Masquerade Mergoggles

[Seatan]

So after slamming teeth first into the bottom of the pool 'cause I couldn't see, I decided to try and make myself some attractive mergoggles. I know a lot of people have talked about it, but I haven't found a thread yet where anybody went through with it, so here we go!

First thing was obviously to decide what to do for a mask. I looked online and found some light weight, laser cut metal masquerade masks that covered just the eye area. Yeah, it may eventually rust, but if I rinse it and dry it after every wear in the water, it should last for awhile. I decided to go with the purple.

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It's from 4everstore (https://www.etsy.com/listing/151431656/purple-extravagant-laser-cut-venetian?ref=shop_home_active) in Etsy.

Then I needed goggles, obviously. I searched for a pair that would show my whole eye in the opening of the metal, and found the clear TYR Racetech were the goggles for the job--when I put the mask over them, all you could see was my eyes, the goggles didn't show at all!

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Downside, they have a white strap, so I will be hitting up JoAnn's for a clear elastic band today. I tried using fishnet tied around the white elastic, but I just didn't like how it looked. Clear elastic will be easy to hide under my hair, and since the sides of the goggles are also hidden by the mask (I bent it slightly to shape), it will give a nice effect.

So, time to put them together. Easy, right? Uh... not so much. My hands are now covered with Gorilla Glue and I am going to have to drive half an hour to a different mall to get another pair of TYR Racetechs thanks to accidentally smearing the goggle lenses with glue--NOTE TO SELF: Tape eyes off goggle lenses before adding glue anywhere!

The goggles only touch the mask at the nose bridge and a little bit on each side due to the shape of the lenses, so the Gorilla Glue was a major Fail thanks to it being so precariously fitted that I couldn't clamp the goggles and mask together long enough for the glue to dry. I think once I get the new pair, I will first hot glue the mask to the goggles to give it stability, then apply gorilla glue or maybe E6000 around the hot glue.

Anyhoo, tis the start of my mergoggle adventure. I shall keep ye updated. Honestly, I think it's going to look REALLY cool. I was SO pleased by how well you could see my eyes through the eyeholes (like there were no goggles at all), at least before I smudged the lenses with Gorilla Glue!

[Mermaid Tula]

OOH! I can't wait to see how they hold up. I rely on goggles, for pretty much the same reason. Being blind under water sucks. That mask is super cute too, and if it's aluminum, it shouldn't rust.

[AniaR]

yeah let us know!

[ShyMer]

I was hoping someone would come up with something like this! Nice idea!

[Echidna]

Cool stuff!
I'm all for Mers with alien-looking faces (masks!) that make them look otherwordly and aquatic.
This goes well together with a tentacled headpiece that hides the swimming cap! ;)

I'm going to put something similar together for myself, and be the antithesis to the pretty friendly sunshine-mers :cthulhu:

[Seatan]

Okay, here it is! I am going to go swimming with it tomorrow and see how it does!

So I started by replacing the white head band with two clear elastic bra straps, woven through the mask and goggles to hold them together at the sides. Then I used scissors to scratch the black "TYR" off.
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This is what they look like on the inside:
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And this is the little jewelry wire attaching the nose piece to the mask. You can't see it from the front. I gave up on the glue, deciding this would be easier and more secure.
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Here it is from the front:
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And here it is on! Please excuse the fact that I'm wearing no makeup and haven't brushed my hair all day LOL.
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One side:
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Other side... you can't see the fastenings too much. They're not noticeable in RL, anyway.
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Definitely more noticeable with my hair pulled back, though.
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You can only see the goggles when I look way down or way up... Again, not really noticeable in RL
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Close up!
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And just 'cause this post made me feel like Bill Nye the Science Guy...
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[MerEmma]

WOW! Those actually turned out SUPER neat! :D

[SeaSister]

So cool! This is such a creative way to deal with the goggle issue. XD

[Seatan]

Cool stuff!
I'm all for Mers with alien-looking faces (masks!) that make them look otherwordly and aquatic.
This goes well together with a tentacled headpiece that hides the swimming cap! ;)

I'm going to put something similar together for myself, and be the antithesis to the pretty friendly sunshine-mers :cthulhu:

Haha, now I'm picturing a Cybergoth mermaid!

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[Jessica]

This is really neat! I hope you take some underwater pictures! I bet you won't be able to see the goggles at all underwater since they're only minimally noticeable in your pictures. Great job and really awesome idea. ;)

[Echidna]

Loving it!
Prepare to get even more weird stares from pool-goers than the average mer though xD

[Mermaid Cecelia]

This is super cool Seavanna!!! Can't wait to see more pictures!!!

[WillowAnne]

Oh, snap! These are SO cool! I must have something line this in my blind-eyed life!

[Winged Mermaid]

That looks really cool! Congrats, so happy for you! :dance:
If you decide to buy another mask though, try and look elsewhere for a lower price. I bought a mask almost exactly like that (in black) at a local store for less than $10, and that was with retail markup. If you're worried about paint coming off of the front of the mask, you could try coating it in resin. As for rust, just be sure to rinse and dry well after each use :)

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

Neat design and execution.

[Delilah]

great idea!

[Fun123joker]

this is genius!

[Echinacea]

Love the idea, it looks gorgeous! My only concern is that the little swimming goggles say on them that you shouldn't use them for diving, and I think there was a post in the freediving section about the suction created being bad for your eyes. So as long as you are not going very deep, they should be fine! I may try looking for a small face mask, rather than just goggles, and see if I can find anything.

[Seatan]

Echinacea, I am a scuba diver and the deal with goggles is that you shouldn't go deeper than about ten to twelve feet, fifteen tops if they are large goggles, unless you have a nose pocket. This is because by 33 feet the air has been cut in half and small goggles will be forced to suck at the eye when the air is gone. To dive deep you need a way to exhale air into your mask, whatever the size. These goggles are not meant for freediving, just normal swim use.

[Echinacea]

Just me being paranoid :) I'm so danged bouyant, it would probably be a minor miracle if I could get down to 10 feet deep! I have a similar pair of TYR goggles, so I may have to look into making them 'purty' like yours!

[LittlePolly]

Turned out nice! Great idea for mers with sensitive eyes that still want to look pretty with goggels.

[drucilla]

In the words of Ron Ben-Israel, You are a sweet genius! lol Or a mer-genius... Probably shouldve put more thought into this... Anyway, those are cool and functional! Great combo!!

[Echidna]

Just me being paranoid :) I'm so danged bouyant, it would probably be a minor miracle if I could get down to 10 feet deep!
Buoyancy is only a problem at shallow depth- say, 1-2m below the surface.
Once you're deeper, the water itself will keep you there.
If you struggle a lot with staying down when tailswimming, I can only recommend a weight belt, it will totally change your mer-life!

And you can never be too paranoid about your health!
I bought extra-large goggles, because I noticed many burst little veins in my eyes after diving with my smaller goggles.
No deep diving either, I wasn't below 7 feet, but still.
However, the big goggles squeezed my poor head so badly my headaches got ten times worse than they usually already are :p
so I went back to my small goggles lol.

I'll try to make a similar mask with them, because I love how these turned out.
Going for a "water-snake" look to pair with my snake hair ;)

[Ashton]

I really like the idea!!!! I just wonder if you need to seal the mask, and what kind of metal it was.

[Echinacea]

I believe the masks listed on the Etsy site may be anodized aluminum. Not sure if you need to seal them or not, I'll check with my metalworking hubby and see what he says about the reaction of anodized aluminum and chlorinated pool water.

[Miyu]

That looks awesome! :D

Also, I am interested in the effects of chlorine/salt water on aluminum as well, particularly aluminum pop tabs - I have quite the collection, and have finally started making things out of them. Currently the items are meant for dry use only, but if possible I would like to use them in "swimmable" items as well :)

[MermanZen]

Hey Seavanna I think that's such a great and creative idea, I've been trying to figure out how to do something like that but never could figure it out, would you might consider making some merman mergoggle designs? If you can thanks :)

[Seatan]

Hey Merman Zen, what would you like in a Merman Goggle design? I am considering making these and selling them on Etsy.

[Seatan]

And to answer the question about what happens to aluminum in water... It oxidizes, a form of corrosion. It does not rust. Oxidization is called "white rust" because it looks like rust but does not flake off like rust. You can avoid oxidation by spraying it with clear coat primers available at car accessory and paint stores. Or you can just paint over the oxidization. Once it gets the "white rust," that actually acts as a protective layer and it will not corrode anymore.

[MermanZen]

Well I've seen in so many mermaid tail designs that the tops match the tail if the merman goggles could be based on Mers tails then that would give you some design ideas

[Dee Tal]

And to answer the question about what happens to aluminum in water... It oxidizes, a form of corrosion. It does not rust. Oxidization is called "white rust" because it looks like rust but does not flake off like rust. You can avoid oxidation by spraying it with clear coat primers available at car accessory and paint stores. Or you can just paint over the oxidization. Once it gets the "white rust," that actually acts as a protective layer and it will not corrode anymore.

Anodized aluminum though should resist oxidization better.

[MermanZen]

I finally designed my own merman mergoggles

[Seatan]

See this is what we need designed in silicone. The mask part to go over goggles! It would stick well to the face, feel fishy, and be water resistant!

[PearlieMae]

Great idea! When I get a few minutes, I might try a version in silicone to fit standard goggles! I like swimming with goggles when I'm on a personal swim.

[MermanZen]

ya anyone can make them it doesn't coast that much for goggles and if a Mer has some silicone left over its a good way to make sure it doesn't go to waste, make something creative and usable with it :)

[Seatan]

I love my masquerade goggles! It makes me feel so much less dweeby, LOL. I would totally get other designs if people made them. Whenever I swim in a high chlorine pool, I always wear goggles. I am okay in, say, hotel pools and private pools, but at the gym and at rec centers they REALLY turn up the chlorine. One drop can shrivel my contacts! So I like the fact that my goggles look relatively pretty, so that if I do a job at a pool with really high chlorine and I am giving kids rides or something, I can wear them without looking majorly weird. I just don't feel safe carrying kids on my back if I can't open my eyes and see where I am going.

[MermanZen]

ya im the same way when your carrying kids your going to want to see there your going

[Ariel-Starfish]

Love the idea! I still cant open my both eyes underwater, just one! >_<

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

What a great idea! As soon as I have some money I'll try something like this out. =D

[spottedcatfish]

See this is what we need designed in silicone. The mask part to go over goggles! It would stick well to the face, feel fishy, and be water resistant!

YES!!! :lol:

[Mermaid Adriel]

Love the design, Zen! It seems an useful idea :)

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

Seavanna I hope you don't mind, but I was inspired by your mask to decorate my own goggles. Not as beautiful as the mask, but I think it's still beter then nothing:

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[Echinacea]

I did something similar, Marijke! I may need to pick up some fake pearls and beads - all I did was add a few rhinestones! Those look very pretty!

[Jessica]

These are so pretty marijke!! I bet the pearls will look like little bubbles underwater :)

[Ariel-Starfish]

Leeeeeuuuuuuvvveh! <3

[PearlieMae]

Ooooh! Want!!!

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

I want to add tiny shells here and there and then it's finished. =) These goggles were fairly cheap, so I might buy another one to try out the mask idea.

[MermanZen]

Thanks Claudia I hope others might show their own ideas too these could be big in the Mer community

[Fallen]

oh I love the idea. I wear contacts and haven't gotten too much into things on becoming a mermaid. I was trying to think of a way of being able to see and still have a look down and this is perfect! Might play around with my own ideas a bit, but I hope it works out for you.

[Fallen]

Seavanna I hope you don't mind, but I was inspired by your mask to decorate my own goggles. Not as beautiful as the mask, but I think it's still beter then nothing:

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It's beautiful. I've thought of doing the same kind of thing. What kind of glue did you use? I'm afraid of the beads and what not falling off. I assume something like A6000 would work, but not sure it holds when wet.

[Mermaid Crystal Shimmer]

Used E6000, it holds up well. Only lost a few crystals. The pearls attach better then the crystals.

[Fallen]

Used E6000, it holds up well. Only lost a few crystals. The pearls attach better then the crystals.
Thank you. I'm hoping to try it out myself soon. I have tons of beads sitting around that could work.

[Gem Stone]

I want to make something like this, but I can't choose just one design to make. so many ideas, so few goggles

[mermaid_ashes]

Hate to coppy marjike but im SO doing this with my googles. Its perfect!

[MermaidBrandie]

This is a fantastic idea. I was just wondering yesterday what I could do to make my goggles blend more. I was considering going steampunk! lol

[Mary Marine]

This is a fantastic idea. I was just wondering yesterday what I could do to make my goggles blend more. I was considering going steampunk! lol

Steampunk would probably look great for diving goggles. The steam/industrial period was at the tail end of the age of sail, after all. Just think of all the brass, copper, and wood fixtures on a ship.

[MermaidBrandie]

Steampunk would probably look great for diving goggles. The steam/industrial period was at the tail end of the age of sail, after all. Just think of all the brass, copper, and wood fixtures on a ship.
I figured some leather, brass seahorse charms...some shells.... lol

[Mary Marine]

Be sure to use faux leather, real leather would not be fun to get wet!

[MermaidBrandie]

Be sure to use faux leather, real leather would not be fun to get wet!
Why is that? I get real leather wet all the time, it doesn't hurt it at all.

[Echinacea]

If you are just using it as trim, it may not be so bad, but real leather can shrink when it dries, if it gets wet.

[SeaGlass Siren]

If you are just using it as trim, it may not be so bad, but real leather can shrink when it dries, if it gets wet.

well. that explains why my jacket shrunk..

[Mermaid Fenicia]

And real leather also get very hard after getting wet and get dry again :(

[BayouMermaid]

Just a thought... what do y'all think about mergoggles with a mask that is covered in scales. I think it might look too reptillian, but it could be cool. I need to draw this out...

[Kishiko]

Love it! Great job!

[SeaGlass Siren]

Just a thought... what do y'all think about mergoggles with a mask that is covered in scales. I think it might look too reptillian, but it could be cool. I need to draw this out...
Scales and fun like things on the side for ears. It sounds awesome

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Seashell ears!

These are from Empires of the Deep, I was waiting for its release here in Australia, but I read elsewhere it has been canned. Its like an Asian underwater version of Avatar.
I love the swim caps on the ladies in the 2nd photo!

http://csuk-1t.deviantart.com/art/EMPIRE-of-the-DEEP-3-The-Merman-305546080
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=sea+monster+swim+caps&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=jhEDU9LeE8jvlAXBoIHQBw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1097&bih=545#hl=en&q=empire+of+the+deep&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=r0iCVKhvF96TrM%253A%3B5Sd4m74ueWBb8M%3Bhttp% 253A%252F%252F2.bp.blogspot.com%252F_k1XCbVwm_p0%2 52FTFiUa4Oou4I%252FAAAAAAAAAQs%252FR7RSvgLEsvg%252 Fs1600%252Fempires-of-the-deep.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fhollywood-topceleb69.blogspot.com%252F2010%252F08%252Fempire s-of-deep.html%3B610%3B513

[Mermaid Galene]

Brilliant idea! I am extremely nearsighted, and I really want to see where I'm going underwater. For me goggles are necessary! I'm going to try dressing them up. I've just ordered 3 masks from Etsy: a filigree metal one like Seavanna's (but in light blue), a white lace mask, and a peacock plastic filigree mask. I'm going to try silicone gluing a clip or two onto each mask so that I can just clip it onto the goggles when I want to. That way I can swap out the masks easily to match my costume.

And for indoor gigs, I'll decorate my eyeglasses with sea fans, fake coral, etc. Sort of Elton John-ish. Why should we sacrifice clear vision when there are so many great possibilities for artistic merwear for the eyes?

[PearlieMae]

I hate swimming without my goggles. Being able to swap them out is a great idea!

[Mermaid Syaira]

might try fitting a mask on goggles =) I can't swim without them

[catchan1980]

Hello! There are all wonderful suggestions. I am very new to mermaiding (in fact, I had my first mermaid swim only last month. Meh) and I cannot open my eyes underwater. I have access to a chlorinated pool but I need to travel a bit to go to the sea.
I love your designs and hopefully, I can design my own soon :)

[Echidna]

Many good ideas here.
Please do tell if someone designs that silicone (or other) "put over goggles"-mer mask :D

[Mermaid Mystery]

if a child asks about them, a great idea would be to say "mermaids need glasses, too!"


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[SeaGlass Siren]

Just tell them "the air on land hurts my eyeballs."

[Amphitrite]

This idea makes me happy. I've been thinking about chlorine, goggles, and toying with what if I didn't use them... I already wear glasses and so am a uncertain about going bare-faced myself.

[MermaidSasha]

I'm so glad to have seen this thread. Its given me quite a few ideas for some mer-goggles. I swam in a pool this last weekend and my eyes are STILL bothering me so I'd love to have an alternative.

[Mermaid Cataleya]

if you or anyone else makes them from silicone let me know i'd love to buy one.

[LouLouBelle]

This thread is fantastic! That goggle mask turned out really really well.

I'm ridiculously short sighted and have prescription goggles and a prescription mask. I'm planning to make something to cover the mask when I swim, shaped like butterfly wings to match my tail. I've also considered making a mask to cover an old pair of glasses.

The first time I tried swimming without goggles I discovered I couldn't see anything at all, and I suddenly saw the benefit of swimming with your arms out in front of you! I bounced off the floor of the pool a few times...

I've seen a few people mention contact lenses - please please don't!! I used to wear lenses and normal goggles but then found out that this puts you at risk of serious eye infection. There's a specific waterborne bacteria (can't remember the name) that's good at attaching to the surface of lenses and breeding. You could end up needing a corneal transplant or going blind. My optician confirmed this, so I've never worn contacts in the pool since.


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[Echidna]

I've seen a few people mention contact lenses - please please don't!! I used to wear lenses and normal goggles but then found out that this puts you at risk of serious eye infection. There's a specific waterborne bacteria (can't remember the name) that's good at attaching to the surface of lenses and breeding. You could end up needing a corneal transplant or going blind. My optician confirmed this, so I've never worn contacts in the pool since.


Indeed.
Acanthamoeba. Can live in chlorine.
One of the reasons I wouldn't go "bare" into water.

A noseplug is a good idea too for those who feel unlucky enough to pick up balamuthia or naegleria fowleri.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Indeed.
Acanthamoeba. Can live in chlorine.
One of the reasons I wouldn't go "bare" into water.

A noseplug is a good idea too for those who feel unlucky enough to pick up balamuthia or naegleria fowleri.

Why did I have to google those words!!! Now my paranoia has set in, next time onwards, I'll be wearing my snorkel mask!

[LouLouBelle]

Lol! Better to be paranoid and still be able to see!!


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[Echidna]

it's not paranoia, it is sense of self-preservation ;)

And google cured me of my desire to return to the tropics.
Heck, I'm surprised anyone can survive there with all the stuff I know about by now.
(I also understand now why they say that ignorance is bliss...)

[Alixis]

LOVE THIS :mermaid kiss:

[Mary Marine]

Bumping this thread because Halloween is coming and a few years back I found a plastic filigree masqurade mask. I always see metal or fabric ones which obviously you don't want to take in water. The mask I found was red, but you can use a plastic bonding spray paint like Krylon or rustolium 2x to change that.

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[Mermaid Joie]

This thread is Amazing! I love all the beautiful goggle designs on here!

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[MidsummerMermaid]

You have inspired me to give this a whirl! I love my goggles because I'm blind as a bat otherwise.

[Eranthis]

I've decided to try this idea out. I too like some other merfolk here need glasses and without goggles i can only see something when it's about a foot away from me(30.48 centimeters for mers outside the US), plus i can't keep my eyes open for more than 30 seconds underwater so i think that being able to wear goggles would be a big help and save me a ton of eye drops as well.:p

[melody_del_mar]

I have to try this! I am legally blind in one eye, so seeing above water is already difficult for me without my glasses. Being able to wear prescription goggles that were customized to look like a mermaid mask would be a big help!

[Eranthis]

I have picked out a mask, now i shall lie in wait for the perfect opportunity to pounce on my mailbox.

This is the mask i chose:
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