Snorkel: is cheap OK? ...in the way.. keep in pocket? Gearkeeper?

[UnderWaterFlyerGuy]

I'm new to Scuba, and I did recent training with a cheap BodyGlove Dry Snorkel with a built in ridged curve at the mouthpiece. It works OK for snorkeling, but it constantly got in the way while diving.

Advice on keeping a snorkel out of the way?
Keep it in BC pocket?
Keep it on a snap on top of BC?
Get a straight one with a flexible end?
Is a cheap snorkel OK?
Advice on new snorkel?

 

[diversteve]

One of these? XS Scuba Snorkel Cargo

 

[diveprof]

I agree. I have a nice Scuba Pro snorkel for snorkeling. For scuba - unless you are doing a long surface swim in seas/surf - a pocket snorkel is nice.

 

[GoodKarmaKid]

I pretty much never use a snorkel. I have one, but its in my scuba bag 99.9% of the time. I think the last time I used one was about 5 years ago when I was in Kona. We got lucky during a surface interval and a school of dolphins was zeroing in on our location and our divemaster told everyone to grab their masks and snorkels and jump in real fast.

Maybe, I'm missing something, but I don't see the point of using a snorkel when scuba diving? I always just use the air I paid for even for surface swims, etc. When not at depth the most I think I have ever used is 200psi or so.

To each his own, but I prefer to just put the reg in my mouth.


Jason

 

[UnderWaterFlyerGuy]

Thanks

 

[fire_diver]

I have a box full of snorkels. All shapes and sizes. They seem to be the most commonly lost items from new divers. I never use any though. My diving doesn't require long surface swims, so snorkels are completely useless to me.

I would recommend a pocket model, or a cheap one since you may not use it again after classes.

 

[UnderWaterFlyerGuy]

Thanks fire diver... very funny avatar

 

[spectrum]

I'm new to Scuba, and I did recent training with a cheap BodyGlove Dry Snorkel with a built in ridged curve at the mouthpiece. It works OK for snorkeling, but it constantly got in the way while diving.

Advice on keeping a snorkel out of the way?
Keep it in BC pocket?
Keep it on a snap on top of BC?
Get a straight one with a flexible end?
Is a cheap snorkel OK?
Advice on new snorkel?

Any snorkel can be good enough. A dry snorkel can be nicer if you frequently spend surface time on choppy water but in a pinch anything will do.

Keeping it out of the way? I never really have that issue and I dive single and double hose gear. How does it get in the way? Under the ice, in caves or wrecks it should certainly stay behind.

If you want to get a foldable or tuck a conventional solid model someplace on your rig go for it. In yesteryear tucking it under a waist strap or weight belt was commonplace.

The flex end is totally personal choice. if you plan significant skin-diving it may be nice. If you do get a flex tube be sure to zip tie the joint of the tube and mouthpiece just like the mouthpiece on your second stage regulators. I have seen flex snorkels pop apart in surf.

You will read a lot of posts that dismiss a snorkel as not needed for scuba diving and that's all fine and good. However there are a good many less vocal divers that like the idea of conserving a little air when there is a surface swim. You can go a good distance surface swimming on a near empty air cylinder but with a snorkel you have no limit and you can enjoy the bottom view as opposed to staring into the sun. All of this can come in handy when somebody pooches the navigation and you don't come up where expected.

It's all up to you, not me or the posters before or after me. Decide what you want to use and when you want to use it. Be informed and understand what your options are. There is no 1 answer.

Pete

 

[Bubbletrubble]

My dives require fairly lengthy surface swims, yet I don't carry a snorkel with me.
For the most part, on my surface swims, I'm kicking out on my back. If I want to look beneath me (below the surface of the water), I just roll onto my belly and look down. My reg is there if I need to breathe it. I don't think that taking a few breaths off of my reg will significantly deplete my gas supply for the upcoming dive. When I need to breathe with my face in the water, I'll usually roll a little onto my side and inhale through the side of my mouth.

If I had a snorkel attached to my mask, it would get in the way when I conducted an air-share. In an OOA or LOA situation, I would donate the long hose primary which routes around my neck.

If you decide to carry a snorkel with you on dives, why not keep it in a BCD pocket or strap it to your BCD somehow? Some manufacturers offer roll up snorkels that should fit nicely in a BCD or wetsuit/drysuit pocket. Use it on the surface, then stash it during the dive.

Inexpensive snorkels work just fine. I never understood why a diver would ever want to spend more than $50 on a snorkel.

Carry a snorkel...or don't. There is no scuba police. Do whatever is best for you.

 

[SandyRobinson]

I consider the snorkel a piece of safety equipment and carry it on all ocean dives. On recreational dives, it is on the left side of my mask with the mouthpiece facing away from me. It has never been in my way. On deco dives, I usually place it in a strap on my deco bottle.