Swimming goggles are a must for preventing water getting into the eyes while swimming. Goggles must be correctly fitted to keep the water out.
As the features of swimming goggles are quite basic, there are only a few different varieties, with price being the main difference.
Swimming Goggles Not to be Used for Scuba Diving or Snorkelling
Swimming goggles are designed for use in swimming on top of the water. They must not be used for scuba diving or snorkelling. That is, whenever the wearer dives below the surface deeper than two to three metres. This is because the deeper a swimmer goes the higher the water pressure pushing on the air cavity behind the eye cups of the goggles.
If too deep, the pressure will be excessive and can force the small frame of the swimming goggles to push into the eye socket. At the least the pressure could break the seal of the eye cup against the face and let in water. At worst, it could damage the eye.
Also, when scuba diving the nose needs to be covered with the mask to enable equalisation and to prevent water entering the nose.
Diving From the Pool Edge with Swimming Goggles
Though swimming goggles look flimsy, they are quite robust and provide a good fit on the face. It looks like they would easily come off when diving from the pool edge into the water. However, correctly fitted goggles will remain in place when doing a flat, fast, racing start.
How to Correctly Fit Swimming Goggles
There are two main adjustments in most swimming goggles:
- the link between the eye cups; and
- the head strap.
The optimum fit is obtained by first positioning the eye cups on the eyes without the head strap and checking the length of the link between the eye cups. The link should not be pulling the eye cups together; and also should not be pushing the eye cups apart. The link should be adjusted just one “click” out from where the eye cups are being pulled together.
The head strap should then be adjusted to give a firm, but not too tight fit. If it is too tight it will cause the eye cups to press painfully on the eye socket. And too loose may cause the swimming goggles to leak at the seals.
Then check that the head strap is not pulling the eye cups to the side of the face. This is why the eye cup link should be adjusted to one “click” wider than if the eye cups were pulling together.
Some swimming goggles don’t have the eye cup link so the only adjustment with these models is the head strap.
Swimming goggles need to be fitted correctly to enable a swimmer to use them correctly.
Bruce Iliff - Hello from an Australian freelancer! I’ve been scratching articles together in Australia in a range of subjects for a number of ...
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