A lot of you have messaged us with the same concern: “Hey, I’m very nearsighted, taking off my glasses makes me practically blind, so how can I see the corals?”. This worry is completely justified, because traveling all the way to a far island just to see everything blurry means you might as well stay in the hotel and sleep.
Don’t worry too much. This article will answer exactly if you can go sea walking with glasses, how to handle prescription glasses underwater, and uncover the facts about this sport that tour sellers rarely explain in detail.
We will look closely at the structure of the diving helmet, guide you on choosing the best way to wear glasses, and also address the fear of “not knowing how to swim”.
The reality: The struggle of the nearsighted club when going to the beach
Many tourists coming to Phu Quoc are very excited about the Seawalker (sea walking) experience but hesitate because of their thick prescription glasses. If you wear normal snorkeling goggles (the kind with a mouthpiece), they won’t fit over your glass frames, and getting custom prescription swimming goggles is expensive and time-consuming.
Actually, sea walking technology was created to solve these limitations. It is designed for everyone, including true “four-eyes” or those who are completely clueless about swimming.
Quick answer: Can you go sea walking with glasses?
The short answer is: Yes, absolutely 100% yes. You do not need to take off your glasses. You can keep your prescription glass frames on while sea walking to see the corals.
💡 Local tips: Underwater, light refraction will trick your eyes, making objects look about 25% larger and closer than reality. Therefore, if you are only slightly nearsighted (under 1.5 diopters), you can consider taking off your glasses for the most natural view. Remember to bring a case to store your glasses safely on the canoe.
The secret lies in the magic “sea walking helmet”
For nearsighted diving in Phu Quoc to be easy, the biggest credit goes to the equipment. Unlike scuba diving or snorkeling which requires you to bite a mouthpiece, walking on the seabed uses a specialized sea walking helmet.
- Weight: The helmet is made of copper and tempered glass, weighing about 30-40kg on land, but when submerged in water, thanks to Archimedes’ buoyant force, it only feels like 4-5kg resting on your shoulders.
- Operating mechanism: The air compressor on the boat will continuously pump oxygen down to the helmet through a hose. The downward air pressure is extremely strong, keeping the seawater only up to your chin, making it absolutely impossible to flood your face.
- Experience: Your head, face, and hair are completely dry. You just breathe normally through your nose exactly like sitting on the shore.
⚠️ Practical note: The downside of this helmet is that your field of vision will be limited to the front visor. You cannot glance sideways like on land, but if you want to see something on the sides, you have to turn your whole neck and upper body.
Should you use glass frames or contact lenses when sea walking?
Because your face is completely dry, you are free to choose between two options:
- Using normal glass frames: Very convenient and safe. However, if your glass frames are “oversize”, they might feel a bit tight when you put the diving helmet on. The tour guide will help you lower the helmet carefully from above so it doesn’t catch on your glasses.
- Using contact lenses: This is the method we recommend the most. Using lenses will help you avoid feeling tangled up, providing a fuller view through the helmet’s visor.
💡 Quick tip for the lens-wearing team: The air pumped from the compressor on the boat into the helmet is quite dry. When underwater, remember to blink more often than usual to avoid dry eyes. And absolutely do not rub your eyes hard inside the helmet!
Can you go sea walking if you don’t know how to swim?
This is the second most common question after the one about glasses. The answer is: You can still participate normally without knowing how to swim.
In fact, up to 90% of customers booking the Phu Quoc sea walking tour with us are people who don’t know how to swim at all.
- 1-on-1 Guide: When entering the water, there is always a professional diver closely following, holding your hand and guiding you throughout the 15-20 minutes on the seabed.
- Handrails available: From the boat down to the seabed, there is a vertical ladder. On the sandy bottom, there are also iron handrails set up for you to hold onto and walk slowly. You don’t have to “swim” a single meter.
⚠️ Safety warning: When you first step down into chest-deep water, the changing pressure will make your ears pop slightly (like when a plane takes off). The fastest trick to handle this is to swallow saliva continuously or yawn widely to equalize the pressure. Absolutely do not panic and flail your arms and legs, just follow the diver’s hand signals.
How much is the current sea walking tour price?
The sea walking tour price will depend on whether you buy individual tickets directly at the pier or go on an all-inclusive tour (island hopping tour).
- If you go to the pier by yourself (usually in the An Thoi port, Hon Thom, or south island coral park areas), individual ticket prices range from 1,150,000 VND – 1,550,000 VND/person (approx $46 – $62 USD) (depending on whether you take the underwater filming and photography package or not).
- Note to avoid traps: Don’t be tempted by cheap “resold” tickets of unknown origins on social groups. Choose coral parks with clear operating licenses to ensure equipment safety and travel insurance.
Preparation guide for first-timers
For the most complete trip, the nearsighted club should quickly note this checklist:
- Clothing: Wear neat swimwear (shorts, fitted t-shirts, or bikinis). Avoid wearing overly long or frilly maxi dresses, as the high water resistance will make it hard to walk and easy to get tangled in the coral reefs.
- Health: This sport is not recommended for pregnant women, people with a history of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, asthma, or who have recently had ear/nose/throat surgery.
- Protect the coral: Please do not touch, break, or step on the corals in any way.
Conclusion
Being nearsighted is not a barrier to exploring the vast ocean. With modern sea walking helmet technology, you can completely keep your familiar prescription glasses to clearly admire every small school of fish and brilliant coral reef at the pearl island.
If you are planning an upcoming trip, going with a family that includes seniors or young children, and need a safe itinerary, fully taken care of from shuttle buses and canoes to Seawalker tickets, please check the details of our Phu Quoc Sea Walking Tour. All costs are clear from the beginning, with no hidden fees, and we especially always prioritize the most comfortable experience for our customers.
