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For divers who struggle to read their dive computers, underwater camera displays or other small details, getting a clear view at close range can be a persistent frustration. Dutch company SeeDeep Diving Optics is approaching that problem differently, with adjustable reading glasses designed to be worn on the outside of a conventional scuba mask.
Rather than requiring divers to purchase a prescription mask or permanently install corrective lenses, SeeDeep Diving Optics has developed a removable system that can be repositioned underwater when magnification is needed.
The glasses are designed primarily for close-up viewing, including reading instruments, adjusting camera settings and observing small subjects.
Reading Glasses That Sit Outside the Dive Mask
The distinguishing feature of SeeDeep’s design is its external positioning.
The glasses are held against the front of a diving mask using adjustable straps and soft contact pads. Divers can move them into their preferred position when close-up vision is required, then reposition them to restore a less obstructed view through the mask.
According to the manufacturer, the system is compatible with conventional scuba masks, including frameless models. Full-face masks are excluded.
This approach offers a different set of advantages and compromises from traditional prescription masks, which incorporate corrective lenses directly into the diver’s field of view.
For someone who needs occasional magnification rather than continuous prescription correction, the ability to change the position of the lenses during a dive may be particularly useful.
Lightweight Construction and Updated Lens Options
SeeDeep’s current aluminium reading glasses are available in blue and anthracite grey.
The frames are manufactured from anodised aluminium, with polycarbonate lenses featuring an anti-scratch coating. Each pair weighs approximately 25 grams and measures 181 mm across and 26 mm high.
SeeDeep has also updated its lens range, introducing a +3.5 option while discontinuing its earlier +1.0 and +1.5 strengths. Its current published range comprises +2.0, +2.5, +3.0 and +3.5, with separate left- and right-eye selections available during ordering.
The company has also introduced interchangeable lens options, allowing divers to replace lenses when their requirements change rather than automatically replacing the entire frame.
A further addition is a floater accessory intended to reduce the risk of losing the glasses if they become detached underwater. SeeDeep also supplies a neoprene BCD storage pouch with the glasses.
What About Fogging and Underwater Visibility?
Because the lenses sit outside the mask, they are exposed directly to the surrounding water rather than enclosed within the mask’s internal airspace.
This removes the usual air-to-lens condensation mechanism associated with mask fogging. However, the external arrangement also means the lenses remain exposed to the underwater environment, where suspended particles, scratches and handling may influence the viewing experience.
The manufacturer recommends choosing a stronger reading lens than might normally be used on land, particularly for close-up underwater photography. This is manufacturer guidance rather than a substitute for individual optical advice.
Divers considering SeeDeep should check the available lens strengths carefully. Those requiring correction for astigmatism, distance vision or more complex prescriptions may find that conventional prescription masks or other professionally specified solutions remain more appropriate.
How Does SeeDeep Compare With Prescription Dive Masks?
There is no single vision-correction solution that suits every diver.
Prescription masks provide integrated optical correction and may be preferable for divers who need consistent correction throughout a dive. Some designs can also accommodate more complex prescriptions.
Adhesive reading lenses and bifocal inserts offer another option for divers who primarily need assistance with close-up instruments, although these are generally positioned within the mask.
SeeDeep’s external glasses provide an alternative for divers who want to reposition or remove the magnifying lenses from their immediate field of view without changing masks.
The appropriate choice depends on the diver’s prescription, the equipment being used and the situations in which improved vision is required.
An Option Worth Considering for Dive Computers and Cameras
For underwater photographers and divers who regularly struggle with smaller dive-computer displays, SeeDeep’s design addresses a recognisable problem.
Its practical value is likely to depend on fit, lens selection, ease of adjustment with gloves, retention during movement and how comfortably it can be used across a range of diving conditions.
Those questions are best answered through independent in-water testing rather than manufacturer specifications alone.
The Scuba News has been offered a sample for a separate hands-on assessment. No independent testing has yet been completed, so this initial feature is based on published product specifications and information supplied by SeeDeep.
The aluminium glasses are currently listed at €79.95, excluding any applicable shipping costs.
Further product specifications and information about available configurations can be found on the SeeDeep website.
See Clearly Underwater with SeeDeep
Interested in making your dive computer, camera settings and other small details easier to read underwater?
Explore the SeeDeep removable reading glasses and take advantage of an exclusive offer for The Scuba News readers.
Use code SCUBANEWS at checkout to receive €7.95 off your purchase, covering the cost of a protective case for your SeeDeep glasses.
