Anyone use Atomic's new snorkel?

[pjhansman]

I haven't been diving long enough to debate the relative merits of various snorkels to use when diving.....and the truth is, I don't even use one.

However....before my scuba addiction set in, I did a lot of snorkelling, and the Atomic SV2 is great for that.

 

[mike_s]

Atomic SV2

$65 bucks for a snorkel? gimme a break....

 

[Thalassamania]

$65? Well ... it is Atomic!

 

[mdb]

If you are looking for a high quality snorkel:

Apollo Sports: Dive Gear: Snorkels

A whole lot of unique features, copied by many, this is the original.

 

[mike_s]

That's a better price, but I have to still say "$39 bucks for a Snorkel?"

I think I might have paid $15 bucks for my snorkel and it works great. I can't see paying $40 or $65 bucks for a snorkel.

but sadly, I've seen them even higher priced somewhere....

 

[Thalassamania]

If you are looking for a high quality snorkel:

Apollo Sports: Dive Gear: Snorkels

A whole lot of unique features, copied by many, this is the original.

• Continuous tube construction
• Effortlessly folds for easy storage
• Louvered cap
• Flexible polyurethane tuber bends easily to store in a BC pocket while diving; stowed length is 7"
• Ergonomically engineered silicone mouthpiece
• Pivoting snorkel holder
• Hinged quick release fastener provides easy attachment and detachment from mask
• Integrated stops prevent excess movement
• Top-fixed exhaust valve for effortless clearing

Two major problems for me.

 

[Damselfish]

If you are looking for a high quality snorkel:

Apollo Sports: Dive Gear: Snorkels

A whole lot of unique features, copied by many, this is the original.

Has the material used to make these ever changed? I have (or had) one of these and it's a pretty good snorkel if you don't go and fold it up as shown, but IMO not really stowable as advertised. Too stiff to fold well, still bulky when folded, nothing supplied to keep it folded, and it remembers the folds all too well restricting the tube when you go to use it.

 

[mdb]

Damselfish: The material is still 100% high grade polyurethane. I've had one in my BC pocket for at least a year and it never took any kind of "set". It just springs back to its original shape on those occasions when I want to use a snorkel.

I am used to the Apollo BC's with large pockets. Perhaps it is too bulky for the smaller pocket BC's.

 

[Damselfish]

To OP - the issue isn't really whether it's a quality brand snorkel as most will be fine to someone. Like most gear you just have to figure out what features you want and don't want. It's going to depend if you will continue to wear this on your mask, (many people don't), put it in a pocket, or leave it in your dive bag. If you don't know yet and just need something for class, I wouldn't start with a $65 snorkel. Start with a $10 snorkel, you may find you never care and won't be too bothered when the ocean eats it. If you're lucky, you'll find one down there.

As far as the flex, that may help keep it out of the way if you're wearing it on your mask while diving, but can pull on your mouth and be tiring if you actually use it to snorkel a lot. The flex it may help you be able to stick it a pocket, but it's not as good at that as an actual rollup snorkel plus it may eventually break if you do that all the time.

If you actually go snorkeling a lot, you may find you're happier getting a second snorkel specifically for that. I have a rollup I stash in a pocket for diving and a Tusa Hyperdry for snorkeling. (Which is not really "dry", just has a simple splash guard and purge, but works very well for me.)

 

[Damselfish]

Damselfish: The material is still 100% high grade polyurethane. I've had one in my BC pocket for at least a year and it never took any kind of "set". It just springs back to its original shape on those occasions when I want to use a snorkel.

I am used to the Apollo BC's with large pockets. Perhaps it is too bulky for the smaller pocket BC's.

Mine took a set. I only left it folded during dive trips a few times a year and stored it unfolded otherwise in an attempt to have it deform less, but that didn't really seem to help in the end. Wasn't crazy about having to beat my snorkel back into the approximate shape of a snorkel before use.