Bored, self quarantined, how many still use snorkels

[Eric Sedletzky]

I do, I beach dive with kelp.
I snorkel out to the drop zone and can navigate through the kelp much easier whilst snorkeling looking down and forward. I’ll pick a path through clearings or push the kelp aside and move on. It’s a lot easier and less entanglement than laying on my back and having kelp wrap around my tank valve. Having kelp wrapped around your tank valve is a total pain in the ass, you should try it one time and it will make perfect sense why people in my area still use snorkels. I’ve had one attached to my mask now for so long I don’t even notice it.
Yes, read - IN MY AREA. If I was diving in a quarry, lake, cave, off a boat, tropics, etc. then no I would not use a snorkel.
“Save that precious air for diving, not surface swimming”, said my favorite instructor.
I see no need to detach it and stow it.
One thing about where I dive, if anything is loose or could come loose the ocean will take it. Everything is set up the way it’s set up for a reason. The ocean has claimed computers, more dive knives than I care to remember, compasses, slates, lights, spear guns, fins, you name it. It has never claimed a snorkel that was securely attached to my mask.

 

[HKGuns]

I’m a newb so I still keep my snorkel with me when I dive. Training you know. It doesn’t bother me and I don’t notice it under water.

 

[Steve_C]

I don't do beach diving. I'm not swimming 20 miles to shore. Looking down I cannot see the bottom 90 % of the time. I just look around. With the reg in my mouth on the surface I will use very little air. I used to carry one in my pocket think I know where it is .

 

[D_Fresh]

It depends on the type of diving I'm doing... If boat diving or shore diving where there's nothing good near shore, I leave the snorkel behind. But, one of my frequent shore dive sites has an amazing shallow reef, so swimming to and from our descent spot(s), I will use a snorkel to enjoy the sights while en route. Also, we often have a few non-divers who join us, so if they're out snorkeling on the shallow reef, I sometimes join them after a dive (before doffing my gear).... gives us more to talk about over lunch or beers at night...

 

[wedivebc]

Diving rebreather so snorkel is not much use

 

[Eyegore]

One is always on the mask and I use it while kicking on the surface.

 

[UTscuba]

I don't, but figure I ought to at least carry a fold up one if there's a chance of a long surface swim.

Without wishing to hijack the thread - what's a good folding model?

 

[GJC]

www.piranhadivemfg.com/item/Just-In-SpecialNew-Piranha-Dive-Foldable-Snorkel-w-Case-Holder-in-PINK-14907

They have black too

 

[Jay]

A recent poll, and one not so recent poll:

 

[Rickk]

I always have one with me, except on ice dives and always use it on the surface. As soon as I splash off the boat or wade into deep enough water to float, I use the snorkel until the group is gathered and ready to descend and then as soon as I surface after the dive I switch back.

It is the way I was trained back in the 90's and the reason was to conserve air supply until you needed it under water. Now that I am no longer the biggest air pig on the dive, it is just habit.

Don't use it ice diving for the obvious reason and when I take wreck certification I will not use it for penetration dives either although I might get a pocket one for those dives.