Going for a swim is a fun pastime, especially when swimming in the ocean — so many things to see and explore.
For a new swimmer, it may be a bit confusing to figure out the correct eye protection for the type of swimming you are planning to do.
Today we will talk about when it is better to wear swimming glasses, and when you should opt for diving goggles.
Choosing the Right Colour Lens
The first thing to understand about protective swimwear is that they come in different colour of lenses and which ones to use.
If you intend to swim in the winter or when there will be less light available under water, you will want clear lenses.
Amber, yellow, or blue lenses are better for swimming in the pool.
Blue coloured are also great for open water to maximise your visibility.
To reduce glare or give yourself a psychological advantage in a competition, you should wear dark or mirrored lenses.
The colour of your lens is something you will need to experiment with, since your sight may require different options from those mentioned above.
What Type do you need?
There are several types of protective eyewear for swimming, which ones you choose depends on how far in depth you plan to go, where you plan to swim, and personal preference.
Protective eyewear will keep water out of your eyes so you can see underwater and protect you from sun glare.
Swimming glasses are typically a smaller framed lens that fits tightly around your eyes in a little circle or oval, with a band around your head to hold them on — think Swedish-style glasses.
Diving goggles are bigger.
They cover your eyes and nose in a boxy way that allows you to see better in the foggy or murky depths and allows you to add protection for your nose as well.
Antifogging tips
To keep your goggles or swim glasses from fogging up, first ensure they are clean, since dirt can cause even more fog.
After ensuring they are clean, try a mixture of baby shampoo and water.
To make this solution, mix 15-18 drops of baby shampoo with about 70 g of water.
Spray this mixture on the eyewear, then swish it around to ensure a thorough coating on every part of the glass.
Do not use your fingers, since the oil in your skin can cause them to fog again.
To fix them if you’re mid-swim, and they fog up, you can try to spit in them and use a bit of water to coat them.
If you are a first-time swimmer, you may find shopping for protective eyewear to be a daunting task.
You should use swimming glasses when you are going to a pool or swimming in the shallow part of a body of water.
If you plan to dive deeper, a good pair of diving goggles is a better option.
To keep your eyewear from fogging up, ensure they are clean, use a baby shampoo/water solution, and never touch the glass with your fingers.
Don your appropriate eyewear and enjoy your swim or dive today.
