what is difference between swimming goggles and a snorkel mask?

[ChattingLil]

as per thread title.

We both wear glasses and will be in the BVI in February. On another thread someone recommended getting prescription snorkel mask. I think this is a good idea, but we both already have prescription swimming goggles - anyone know if these will do?

I don't actually know what benefit you get from a snorkel mask over swim goggles. (apart from having an attachment for the breather tube thingy).

 

[ChrisE]

as per thread title.

We both wear glasses and will be in the BVI in February. On another thread someone recommended getting prescription snorkel mask. I think this is a good idea, but we both already have prescription swimming goggles - anyone know if these will do?

I don't actually know what benefit you get from a snorkel mask over swim goggles. (apart from having an attachment for the breather tube thingy).

If your goggles are like mine then all will be fine with a separate tube. You might need a nose clip tho' if you are planning to go deep ....

 

[Keen_Ed]

Diving masks cover the nose, so you can equalise the pressure inside the mask. If you use swimming goggles for snorkling, you'll find them pressing into your face if you duck dive at all.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

BSAC members call them Masks, everyone else Goggles; using the term goggles or even better, flippers, in BSAC company sends them into fits of apoplexy.

Sorry, I know, irrelevant, but true I am afraid.

 

[bbg]

As per KeenEd - a mask covers the nose which gives certain advantages. Goggles are for swimming in a pool.

You will definitely want to go snorkelling in the BVIs. If you need to wear glasses, prescription mask or contact lenses will be important if you are going to get full enjoyment. Might be worthwhile getting your own fins and snorkel before you get on the boat (either her or in BVIs). The sets that you will find on board may not fit.

To find a mask that fits: put it lightly up to your face and breath in gently through your nose. If it sticks to your face it is a good fit. If it doesn't stick, or you have to breathe in very hard to maintain the seal, try another one.

For snorkels - if you are not used to snorkelling, the kind that has a valve at the bottom to let out water can be very useful.

Remember to put a lot of sunscreen on your back, and the back of your legs. I don't have a lot of hair and I often wear a baseball hat while snorkelling. I don't care how it looks. I don't want sunstroke if I am going to be snorkelling for an hour.

 

[Baggy]

Can I just add....

Snorkeling is got to be one of the most enjoyable activities ever

Kit yourself out properly with Mask snorkel and Fins..

 

[agurney]

A diving mask covers your nose so you can equalise the pressure as you dive.
If you dive more than a few feet deep with swimming goggles the pressure is equalised by pushing your eyeballs into the air space .. net result is anything from red lines around the eyes to bloodshot eyes and bruising, probably not the look you want on holiday

 

[TSB240]

I recommended prescription mask on other thread.

Beverley found that her swimming pool prescription goggles were ok for the occasional but short snorkel.

However it was never relaxing as any slight leakage on the goggles meant repeatedly surfacing and clearing the goggles of water. This can be done with a mask by blowing through your nose to pressurise the mask and clear any water leak.

Also the mask seemed to tolerate having the snorkel tube supported by its strap. The goggles would not tolerate any pull on the strap by the snorkel. She would have to swim with one hand whilst the other held the snorkel at the correct angle or end up with flooded goggles and or inhaling salt water.

IMHO the fish and snorkelling was better than many Red Sea venues.

Look out for Barracuda.... They lurk..... They are SCARY.... They are like a monster PIKE but with much bigger teeth....

 

[agurney]

BSAC members call them Masks, everyone else Goggles; using the term goggles or even better, flippers, in BSAC company sends them into fits of apoplexy.

Sorry, I know, irrelevant, but true I am afraid.

Not at all irrelevant, masks and goggles are very different .. and Flipper's a dolphin.

 

[FistralG]

Forget about the equalisation of pressure or "planning to go deep"....

Snorkelling on the surface without having your nose covered or clipped is nigh on impossible as the water will want to go up your nose when you breath in!

That's why the masks cover your eyes and nose.

 

[agurney]

Forget about the equalisation of pressure or "planning to go deep"....

Snorkelling on the surface without having your nose covered or clipped is nigh on impossible as the water will want to go up your nose when you breath in!

That's why the masks cover your eyes and nose.

Nonsense. One of the standard exercises when learning to dive is to be able to swim at depth without a mask. You get used to breathing with your mouth and not your nose.

The mask is shaped so that you can pinch your nose to equalise the pressure in your ears (eustachion tubes).

 

[Deleted member 36384]

....... masks and goggles are very different .. and Flipper's a dolphin.

It cost me two rounds, one for each miss named item at my BSAC club. All in fun of course. I thought I was being funny, but the instructors had probably heard it all before. All I wanted to do was to lift cannons with air bags, we never got round to doing that .

 

[agurney]

It cost me two rounds, one for each miss named item at my BSAC club. All in fun of course. I thought I was being funny, but the instructors had probably heard it all before. All I wanted to do was to lift cannons with air bags, we never got round to doing that .

It's the same everywhere .. novice sailors would probably get a ribbing for confusing sheets with halyards, but the terminology is important if you have to work with it.

 

[FistralG]

Nonsense. One of the standard exercises when learning to dive is to be able to swim at depth without a mask. You get used to breathing with your mouth and not your nose.

The mask is shaped so that you can pinch your nose to equalise the pressure in your ears (eustachion tubes).

We're talking about snorkelling not diving at depth.

I find it impossible to snorkel without a mask.

Others may have a different anatomy and can do it.

 

[davidej]

My wife and I (both short sighted) have prescription mask/goggles call them what you want.

They have separate lenses for each eye so you can put different prescriptions in them but are as large as a mask (more field of view tham swimming goggles) and cover the nose.

Brilliant if you have bad eyesight

 

[testmonkey]

A diving mask covers your nose so you can equalise the pressure as you dive.
If you dive more than a few feet deep with swimming goggles the pressure is equalised by pushing your eyeballs into the air space .. net result is anything from red lines around the eyes to bloodshot eyes and bruising, probably not the look you want on holiday

some dive instructors tell you that go deep enough with swimming goggles and your eyeballs will pop out of your head into the goggles etc. believes who wants but with proper dive mask snorkeling is much more fun.

 

[blenkinsop]

Two ideas for OP to consider;

1 a diving buddy used an old pair of glasses with the legs removed which he was able to fix inside his mask.

2 others, having tried the prescription lens route, ended up preferring to wear contact lenses and stick to a standard mask.

 

[ChattingLil]

ok, I get it!

All things considered, and in context of the cost of the holiday, I think we will invest in the decent prescription snorkel masks.

not particularly worried about my eyeballs popping out but I seriously don't think we are fit enough to be swimming and holding our breath long enough to go deep enough for that to be an issue. I expect that the majority of time will be spent bobbing about on the surface with just our faces in. I'm taking about snorkelling, not scuba.

I am more interested in the points about visibility and seeing everything clearly.

Thanks for all the input though - all helps to make thing understable.

 

[windlipper]

Only dive with goggles if you want to risk serious damage to your eyes. The deeper you go the less volume of air there will be in the goggles. You eyes will attempt to fill that gap.
(At 10 metres depth the volume will be reduced by 50%) I used to dive regularly with people who had prescription lenses fitted in to their masks, not cheap but they used to swear by them.
A mask is not only used so the ears can be equalised but also to allow for air from the nose to equalise the pressure in the mask.
If you're only on the surface goggles will be fine but you want to try a nose clip.

 

[ChattingLil]

Only dive with goggles if you want to risk serious damage to your eyes. The deeper you go the less volume of air there will be in the goggles. You eyes will attempt to fill that gap.
(At 10 metres depth the volume will be reduced by 50%) I used to dive regularly and a lot of others had prescription lenses fitted in to their masks, not cheap but they used to swear by them.

10m! how deep do snorkellers go?!