An argument for always having a snorkel
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cdiver2
Contributor
cdiver2
Contributor
rescue15
Contributor
Good solution and a spare compact mask is not a bad idea either when ocean diving.
With that said, I believe the snorkle is a very under rated piece of equipment. It is without a doubt a hazard in overhead environments, but should be with you on any ocean dive. It doesn't take up much room - you can slip it under your knife strap - you can get a foldable one, etc. what if you are on a wreck and loose the boat (yes it happens) You have to make a free assent. Why waste air (nitrox can be expensive) when you can put a snorkle in your mouth? It can be used for artificial respiration in the water and make it more comfortable on a surface swim - let's face it, how comfortable (or natural) is it to swim on your back?)
Just my 2 cents
Steve
Steve
I think I just wasted the most inane and ridiculous 12 minutes of my life reading this thread.
But it was like a train wreck.
For the record, I only lurked for two days before posting here, the replies on this board, even when "harsh" are pretty mild compared to most other hobby-ist forums.
This seems like a debate about politics. Neither side is mentally capable of changing their views or meeting on common ground until something earthshaking or possibly life threatening requires mutual cooperation.
Those who swear by a snorkel will eventually get it hooked on something and get scared, most likely causing them to stop wearing it and swear they are useless and a hazard.
Those who don't will be distracted by some special piece of sea life, eventually get a stuck SPG and be OOA on the surface in waves too big to stay afloat properly, despite having a 1200$ BCD, and will never dive without one again.
The old acronym "Walk a mile in their shoes..." is not possible until some unforeseen circumstance puts your life in the shoes of that person.
Other than that, this seems like a debate of personal preference, akin to manual and automatic cars, or ABS/No ABS.
My Dad, who drove race cars for 11 years will not set foot in a car that has ABS brakes. During a car chase, my life was literally saved because I was taught how to brake a vehicle when the ABS fails (which it did miserably) but I've seen wrecks that should have ended with a fatality turn into fender benders because soccer-mom-a stood on the pedal and didn't slam into soccer-mom-b at 65 mph t-bone style.
Live and let live. Especially if the other guys philosophy doesn't impose on your way of living.
But it was like a train wreck.
For the record, I only lurked for two days before posting here, the replies on this board, even when "harsh" are pretty mild compared to most other hobby-ist forums.
This seems like a debate about politics. Neither side is mentally capable of changing their views or meeting on common ground until something earthshaking or possibly life threatening requires mutual cooperation.
Those who swear by a snorkel will eventually get it hooked on something and get scared, most likely causing them to stop wearing it and swear they are useless and a hazard.
Those who don't will be distracted by some special piece of sea life, eventually get a stuck SPG and be OOA on the surface in waves too big to stay afloat properly, despite having a 1200$ BCD, and will never dive without one again.
The old acronym "Walk a mile in their shoes..." is not possible until some unforeseen circumstance puts your life in the shoes of that person.
Other than that, this seems like a debate of personal preference, akin to manual and automatic cars, or ABS/No ABS.
My Dad, who drove race cars for 11 years will not set foot in a car that has ABS brakes. During a car chase, my life was literally saved because I was taught how to brake a vehicle when the ABS fails (which it did miserably) but I've seen wrecks that should have ended with a fatality turn into fender benders because soccer-mom-a stood on the pedal and didn't slam into soccer-mom-b at 65 mph t-bone style.
Live and let live. Especially if the other guys philosophy doesn't impose on your way of living.
Ok, new to diving here, but I love it....I'm less about preferences as I am relatively new and have many different conditions yet to experience. However, when trained for safety they said bring a snorkel. In reading the thread it seems to me that sometimes it's needed, many times not.
Here's the dilemma. My kids have noticed how I like this, and my oldest has expressed an interest. She's 9 and at this point the two of us dove a really large hot tub at a local resort last year. Now THAT was a blast! So... who am i to teach my kids that it's ok to ignore what was taught by a dive professional as a safety rule? the best idea I've seen here so far is to always have one, just stuff 'er in a BC pocket and have it when you need/want it. No bigs, not like the thing weighs a ton. Love it or hate it, whatever. just bring one.
Here's the dilemma. My kids have noticed how I like this, and my oldest has expressed an interest. She's 9 and at this point the two of us dove a really large hot tub at a local resort last year. Now THAT was a blast! So... who am i to teach my kids that it's ok to ignore what was taught by a dive professional as a safety rule? the best idea I've seen here so far is to always have one, just stuff 'er in a BC pocket and have it when you need/want it. No bigs, not like the thing weighs a ton. Love it or hate it, whatever. just bring one.
Buoyant1
Contributor
"Somebody go back and get a s**t load of dimes..."
What, did they put up some toll boothes in the ocean?
That's from Blazing Saddles! When Sheriff Bart puts up the toll booth...
dumpsterDiver
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I always wear a snorkel on my mask in the exact same position when I am scuba or snorkeling. It has helped me to deal with a few situations on the surface when I was very glad to have it. I was lost once for hours in 8-10 ft seas and whitecaps and high winds. I was VERY glad to have a snorkel, Waves were crashing over my head constantly and I was required to clear it frequently. This would have been VERY tough without a snorkel. Actually it would have been exhausting without a snorkel.
In this situation I wanted to save as much air as possible in case a ship came by and I had to dive 50 feet down to get away from being run over.
I have also found a snorkel to be very useful when shore diving in cold water. Often I would use nearly all my air for the dive and deliberately surface with a decent surface swim. Under this condition, I always felt that breathing relatively warm humid air from my snorkel allowed me to warm up faster on the surface swim compared to breathing dry air from a tank that had been cooled below the thermocline (not to mention the further cooling when the air expands through the reg).
Also with respect to surface swims, I used to do a lot of scuba dives from shore that were about 1/4 mile or a little more from shore. It was MUCH more relaxing to alternate between swimming on my belly (with a snorkel) and on my back. People also need to recognize that you can be more streamlined when swimming face down with a snorkel because you can get by with much less air in the bc. To swim on your back in waves, it takes more air in the bc and this certainly seems to make more drag.
It is just a basic piece of gear for me. If I cave dove I would not wear one.
In this situation I wanted to save as much air as possible in case a ship came by and I had to dive 50 feet down to get away from being run over.
I have also found a snorkel to be very useful when shore diving in cold water. Often I would use nearly all my air for the dive and deliberately surface with a decent surface swim. Under this condition, I always felt that breathing relatively warm humid air from my snorkel allowed me to warm up faster on the surface swim compared to breathing dry air from a tank that had been cooled below the thermocline (not to mention the further cooling when the air expands through the reg).
Also with respect to surface swims, I used to do a lot of scuba dives from shore that were about 1/4 mile or a little more from shore. It was MUCH more relaxing to alternate between swimming on my belly (with a snorkel) and on my back. People also need to recognize that you can be more streamlined when swimming face down with a snorkel because you can get by with much less air in the bc. To swim on your back in waves, it takes more air in the bc and this certainly seems to make more drag.
It is just a basic piece of gear for me. If I cave dove I would not wear one.
PADI-Guy
New
Try this one on for size.
A buddy of mine was diving a wreck, where there is a lot of current on one side, and somewhat of a lee on the other side. His face came out slightly into the current side( I didn't say he was a smart buddy), and the current grabbed his snorkel and pulled off his mask.
He hasn't dove with a snorkel since
Regs are for diving, snorkels are for snorkelling
A buddy of mine was diving a wreck, where there is a lot of current on one side, and somewhat of a lee on the other side. His face came out slightly into the current side( I didn't say he was a smart buddy), and the current grabbed his snorkel and pulled off his mask.
He hasn't dove with a snorkel since
Regs are for diving, snorkels are for snorkelling
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