Hah! Thanks. But if I didn't enjoy chatting with you guys, I wouldn't do it!
Ahhhhh…..the most controversial of subjects: snorkels (lol)
- Thread starter wildbill9
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True Story. Little Cayman. May 2018. First dive of the trip. Boat Dive.
Just to set the stage...... I think it's safe to say that most of us prefer to dive with the least amount necessary of added weight. ANd I think that most would agree that being a couple of lbs overweighted is better then being a couple of lbs underweighted. My personal "gauge" for proper weighting is the least amount of lead needed for me to comfortably hover with no tag or anchor line in 20 FSW open water with 300 PSI remaining... That number obviously needs to be adjusted to accommodate various gear, tank type, exposure suits, etc..... With that said.... in order to descend with that minimal weighting, many divers will COMPLETELY dump their BC and also COMPLETELY exhale in order to get started down...
So.......a woman on the boat with us had entered the water with her buddy. First dive of the trip and maybe she was nervous...who knows. So she signals OK to go down, dumps her BC and fully exhales through her reg to begin the descent... Then at about 5-7 feet deep with her momentum still headed down she goes ahead and inhales off of her reg....... only it wasn't her reg. It was her snorkel. Panic ensued. She somehow made it back the surface where the coughing and screaming started. She actually screamed...."I'm drowning". My buddy and myself were about 15ft away and still on the surface getting ready to descend. Her buddy was still headed down with no clue as to what was happening on the surface. We were able to get to her in a few seconds while yelling...... "Put your reg in, inflate your BC, drop your weights." My buddy (a fellow instructor), went right for her weights while I grabbed her tank valve from behind and then was able to get to her unattended inflator to inflate and then get her right back to the boat ladder that was only a few yards away. We had no idea what the problem was as she had spit her snorkel by then and was in panic mode.
It all turned out OK.... and after taking the rest of that day off she was back in the water the next day..... with NO snorkel...... and my buddy and I couldn't pay for a drink at Beach Nuts that night.
I would never say to anyone whether to use a snorkel or not while on SCUBA...... It's a personal choice. Just wanted to point out a real life example of where a snorkel on SCUBA actually almost killed someone..
Just to set the stage...... I think it's safe to say that most of us prefer to dive with the least amount necessary of added weight. ANd I think that most would agree that being a couple of lbs overweighted is better then being a couple of lbs underweighted. My personal "gauge" for proper weighting is the least amount of lead needed for me to comfortably hover with no tag or anchor line in 20 FSW open water with 300 PSI remaining... That number obviously needs to be adjusted to accommodate various gear, tank type, exposure suits, etc..... With that said.... in order to descend with that minimal weighting, many divers will COMPLETELY dump their BC and also COMPLETELY exhale in order to get started down...
So.......a woman on the boat with us had entered the water with her buddy. First dive of the trip and maybe she was nervous...who knows. So she signals OK to go down, dumps her BC and fully exhales through her reg to begin the descent... Then at about 5-7 feet deep with her momentum still headed down she goes ahead and inhales off of her reg....... only it wasn't her reg. It was her snorkel. Panic ensued. She somehow made it back the surface where the coughing and screaming started. She actually screamed...."I'm drowning". My buddy and myself were about 15ft away and still on the surface getting ready to descend. Her buddy was still headed down with no clue as to what was happening on the surface. We were able to get to her in a few seconds while yelling...... "Put your reg in, inflate your BC, drop your weights." My buddy (a fellow instructor), went right for her weights while I grabbed her tank valve from behind and then was able to get to her unattended inflator to inflate and then get her right back to the boat ladder that was only a few yards away. We had no idea what the problem was as she had spit her snorkel by then and was in panic mode.
It all turned out OK.... and after taking the rest of that day off she was back in the water the next day..... with NO snorkel...... and my buddy and I couldn't pay for a drink at Beach Nuts that night.
I would never say to anyone whether to use a snorkel or not while on SCUBA...... It's a personal choice. Just wanted to point out a real life example of where a snorkel on SCUBA actually almost killed someone..
Shasta_man
Contributor
Best thing about dive trips are being away from the darn phone and computer, however, the downside is the barrage of media and advertising when you return to the world.
It was hilarious to hear one of the reasons was a snorkel might catch on something.
Besides, split fins are the most controversial subject.
It was hilarious to hear one of the reasons was a snorkel might catch on something.
Besides, split fins are the most controversial subject.
It was a long time ago when I didn't have as much experience. Now, I hover horizontally.
...and look at how fast that whale is heading to Davy Jones locker after he saw you wearing that snorkel!
As I said, take <whatever> if you feel you need it. I need -- i.e., strongly desire -- additional bottom time for multi-level dives, mandating a computer for me in such situations. Whether you use a computer or not is your business, not mine.
Bob DBF
Contributor
Chavodel8en
Contributor
Especially above, both for safety purposes, and in case something cool is swimming on the surface, or mid-water. When you're horizontal, your orientation is below, which is good when thats where all the action is. But at the safety stop ....
To turn the question around, I dont know why anyone would want to be horizontal during a safety stop, unless it was a swimming safety stop.
A drysuit is one really good reason.
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