Originally Posted by BigJetDriver69:
I said: "Well, String, I haven't the faintest idea why you so vehemently foam at the mouth when presented with the sight of a snork. Perhaps your mother was attacked by one when you were in the womb?"
And you said: "Because its an entirely worthless piece of plastic forced onto people by agency brainwashing that has no useful purposes and if worn can hinder a dive as opposed to help."
Unfortunately for your contention, a whole lot of people came up with real-life stories of cases where a snork was not only useful, but in some cases, actually a life-saving device.
Now, to be fair, there are situations where having it strapped to your head would, as you suggest, "hinder a dive as opposed to help." I might suggest that public safety diving, caving, and poking around in kelp forests might be some examples.
So then I said: "It is a piece of plastic pipe. It is simply a tool, nothing more. If you have a use for it, use it. If not, don't. Otherwise, there's really no need to get your knickers in such a twist about it."
And you replied: "Thats fine but there are so many false claims in here about it being a safety device it cant really be ignored. The last thing wanted is another generation of new divers reading some of this and deciding its essential."
Unfortunately for your last comment, we have proven, anecdotally at least in this discussion, that there are times when IT CAN BE ESSENTIAL. (Ed. note: Ref. true accounts by other writers--this Board.)
I then suggested: "Mayhap your technique is so good that you float above the chop in any sea. Somehow I doubt it, but it's impressive if so."
Your reply was this: "Positive buoynacy (sic) isnt hard to acheive. (sic) Once floating you can breath (sic) normally or float on back (sic) or use the reg. A small plastic pipe is going to have no affect (sic) what so ever in heavy chop. It will simply get swamped.
I would certainly agree that positive bouyancy is NOT hard to achieve. It is simple to inflate one's wing or BC, either with the inflator button or orally. With mask on, reg in mouth, and gas bag inflated, you are a happy lad, or gal!!
Now we get to the situation, which you have obviously been fortunate enough NOT to have been in, where your gas supply is low or non-existant for any number of reasons beyond your control. You are in heavy, or confused seas, and the waves are crashing over your head.
Surpisingly, or not so surprisingly to those who HAVE been there, that little devil of a plastic or rubber pipe will work VERY well to keep the briny deep from invading your warm little body!! :11:
I would just note, again, that military rescue swimmers find a use for a snork in rough seas. I guess you are just better than they are!
Of course, your answer was: "Rescue *SWIMMER* is not a scuba diver."
Here I would simply point out that "Rescue Swimmer" is a job title, but every one that I've ever met was a diver, and a damn fine one at that. Considering the way they are trained, and the shape they are in, I would recommend that you not get too snotty with those lads, lest they bend and twist you like a pretzel, and chuck you overboard!!
Your comment in another post was about the idea of carrying one with you, and you said: "Its not the room, its the fact its 100% useless in the situations described anyway."
We have demolished that contention perfectly well in the many re-countings of actual events as posted by many other writers on this Board.
You then said: "As for whoever made the comment there are no scuba police, unfortunately there are. Some areas (california i believe?) (sic) force a snorkel onto divers, someone mentioned boat policies demanding one and of course padi (sic) standards force it onto people so yes there are. (sic) Unfortunately its things like this furthering the brainwashing.
Now, I made a comment to one of our other writers, who is an attorney by trade and a Devil's Advocate as a hobbyist, that while, yes, I am, in fact, SCUBA Police in a sense, I would never be citing anyone for "PUBLIC SNORKING" or "FAILURE TO SNORK"!!
Unfortunately, there are some divers who just cannot resist getting onto a boat and giving other divers, whom they perceive as "newbies", or less God-like than themselves, a loud and abrasive hard time.
I would certainly hope that your mother taught you better manners than that! If not, I would have to tell you what I told one loud-mouth not too long ago. "Hey, strap the weights to your body with barbed-wire and dive NAKED if that's what you want, BUT JUST SHUT THE HECK UP AND DIVE!!!" :furious:
The un-spoken sub-text here is that if you are in my jurisdiction, and you keep that kind of foolishness up, you could well find your self with a citation for "Creating a Public Nuisance"!
So, getting back to the original question, to whit: "To SNORK?...or NOT TO SNORK?...
That is the question!"
The answer is simple. It is just a tool. At times it has its uses. At least carry one with you in open water. You may find that it is REALLY useful if certain situations arise.
To quote Mr. Natural: "Get the right tool for the job, Kids!" :doctor:
Cheers!
Rob Davie
