If you’ve felt ear pain while scuba diving, you’re not the only one. In fact, ear problems are perhaps the most common reason why many scuba divers give up on this activity. If you really like scuba diving but the constant ear pain is making it a nightmare to enjoy it, then you will be happy to learn that there are solutions to fix ear pain while diving.

With that said, many people wonder if one such solution is to wear earplugs to keep the inside of the ears dry, preventing an ear infection from occurring. However, as you’ll learn in this article, wearing regular earplugs while scuba diving is dangerous and must NOT be done. Instead, there are special scuba diving earplugs can be used to prevent equalization problems and ear infections.

What really causes ear pain?

While ear infections are a cause of ear pain, the more immediate ear pain problems scuba divers experience have more to do with water pressure. During the descent, the external surface of the eardrum is the first to experience the effects of the increase in pressure.

As this occurs, the pressure would normally equalize in the inner surface of the eardrums by traveling through the Eustachian tube to open. However, if the Eustachian tube is not open, then the eardrum is subjected to the rising pressure inside, leading to ear pain and inflammation.

Some recreational divers who don’t dive very deep may be able to withstand the ear pain at low depths because the water pressure is not intense enough. However, this is very uncomfortable and may eventually rupture the eardrum. A ruptured eardrum can cause dizziness, vomiting, pain, and hearing loss.

Divers who don’t know how to equalize will not be able to dive further, and earplugs will not be able to solve this equalization problem. Earplugs can, however, prevent an ear infection known as Swimmer’s Ear which can occur when the outer ear is exposed to water, or water is trapped in the ear canal for a prolonged period of time. Again, you should be wearing a special type of earplug known as vented earplugs instead of using a traditional one which does nothing for equalization.

Not everyone experiences ear pain when diving; usually it’s straightforward to equalize by simply pinching the nose and exhaling. But for divers who have problems equalizing their ears, each dive can be quite stressful not knowing whether you will be able to deal with your ear pain or not.

If you’re having equalization problems while diving, you should signal to your dive buddy that you’re going to resurface and abort the dive.

Why standard earplugs are NOT the solution

They prevent you from equalizing your ears

When you descend while diving, the increasing water pressure will put a strain on your ears and sinuses. If they are not cleared, you can suffer a painful injury known as a “squeeze.” When you wear regular earplugs, a small amount of air will be trapped in the space between the earplug and your eardrum.

Like your sinuses and ears, the air trapped by the earplugs will also get compressed while descending, causing the earplug to get pushed further into your ear canal. Your plugged up ear canal will prevent you from equalizing your ear correctly, and having the earplug lodged deep inside your ears is painful as well.

Even if you manage to reach your maximum depth without equalizing your ears, you’re still in danger. On your ascent, the trapped air pocket that has now been squeezed to such a small space will rapidly expand. If you hadn’t perforated your eardrums yet, you definitely will on the ascent with earplugs in.

They block sound

Gasp! Earplugs do exactly what they were designed to do? How dreadful!

In all seriousness, this is a clear example of why you sometimes shouldn’t use a product for something it isn’t designed for. While it’s difficult to speak underwater, and many noises sound muffled anyways, there is still a benefit to being able to hear all the noises.

For instance, even if you can’t hear speech clearly, perhaps your dive buddy is trying to get your attention by tapping on their tank. It’s possible to alert divers from a reasonable distance to potential dangers or something cool to look out. With earplugs in, you may miss out on this warning.

When you’re familiar with your dive buddy’s signals, you can even tell the urgency of the sound by how gently or urgently they rattle or bang. Even if you could somehow safely wear standard earplugs underwater, they prevent you from using one method of communication which is a major detriment.

What are these “special” scuba diving earplugs?

As we have alluded to many times now, there are indeed “special” earplugs which are designed for diving, and they are known as vented earplugs. The most popular, field-tested vented earplugs available are No products found.. These vented earplugs are made from a soft yet durable hypoallergenic plastic called Dynaflex.

Vented earplugs are safe for scuba diving because they have a valve built-in that lets air and water out from the ear canal to allow equalization to occur. Sound can also be more easily heard because of the vent valve so you can still pick up on any signals.

Benefits of vented earplugs

Divers who are worried about experiencing ear pain due to ear infection or not being able to equalize will find that vented earplugs can help prevent them from occurring.

First, the plug’s snug fit prevents any water-borne debris from reaching the ear, and any water that does seep in stays warm and mostly static instead of constantly flushing in and out of the ear canal. These factors will stop ear infections from occurring.

Second, even though the vent lets water in and out of the ear canal at a slower rate, it also prevents abrupt pressure changes from reaching the eardrum. The end result is a smoother experience where any potential ear pain is kept to a minimum, and equalization is much easier.

Downsides of vented earplugs

Much like a wetsuit, earplugs are only as effective as the fit is snug. You must get an earplug within the correct size range otherwise it will be ineffective. Furthermore, even if you have the size correct, you need to make sure they fit into the shape of your ear for them to work.

Getting the earplugs to fit perfectly before you do a dive can be a little iffy. Perhaps one ear is stubborn and won’t seem to hold it in place. Furthermore, since earplugs are so small, they are easy to lose or misplace.

Another downside is that the plug valve can get blocked. Should this happen during the descent, then you will run into the same problems as a standard earplug and will have to remove the plugs in order to continue diving.

If an earplug doesn’t fit properly, they can just fall out during a dive. Most diving earplugs have a connected wire so that you won’t lose them completely, but putting it back in can be a hassle.

Even though we said it’s much easier to hear with vented earplugs compared to standard earplugs, at the end of the day they are still earplugs, so it will be more difficult to hear sounds.

Lastly, once you’re finished with your dive, you will need to thoroughly clean it after use and store it which is just an additional post-dive chore.

Do I need vented earplugs?

Are you having trouble with ear infections or equalizing your ears? Then give vented earplugs a try. They are affordable and have the potential to make diving enjoyable for you again. Remember to only wear earplugs designed for diving and not standard earplugs.

Tips to prevent ear pain while scuba diving

Even with vented earplugs inserted, if you don’t know the proper steps to protect your ears while diving, then you will still suffer. In this section, we’ll go over the safety guidelines to protect your ears underwater.

Equalize early and often

All divers must equalize their ears. The question for beginners is when? You must remember to equalize as soon as you begin your descent and multiple times during the descent. You may need to equalize as often as once every 3 ft (1 m) early on in the dive. Basically as soon as you feel a pressure in your ears, equalize, otherwise your ears will get blocked.

If you are having trouble equalizing your ears, stop descending until you can. You may even need to ascend a little bit to decrease the pressure and try equalizing again. Try going up even higher if your ears just aren’t equalizing. If you cannot equalize your ears, just resurface. Never try to force equalization or endure the pain; just call it before it reaches that point.

Find an equalization that works for you

Thus far, we’ve been making the assumption that you know how to equalize your ears using the Valsalva maneuver, which is when you pinch your nose and then exhale. Unfortunately, this method doesn’t always work. Thankfully, there is more than one way to skin a cat, or in this case, to equalize.

Below are some alternate equalization methods that may work for you:

• Toynbee maneuver: Hold your nose and swallow simultaneously.
• Yawn and swallow: Thrust your lower jaw forward, open your mouth slightly, and swallow while keeping your lips pursed around the regulator.
• Head tilt: Tilt your ear upwards to try to stretch the openings of the eustachian tubes.

There are a few other equalization techniques which you can read about here.

Don’t dive with a cold or congestion

Even ignoring the fact that your body is in a weakened state, when you have a cold or a congestion you will find it difficult, if not impossible, to equalize your ears while scuba diving.

Should you manage to dive to depth without ear pain, you can also experience a reverse-block on the ascent. Essentially, the air in the ears and sinuses get trapped due to the congestion and this can be just as painful and damaging as if you didn’t equalize.

Furthermore, keep in mind that any over-the-counter cold medications may cause side effects like drowsiness, and they may not be effective at treating your illness. Only dive with medications if they have been specifically prescribed to you by a scuba doctor, such as medicine for asthmatics.

Rinse your ears after a dive

After a dive, remember to rinse out your ear canal using fresh drinking water. If you aren’t wearing vented earplugs, then there may be some salt or debris left in the canal that can cause inflammation and infections.

Even after you’ve finished washing your ears, make sure to dry them properly. You can use an ear dryer or ear drops to quickly dry the water so that it doesn’t cause swimmer’s ear.

Parting Words

As you now know, scuba divers should never dive with standard earplugs. To be honest, even vented earplugs aren’t the perfect solution either seeing as how there are quite a few downsides, but if you really want to wear earplugs while scuba diving, then those are your best bet.

If you have sensitive ears or have suffered ear pain in the past, then at least give vented earplugs a try. Despite being so inexpensive, there is a possibility that they could be the solution to your ear pain, and that makes them invaluable.

Wetsuits are designed to keep you warm in the water, but how does it accomplish that? Most people guess that wetsuits do so by keeping you dry, but that isn’t the case. Wetsuits are actually designed to insulate your body heat, and it can do that even if you’re wet. While the neoprene material a wetsuit is made of is waterproof, water can enter through the neck, wrists, ankles and zippers. Whatever you wear under a wetsuit will get wet, but you’ll be warm!

If cold water is able to enter the wetsuit then how is it able to keep wearers warm? Keep in mind, only a thin layer of water can get underneath the suit; wetsuits are intended to be very tight and form-fitting. Since the water is so close to your body, it gets warmed up by your body heat, creating an insulating layer of water within the suit. 

Additionally, you may be getting wetsuits confused with drysuits which actually do keep you dry. In case you get the names mixed up, here’s a tip: “wet-suits” let you get wet, “dry-suits” keep you dry.

Are wetsuits waterproof?

The neoprene material that wetsuits are made of are waterproof, however wetsuits will not keep you dry and whatever you wear underneath will get drenched. This sounds like a contradiction, but allow us to explain.

For instance, if you are wearing dry clothes underneath your wetsuit and someone splashes you with a bucket of water, your undergarments will remain completely dry. The inner layer of a wetsuit is waterproof and doesn’t let water pass through it. However, water can enter the wetsuit through the wrists, ankles, neck, and zipper when you are completely submerged. This is also the reason why wetsuits cannot be used for ice diving.

You can wear just swim trunks or a bikini underneath a wetsuit, or you can wear a rash vest underneath for privacy or extra warmth. Since wetsuits are so tight already, not everyone likes to wear extra layers beneath.

If you do decide to wear something inside, it should not be too bulky or water-absorbent. Whatever you wear is going to get drenched which can make you colder, can bunch up which is uncomfortable and shows up as unflattering bumps, and can weigh you down when soaked which is restricting.

How does water enter the wetsuit?

Wetsuits are constructed from closed-cell neoprene foam which is waterproof and a great insulating material. Tiny nitrogen bubbles can be found inside the neoprene material. It’s actually these nitrogen bubbles that trap heat and keep you warm. The bubbles also make the wetsuit extremely buoyant.

If neoprene is waterproof, how does water get inside you may be asking. Basically, anywhere there is an opening, such as the neck, wrists, ankle, and zipper areas, water can seep in. Since a wetsuit is so tight, only a little bit of water can enter, and this water gets warmed up by the heat trapped inside the wetsuit. 

As we mentioned, since the wetsuit is waterproof, water can’t penetrate through the suit and this also implies that water can’t get out except through the aforementioned openings. That means that only a little bit of cold water is entering and a little bit of warm water is escaping, but overall the thin layer of water inside the suit is warm.

In a high-quality wetsuit, very little warm water will be lost and very little cold water will enter, so the net effect is that you’re still mostly warm. In a low-quality wetsuit that isn’t form-fitting, more water will flow through (this is known as the flush) than your body can warm up, causing you to be cold overall.

Since the openings of the wetsuit are not watertight, water will enter when submerged. The insulating effect of the neoprene material will trap the body heat which warms up the water. This process is only possible if the wetsuit is tight enough so that most of the warm water is retained.

Do you need to be wet to be warm in a wetsuit?

It’s a myth that wetsuits need water to enter and form a thin layer inside and get heated up in order to keep you warm. This is not the case at all and in fact, a wetsuit will keep you warmer if it keeps you completely dry. But then it wouldn’t be a wetsuit, it’d be a drysuit.

As we mentioned, the neoprene foam that wetsuits are made of contains nitrogen bubbles. These bubbles are insulating, meaning it traps the body heat and keeps it from getting lost to the cold water. The thin layer of warm water is actually just a byproduct of being trapped between your skin and the insulating neoprene material, and it is not the main reason for why wetsuits keep you warm.

To test just how effective wetsuits are at keeping you warm, try standing in the sun with your wetsuit on a hot day and it’ll feel like you’re boiling inside. Actually, if you’re worried about how cold the water will feel when it initially enters the wetsuit, just keep the wetsuit on in the sun for a while until you feel like you’re cooking inside, and then the cold water will provide a sense of relief instead.

How tight should a wetsuit fit?

In order for a wetsuit to be effective, it needs to fit you a certain way. It needs to strike a balance between snug, but not too tight as to be restrictive. Around the neck and cuffs (ankles and wrists), a wetsuit should be close-fitting so that minimal water can flow in. Too loose, and cold water will constantly flush out the warm water.

To give you an idea of how tight a wetsuit should be, let’s just say that it displays the shape of your body in a very revealing way. Many people often describe a wetsuit as a “second-skin” for your water activities. Hopefully you’re not shy.

The thicker the wetsuit, the more restrictive it will be. However, it should not be so tight that it puts undue stress on the seams, or rips around the underarms and lower back. You should be able to move your arms and legs relatively freely. A wetsuit should not restrict your blood circulation.

Conversely, if a wetsuit is too loose, it is completely useless. It would not be able to insulate any heat, and the cold water will constantly sap your warmth. Water will be flowing in and out of your suit even if it is tight. However, in a form-fitting wetsuit, the rate at which this happens is slow, and you will still feel mostly warm. Loose wetsuits also increase drag underwater, and are cumbersome to wear on the surface.

Different wetsuit designs

Regardless of the wetsuit design, all of them will not keep you from getting wet. However, the exposed areas will not be insulated when exposed to the water. Each one has different uses, but all of them are made from neoprene and are intended to keep you insulated.

Shorty wetsuits

Shorties have short leggings and sleeves. Since your arms and legs are partially exposed, you have more freedom of movement and will feel cooler. Shorty wetsuits are ideal for warm water activities such as snorkeling and  kitesurfing.

Full-length wetsuits

A full-length wetsuit covers most of your body, with the exception of your head, hands, and feet. The only parts that are exposed are your hands, feet, and head. They are ideal for use in temperate waters, and are often worn with diving gloves, dive booties, and a dive hood which covers up the exposed areas that a full-length wetsuit doesn’t. Even with all of this equipment, you will still get wet. Their primary purpose is insulation, not keeping you dry.

Vest and swimwear

For shallow dives and very warm waters, an alternative to shorty wetsuits is to simply wear swim trunks/bikini paired with a dive vest. A full wetsuit and even a shorty wetsuit isn’t required.

Can you make a wetsuit waterproof?

You could theoretically make a wetsuit fully waterproof by sealing off the openings with rubber cuffs, however this is not how they are designed. Wetsuits have varying thicknesses, and most wetsuits are actually intended to be worn in warm water. 

Thus, it’s not so much a concern if water enters the wetsuit since it’s not cold enough to cause hypothermia. If you do plan on diving in cold temperatures, then you wouldn’t be using a wetsuit; you’d just wear a drysuit instead.

Let’s examine how drysuits are designed in comparison. The openings of a drysuit are sealed with thick rubber cuffs to keep water out. However, drysuits are baggier and the extra space inside is intended for wearers to wear warm clothes underneath. 

The warmth provided when wearing a drysuit is from the insulating effect of the clothes underneath, and not the drysuit. With that said, some drysuits do use insulating foam in addition to being waterproof to keep you extra insulated.

Then there are also semi-dry wetsuits which have thick rubber cuffs that only let in a little bit of water, far less than a regular wetsuit. 

Do wetsuits stretch when wet?

Once they are wet, a wetsuit stretches and conforms to your body. A higher-quality wetsuit will be more durable and will stretch which makes it more comfortable to wear and easier to move in. Actually, it’s not the neoprene that stretches when wet, but the fabric that loosens up and gives you more flexibility.

If you’re having trouble putting on a wetsuit, make sure you are both dry, or both wet. If you try to wear a wet wetsuit when dry, or a dry wetsuit when wet, you will find it incredibly difficult because of the friction this causes. Do not pull so hard on a wetsuit to try to stretch it over your body.

Parting Words

So, do wetsuits keep you dry? No. They keep you warm in spite of being wet. Whatever you wear underneath a wetsuit will also get wet. The nitrogen bubbles in the wetsuit are good at insulating your body heat and that is how you stay warm. The water that enters the wetsuit will get warmed up by your body heat and limits the amount of cold water that enters the suit.

Since there are numerous wetsuit variations, thicknesses, and designs, make sure you consider the temperature and conditions that you will be using a wetsuit in. Wetsuits are an extremely important piece of equipment for keeping you warm during any water activity!

When you’re just starting out with scuba diving, all of the skills you need to learn can be overwhelming. One common problem beginners face is mask squeeze. Thankfully, mask squeeze is more embarrassing than it is dangerous, however it is still something you should try to avoid.

Mask squeeze can be avoided by exhaling from your nose every few feet on the descent. This equalizes the pressure inside your dive mask so that it matches the pressure outside. Failing to do so will cause the mask to vacuum tightly on your face, which is painful and can lead to facial barotrauma. You are most likely to experience mask squeeze in the first 10 metres (33 feet) of the dive.

What is Mask Squeeze

Mask squeeze occurs when you do not equalize the air pressure inside the dive mask. This causes the gas inside the mask to compress tightly against your face. The pressure this causes can be so powerful that it can burst the small blood vessels around your eyes. We don’t recommend you search up what that looks like; it’s the stuff of nightmares.

As you can imagine, having a mask squeezing so tightly against your face is uncomfortable. If you do not equalize the pressure quickly enough, you can experience redness and bruising around your face, swelling, nosebleeds, burst blood vessels, and changes in vision in extreme cases. With that said, prevention is straightforward and you would have to be extremely negligent to allow mask squeeze to affect you to such an extreme degree.

Common Causes of Mask Squeeze and Facial Barotrauma

Beginners are prone to experiencing mask squeeze because they aren’t paying attention. One needs to take the necessary steps to avoid the pain and discomfort caused by mask squeeze. The most common causes of mask squeeze are:

Not equalizing the pressure in the mask while descending

All you need to do is occasionally exhale from your nose to equalize the pressure. Since divers also need to do this to equalize their ears, plus the fact that it can get quite painful diving deeper without equalizing, it’s very hard to forget this step. 

Yet, sometimes beginners do forget because they are so overwhelmed. Particularly since new divers are often diving around the 10m (33ft) mark, it’s shallow enough that some divers simply don’t notice the increased pressure around their eyes. Then they’ll surface with barotrauma eyes and bruise marks where the mask was pressing against the face.

Poor-fitting mask

If the mask was already tight-fitting to begin with, it’s only going to get tighter while descending. You can tell if a mask fits you well without even entering the water. Test if the mask can stay on your face without the mask strap or support from your fingers. Simply inhale to create a small vacuum, and if it doesn’t fall, then this mask fits your face well.

Masks that fail the above test aren’t designed to fit your facial structure. To compensate, people over-tighten the mask strap so that the mask is squeezing against the face and the straps are digging into their skin. If you need to resort to these methods to get a watertight seal, then the mask is poor-fitting and you should get another one. Any added pressure from lack of equalization will definitely cause facial barotrauma.

Descending too quickly

Sometimes beginners don’t realize just how quickly they are descending. In our article about how divers can go up and down, we mentioned that divers should only be deflating their BCD slowly until they reach a point where simply exhaling causes the diver to descend a little bit. If a diver deflates their BCD too quickly, they will sink rapidly and may not be able to equalize their mask and ears in time. Always adjust your BCD slowly and keep an eye on your dive computer to determine your descent rate.

Tips to Prevent Mask Squeeze

Beginners are the most susceptible to mask squeeze because they may be nervous or overwhelmed by all of the equipment and safety steps they need to keep track of. Since their attention is divided, they don’t even realize mask squeeze is occurring.

Remember to breathe

The less things you need to keep track of, the better. That is why we are fans of committing certain actions to muscle memory. One of the most important rules to make a habit of when scuba diving is to constantly breathe. That means deep inhales and exhales. As long as you exhale from your nose as you descend, you are equalizing the pressure and preventing mask squeeze. Never hold your breath and remember to breathe normally.

Equalize your ears

Oftentimes the pain from mask squeeze is overshadowed by the pain of ear squeeze. You may forget to equalize your mask, but when your eardrums are about to burst, you’re not going to forget to equalize your ears. This is often done using something called the Valsalva maneuver.

Despite the complicated name, you probably already know what the Valsalva maneuver is. It’s when you pinch your nose and then try to forcefully exhale through it. By doing this, it’s quite common for some air to leave through your nose and equalize your mask. If it’s not enough, just make it a habit to exhale through the nose without pinching it after equalizing your ears.

Stay vigilant

You want to be in tip-top condition when diving. Do not dive when you’re tired or if you’ve had alcohol recently. All it takes is a couple of cans of beers in your system to impair you. The scary thing is, you’ll feel fine and you won’t even realize that you’re impaired unless a sober diver tells you.

Divers who are sleep-deprived also exhibit similar symptoms as someone who is inebriated. Their coordination will be off and they’ll make errors in judgment that any sober or well-rested diver wouldn’t. When a diver is impaired, they are observed to make numerous safety violations such as ignoring their no-decompression limits, depth limits, and even air limits.

For this reason, we recommend divers avoid alcohol entirely if they know they will be diving soon. Divers should also get a good night’s rest so that their mind is clear. Then they will also remember to equalize their mask and ears every few feet.

Don’t over-tighten the mask strap

Tightening the mask too much is a common mistake beginners make. They are so worried that water might leak in so they go overboard on tightening the strap. It can also be a sign that the mask is ill-fitting, and the mask strap is compensating for the poor fit. By not over-tightening the mask strap, you can prevent mask squeeze. 

It’s natural for some water to enter the mask at some point. That doesn’t mean the mask is ill-fitting. When this does occur, simply tilt your head up, press the top of the mask to open a small pocket on the bottom for the water to escape, and exhale to clear the mask. This step also happens to equalize your mask.

Another reason that the mask strap should not be very tight is that the water pressure will simply keep the mask on your face. You’ll find that once submerged, you technically don’t even need the strap anymore for the mask to remain on your face. So why tighten it so much at the surface?

How serious is mask squeeze?

Mask squeeze looks more serious than it is. It can cause bruises around the eyes, burst blood vessels, and swelling. Thankfully, the damage is almost never serious or permanent. Your eyes will look like they are in terrible shape, however it looks worse than it actually is and should clear up on its own.

In extreme cases, the hemorrhage may take longer to clear up, and you may even experience eye pain or loss of vision. If this happens, you need to go to the doctor immediately. Doctors may prescribe antibiotic drops to prevent an eye infection from occurring.

Mask Squeeze Treatment

Thankfully, the vast majority of mask squeeze injuries heal on their own. If you want, you can use an ice pack wrapped in a plastic bag or place a cold wet towel over the bruised areas to decrease the swelling. You can also take some mild painkillers to help you deal with the pain.

To ensure the healing process goes smoothly, we recommend taking a break from diving for a few days. Not only will it be painful diving with a bruised face, but you don’t want to aggravate the injury any further. Be patient and let your body break down and reabsorb the blood around the bruised areas. You’ll be healed in no time.

Can You Get Mask Squeeze from Snorkeling?

Snorkelers are unlikely to experience mask squeeze since it is dependent on descending, and snorkelers spend most of their time at the surface or in shallow waters. Thus, the pressure differential is never that great to worry about mask squeeze. 

With that said, there are rare cases where snorkelers have experienced mask squeeze. Some cases were caused by a mask that was on too tight. A few were caused by snorkelers who went diving. Freedivers can also dive deep enough to where mask squeeze becomes an issue.

As with mask squeeze when scuba diving, prevention and treatment of it is the same. If you surface with bruising and swelling, then stay out of the water for a few days to let it heal. If there is loss of eyesight, seek medical attention.

How deep until mask squeeze becomes a problem?

At sea level, the air pressure is 1 atmosphere (or 1 bar). Every 10 meters (33 feet) of depth, the pressure doubles since water is denser than air. So at 10m the pressure is 2 atmosphere, at 20m it’s 3 atmosphere, and so on.

Mask squeeze can occur even at depths of 10m or less. That’s why it’s possible for snorkelers who also dive to experience mask squeeze. That is why it is crucial for beginner scuba divers to know about the preventative measures to prevent mask squeeze from occurring. They must breathe normally and exhale through their nose to equalize the pressure.

Parting Words

To recap, mask squeeze occurs when the air inside the mask is not equalized to the pressure outside. Since the air compresses as one descends, it causes the mask to squeeze tightly against the face. To equalize, simply exhale through the nose. Failure to do so can cause bruising and burst blood vessels.

This is also the reason why swim goggles can’t be used for scuba diving. Since swim goggles don’t have nose pockets, the air inside the goggles cannot be equalized and it will just squeeze more and more as one descends.

Another common cause of mask squeeze is wearing a mask with overly-tightened straps. The mask should fit snug on your face with barely any support from the straps. An ill-fitting mask that can only be worn with tight mask straps is not ideal. Find a mask that fits your facial structure instead.

Lastly, if you have experienced mask squeeze, take some time off to recover. If your eye is in pain or your vision has been impacted, you should see a doctor immediately. Most mask squeeze injuries are not serious and will heal on their own.

Can you wear contacts in the ocean for scuba diving and snorkeling? The answer is yes. In fact, many divers have some sort of vision impairment, such as shortsightedness. This means that the farther away something is, the blurrier it is to someone who is shortsighted. To address this, they wear contact lenses under their mask to correct their vision. 

With that said, there are some factors to keep in mind before you decide to wear contact lenses for snorkeling or diving. In this article, we will go over the pros and cons of various underwater eyewear for different watersports and whether it is worth it for you to use them.

Can You Scuba Dive with Contact Lenses?

It’s up to you whether you want to wear contact lenses in the water or not. Keep in mind that the lenses you wear on land are not necessarily the optimal choice for use underwater. There are two types of contact lenses you should know about so that you can make an informed decision. They are: soft lenses and hard lenses. Each has their pros and cons which we will go over now.

Soft Lenses

Soft lenses are the recommended choice for divers. They are designed so that bubbles can pass through them. When ascending from a scuba dive, nitrogen will escape from the tissues in the body, including from the eye. With soft lenses on, the nitrogen bubbles are allowed to permeate, whereas the bubbles can get stuck behind hard lenses and cause problems.

Next, soft lenses are generally larger than hard lenses. This makes it easier for your eyelids to keep the lenses in place, and there is less possibility of it shifting or falling out. When your mask gets flooded, you can half-squint to further secure the lens in place. This will drastically reduce the chances of water washing your contact lenses if water ever enters the mask.

A downside of soft lenses is that they are able to absorb moisture. Whenever the mask gets flooded, the lens will absorb some of the saltwater. Thus, when you return to land, remember to clean the lens with a cleaning solution or throw it out if it’s a daily lens. If the lens is dried out or sticking to your eye, apply some eye drop solution to moisten it and help it slide off.

Be careful which anti-fog solution you use to clean your dive mask. As we just mentioned, soft lenses can absorb moisture. Thus, anti-fog may get absorbed by the lens and irritate your eyes.

Should you experience signs of eye infection after a dive, such as pain or loss of vision, see a doctor as soon as possible. Waterborne bacteria can sometimes get trapped between the eyes and contact lenses when diving which can result in serious problems if left untreated.

Hard Lenses

The traditional contact lens can be categorized as hard lenses. They are generally smaller and soft lenses and are made of glass. Since glass is not permeable, it can trap nitrogen bubbles behind it when a diver ascends which can cause the lens to become out of focus.

Since hard lenses are smaller than soft lenses, they are more likely to get washed out of the eye when water floods the mask. To prevent this from happening, you may be forced to completely shut your eyelids to ensure the lens stays in place. Soft lenses are less likely to have this issue since they are larger.

Since hard lenses are easier to lose and prevent bubbles from escaping, it is not an ideal choice for scuba diving. We recommend familiarizing yourself with soft lenses if you plan on scuba diving, and to leave your hard lenses at home.

Daily or Monthly Lenses?

When picking contact lenses, you have the choice between daily (disposable) lenses and monthly lenses. For watersports, you should purchase daily lenses. As the name suggests, daily lenses are worn for only one day and disposed of, and a new pair are worn the next day.

Since water can easily enter the mask and get onto your eyes and contact lenses, they have a high risk of getting contaminated. Particularly in the case of soft lenses which are absorptive of moisture, they can harbor deadly bacteria that can cause eye infection. Better to throw away lenses that have come into contact with water than to try to disinfect it.

Snorkeling with Contact Lenses

Can you wear contact lenses for snorkeling? Yes! Snorkeling has some similarities to diving, particularly when it comes to the size and shape of the mask. The biggest difference between diving and snorkeling is the depth reached. Snorkelers stay by the surface and may occasionally dive a short distance. Thus, it’s easier for them to prevent mask floods and to return to the boat to deal with their contact lenses if an issue arises.

If you typically wear hard contact lenses, you can use them safely for snorkeling because you do not have to worry about nitrogen bubbles getting trapped. Snorkelers still have to deal with water occasionally flooding the mask, so when it happens just close your eyes to keep the lens in place. Once you’re done snorkeling, use a cleaning solution on the lens and use some eye drops just in case.

Risks of Contact Lenses for Maskless Sports

Contact lenses are not ideal for water sports outside of scuba diving and snorkeling because they do not require the use of a mask to prevent water from reaching the eyes. If you wear contacts for surfing, for example, it is very easy for water to get inside your lenses when a wave hits your face. The danger of this twofold: you can easily lose your lenses this way, and microbes in the seawater can linger on the contacts.

For people who don’t wear contacts, the contamination found in seawater is not an issue because it can get washed away from the eye by tears. Contact lenses can absorb and trap the harmful moisture, leaving it sitting against your eye for long periods of time.

Since the eye is a sensitive part of the body, like the contact lenses, it can also absorb the liquids and gases that come in contact with it. This is the reason why daily soft lenses are the optimal choice since it allows the gases to permeate and can be thrown away as soon you finish the activity.

If your eye starts feeling irritated, stop the activity and exit the water. Take off the contact lenses and apply some eye drops. Wait until the irritation subsides before resuming. If you notice signs of an eye infection such as pink eye, dry eye, or general pain, then see a doctor as soon as possible.

When left untreated, there are some horror stories of people losing their eyesight as a result of microbial infections from contact with seawater. If you want to reduce the risks of this occurring, you may want to wear goggles to keep water out of your eyes and contacts. You may not look as cool surfing with goggles, but at least you’ll have some peace of mind.

Alternatives to Contact Lenses

If you want to avoid the downsides of contact lenses, then here are some additional ways to get by without them.

Stick-On/Bonded Corrective Lenses

You can purchase stick-on lenses for your snorkel and dive masks. How this works is you purchase prescription lenses that come in fixed dioptres and glue them on to the inside of the mask. This is a cheaper alternative to getting custom prescription lenses.

The downside to this is that some people have found that the lenses can get unstuck after awhile. Furthermore, since you have to glue it on yourself, there is a possibility that you affix the lens in a poor location. Since only a portion of the mask will be covered by the lens, some users find it disorienting that the center of their mask lens is exceptionally clear and the edges are blurry.

Custom Prescription Lenses

Prescription snorkel masks are the next step up from bonded corrective lenses. Like prescription glasses, the entire lens will be a prescription lens that is custom made based on your eye measurements and the shape of your mask. Prescription lenses are bespoke; you typically bring your own mask which you already know suits your face shape well. The shape of the existing lens is taken into account and a prescription version is made to replace it.

The downside of prescription masks is its price. It can cost several hundred dollars to get a custom prescription lens that fits on an existing mask frame. Unless you scuba dive or snorkel regularly, this is a costly investment that may not make much financial sense. Sticking with soft lenses or stick-on corrective lenses may be a viable alternative.

A similar and cheaper option is to purchase drop-in lenses for your mask. These lenses come in many common dioptre measurements. You then remove the old lenses and install the new one yourself. Very few mask manufacturers offer drop-in lenses for their masks. A set of drop-in lenses can usually be found for $100 to $200. They are a decent middle-ground between custom prescription lenses and contacts.

Swimming in the Ocean Without Contacts

If you only have a minor eyesight issue then you may be able to just swim, snorkel, and dive without any adjustments. We recommend you try snorkeling without contacts to see if you can still see most things clearly. Do not launch straight into a deep scuba dive without understanding how diving without contacts impacts your vision.

Keep in mind that hand signals are the primary communication method between divers. If your visibility is so poor that you cannot make out the hand signals performed by your buddies, then you definitely need to wear contact lenses or a prescription mask.

Can You Wear Contacts in the Ocean Summary

Yes, you can wear contacts in the ocean as an alternative to glasses for snorkeling. Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Wear soft lenses over hard lenses.
• Wear daily lenses instead of monthlies.
• Give your dive buddy or instructor a heads up that you’re wearing contacts.
• After a dive, rinse your eyes with freshwater and use eye drops.
• Bring a spare set of contacts in case you lose some during a dive.
• If your mask floods, squint or close your eyelids to keep the lens secure.

Be wary of water entering the mask and reaching your eyes with contacts on. Soft lenses can absorb the saltwater and any microbes in it, leaving it in direct contact with your eyes. Hard lenses can trap nitrogen bubbles and obstruct your vision on the ascent. Hard lenses are also more likely to get washed off when the mask floods.

With that said, contacts aren’t the only option for your eyes. There are other options, such as bonded corrective lenses, drop-in lenses, or custom prescription lenses. These choices are more expensive than wearing contacts, and may not make financial sense if you are a recreational diver or snorkeler.

Whichever method you use to be able to see clearly in the ocean, be aware of their ins and outs so that you can avoid their downsides. For instance, you don’t want to try wearing contacts while on a rocking boat. You don’t want to suffer an eye infection or spend a bunch of money on something you don’t even use often.

Some of the most breathtaking views and experiences can only be found in the oceans. You want to be able to witness these moments with total clarity, and this can be done cheaply by wearing contacts in the ocean.