Do you dive with or without your snorkel attached and why?

[ZAquaman]

My view is that the snorkel is a critical safety item that no diver should be without. What happens when you are out of air and don't have sufficient flotation (BC failure for example) on the surface? If you have a snorkel it's much easier to float, if you don't have one, you might be ditching gear so you can make it back to shore or the boat.

It amazes me how many divers do not have snorkel skills or deem them to be an important part of diving. I think it may be because snorkeling isn't easy to learn. If you have competent snorkel skills, a "wet breathing" regulator becomes much more manageable. You know what to do when you start to breath in a bit of water. There are many other advanatages and I think others have stated them clearly.

So I say to everyone, leave your dive gear at home and go snorkeling! Get off shore in some rough water, practice your duck dives till you can dive down 30 feet or so. And trash all your gimmick snorkels for a plain old comfortable tube without valves etc. You will ultimately be a better and safer diver. Or, leave the snorkel at home, I'll be coming by the next day to pick you your gear that you had to ditch because you don't believe snorkels are important

 

[BigboyDan]

That's it.

The snorkel, and your mask, are what you have left after ditching your rig. Most agencies have snorkel use classes....

 

[cyklon_300]

plays no part in the diving I do. It is completely non-essential and poses problems with long hose deployment. It stays in the dive bag until I go snorkeling.

 

[String]

What happens when you are out of air and don't have sufficient flotation (BC failure for example) on the surface?

A snorkel isnt a flotation aid. Loss of buoyancy ? Use drysuit, orally inflate BC, dump weights, breathe from reg is simply float on your back. Plenty of options.

If you have a snorkel it's much easier to float, if you don't have one, you might be ditching gear so you can make it back to shore or the boat.

Not if you know how to swim. That argument isnt relevent.

It amazes me how many divers do not have snorkel skills or deem them to be an important part of diving.

The only advantage in snokelling training prior to dive training is it boosts confidence underwater as people know they can hold breath and so on. It serves no other purpose at all.

If you have competent snorkel skills, a "wet breathing" regulator becomes much more manageable.

This isnt an argument as to why you'd want to take a snorkel on a dive. Breathing from a leaking and/or freeflowing reg is covered in most agencies basic training anyway.


I have never seen one sensible argument for carrying a snorkel, it isnt needed for breathing, isnt needed for rescue, is a useless piece of equipment of a depth of 30cm or more and generally has no right at all being on dive gear.
It wont help on the surface, is useless in rough seas and there are several far better options than that.

Im fortunate in that my agency doesnt demand people stick a useless gimmick to their masks to go diving but unfortunately others still insist on it.

 

[DivePartner1]

I love to snorkel, especially in my swimming pool.

When I dive, I keep a folding snorkel in a pocket. I actually find it useful maybe once every 50 dives, bobbing on the surface waiting for a boat on a drift dive somewhere.

 

[OE2X]

My view is that the snorkel is a critical safety item that no diver should be without. What happens when you are out of air and don't have sufficient flotation (BC failure for example) on the surface? If you have a snorkel it's much easier to float, if you don't have one, you might be ditching gear so you can make it back to shore or the boat.

If you have BC failure at the surface - ditch your weights. If you tank isn't empty - breath off your back gas to get to the boat or shore. When your tank does it's swing you should be neutral on the surface. In waves, that will not be enough for you to effectively use your snorkel and still keep your gear on. So I say again dump your weights. If you are so concerned about losing them, then hand them to your buddy who should be positive since he hasn't had BCD failure.
Bottom line the snorkel should be used for just that - snorkeling. It will not make up for poor technique or stupidity.

 

[RiverRat]

Im fortunate in that my agency doesnt demand people stick a useless gimmick to their masks to go diving but unfortunately others still insist on it.

Yep, among other useless crap.

 

[ZAquaman]

OK, here's my point. I'll try to make it as simply as possible without adding in all the what if's, gear issues, etc:

Two people are floating in the sea, one has a mask and snorkel the other has a mask and no snorkel. Which one do you want to be?

I can float happily on the surface brathing normally watching little fishies swim by while you tread water with trying to hold your 10 pound head up so you can breath. I think I'll not only live out the day (if I don't die of exposure) but I might even decide to take a nap I can also swim a hell of a lot faster with my mask and snorkel so the sharks are more likely to eat you first

That's why I like my snorkel. Oh, and who wants to do a surface swim on their back when they could be watching the show down below?

 

[BigboyDan]

Yep, among other useless crap.

What are your thoughts on car seatbelts?

 

[Robert Phillips]

What are your thoughts on car seatbelts?

Is this another DM requirement on the boats you work on?