenses to be cutout so that I can see through the clear mask at the bottom for near objects. (See photo below; the mask is not flooded: it's the cut out lenses!). Got them on my own mask for $149.

Debbie...I called a place in south Nashville that may have something...fingers crossed!

LEO!! very cool! that is a great idea!

Hi, the other day I noticed Wal Mart has prescription masks.

Your acer won't fit in the safe. We just left ours (little acer) under stuff on the lvgrm table.

As already stated, Chat'Browse is very close, walk out driveway, turn right, just 2 properties over. Across the street from Michael's (another 1/2 block or so) is the Liquor Mart!!

Have fun!!

Leo..I'm sure your mask works great & it certainly appears that you are satisfied with it, but..it's really one of the strangest looking masks I've ever seen .

Vince, try to imagine the mask without that face behind it, and it wont appear so strange

KRISPI, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD QUESTION TO ASK ME AT THE MINI-MEET..........

Hey Krispi, Does Annemarie wear contacts? I know Tiffany dove with a non-script mask with her contacts, she just had to keep her eyes closed if water went in it so not to lose the contact lense. It never happened, but she did bring extra lenses with her and washed her eyes with fresh water when she was finished diving. Me, I don't do contacts, so have to have the script mask.

I have a script mask, got it from SeaVision, but it took a few weeks to get back to me. I know there are some places that can do it faster, as Leo mentioned for Jenny who has three weeks to do so.

Krispi, hope it works out with the place in Nashville.

Just so you know most dive shops can get you a script mask. How fast you need it is the question. We have overnighted a mask and got it back a day and a half later. How much do you want to spent is up to you. A normal turn around time is 2 weeks. You need to have your script and PD number for sure to have this done. The people who did your eye exam will have your PD number.

Patrick,
I know...geez...it just never dawned on me...
Wednesday night we were talking about Kenny's little mag things you stick in the mask...and I realized Annemarie would enjoy her dive much more if she could see all the little (and big) fish!
Is that terrible! I have great far vision so, i never even thought of it...

Debbie...no contacts...I thought of that too. I was afraid if I got her some (if I even could) yesterday,, that she wouldn't be used to them enough to try to dive with them.
Haven't heard back from MTSS yet. They are 2 and a half hours from me..maybe more
but I want Annemarie to have a great experience...ya know!
I just hope they aren't super expensive!

Jenny,

I will second, strongly, Leo on Maggiore: he built a mask for me in 1975 and shipped it to me on Cozumel. Three weeks should be time enough for the mechanics of buying a mask and having lenses installed. The question is mask fit if you don't have a shop locally.

If your daughter has a simple prescription, i.e., near-sightedness without astigmatism, there are masks that are designed to take a corrected lens and some shops carry a set of lenses to make up a simple prescription mask on the spot. Leo's solution is ideal but until you have a mask that fits...

Why don't you email Michael Gaynor at Chat n' Browse <info@chatnbrowse.com> and Bruce Bowker at Carib Inn <http://www.caribinn.com/> and ask who on Bonaire might have the sort of lens-adaptable mask I am talking about. Both are very aware of who on Bonaire might have masks. That would have the second advantage that you could later change lenses, to Leo's style or if her prescription changes as happens with younger eyes.

Krispi, When I bought my daughter's, I paid the mask price then the costs of the lenses they popped in for her. If Annemarie's eyesight is not too bad, she should be fine as water magnifies things. Keep us posted.

Wow you guys are quick, I only posted that a few hours ago!

Thanks for all the info, I'm not sure about sending my mask off, as I'm in Bahrain, also it's pretty old, so would like an excuse for a new one!

I'l check out all the websites given and might surf around for a mask for a small face and with removable lenses (in case I have any luck with my contacts). Then I can start diving straight away on arrival.

Brenda/Beck-ee, thanks to you also. We will leave the baby-Acer at home as it's about 10 inches across. I may get withdrawal symptoms so all the net-cafes will help!
Jen

Debbie..a big HIP-HIP-HORRAY for MTSS in South Nashville-Cool Springs.....they are putting it together as we speak and now I am RMA off trying to get •••• done and make it there by 6. It will take me almost 3 hrs to get there and I still have to drop a couple of dogs off at sitters..

AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH

It's all good..I will be on Bon in 24 hours!

WooHoo, Krispi, I just got this in from Bruce at Carib Inn: Debbie - we do carry lenses that fit the Liberator style mask which is a common style
Bruce

I do think you are better off with getting them at MTSS. Are you bringing Annemarie there so she can try them on?

Sorry, I did not know Annemarie's script to ask Bruce if he had that in stock. Anyway, good to know there may be a back up. Can't say I know what the Liberator mask looks like and if it will even work for your daughter. Glad you got a dive shop that can do for her. Drive safe!

thank you so much Debbie...she is a -2
Hopefully this mask will fit her in nashville. Could you ask him if he carries that just in case this mask is not a fit?
I will also find out if they have the liberator..or does he carry that mask also?

Thank you again! you're the best!

Krispi, email sent, will let you know when I get a reply back.

Krispi, Bruce says he has them in stock, both the lenses and the mask. Good to know.

Rams optical in the mall is where my son got a mask made. They did it overnight.

Krispi,

Regarding the liberator mask (if it's the Tusa one I saw on leisurepro), 2 lady reviewers said it was good for small lady-faces. I think I'll get one myself. Maybe it'll be ok for your daughter.

Jenny, Welcome to BT!

Okay....so since I am on Bon currently and have asked this question here, I can answer it! I do have my own mask with the prescription in it, but was having problems with it. We went and looked around and if I had chosen a mask with the two separate compartments, I could have bought lenses and had them popped right into the mask (I didn't, so dove with my contacts...worked fine for the most part.)

There are many dive shops including Carib Inn, Wannadive (downtown shop) and Dive Buddies (downtown) that carry the lenses. You should be able to get a mask here and lenses to fit with no problem. JUST REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR PRESCRIPTION SO YOU KNOW WHAT LENSES TO GET!!!!

Laptop: we bring our own laptop with us and it has always worked well. We download our pictures every night so we can start with a fresh card daily. Have never had a problem with traveling with it. If you are only looking to bring it to check your emails, then don't bring it. Go to Chat 'n Browse (just down from Buddies, on the roundabout) and Michael will set you up with what you need. He is fantastic and you will have no worries about bringing your Acer then.

Have a fantastic trip!

Krispi...SEE YOU TOMORROW!

(Message edited by ruth0531 on July 31, 2009)

Just to let some who may be wondering: Krispi called me, she did get a mask at the place in Nashville with script lenses. She is all set.