Do you wear a snorkel while boat diving?

[mxracer19]

Man I MUST be cool...I just got in my 3rd dive after OW with a snorkle-less bp/w setup.


-Matt

note: Thanks Franco

 

[SterlingDiver]

I have done the "swim for life" in rough seas and current. I surfaced with 2 other divers on a wreck dive. The down line had parted from the wreck and we came away from the boat. I had a snorkel and they did not. I swam on my back until my legs were tired, then would roll face down, using the snorkel in the waves and swim some more, using a different set of muscles to kick with. I could see the other two people attempting this method. They had to use their regs when swimming face down to be able to breath as a wave would smack them in the face every few seconds. As hard as we were working, they used up their remaining air and were forced to eventually stick to swimming on their backs. I made it to the boat and everything turned out OK and we laugh about it now, but I am not sure I could have made it without the snorkel. My two friends now carry one with them on every ocean dive. If you are ever in rough seas it can be a vital piece of gear.

........used mine for the first time rough seas in Utila a few months back. We had a fairly long swim and I was glad I had it. Funny, a few months before in Akumal I had pretty well decided that I didn't need it anymore.

I guess it really matters what the surface conditions are.

Good Diving,

Dave

 

[peterbkk]

The right place for a snorkel, IMO, is in the BCD pocket, with all the other "sometime you may need to use it" stuff like signalling devices. Having it banging around on the side of your mask for a whole dive, every dive, is quite pointless. The regulator is fine for short surface swims at the start and end of dives. But, if you ever need to swim a long distance, or need to wait a long time in a choppy sea before being picked up, having a snorkel in your pocket could be a life saver.

At the moment I have a foldable ScubaPro snorkel that is in my BCD on every dive. But, its getting a bit tatty. Anyone got suggestions for a good folding or roll-up snorkel?

Regards
Peter

 

[ArthurGerla]

I keep my snorkel in my BCD pocket. I sure was glad to have it handy when, at the end of a long dive at Elphinstone last week, this oceanic whitetip shark showed up under the boat and circled us for more than ten minutes.

Art

 

[jbisjim]

I rarely wear a snorkel.
I keep mine in on shore.

 

[Fishlips_1]

I keep a collapsable snorkle in my pocket for rough conditions

 

[PaulChristenson]

I use it especially on cattle boats... while you are lolling in the water waiting for everyone to board...it is nice not to suck the ocean when an unexpected wave rolls over you or the better scenario...the person who tries to hold himself up with the current line and under you go

Shore diving in Lake Champlain...requires a fair swim...another nice use for the snorkle


Paul in VT

 

[BadLatitude]

I keep mine in my dive bag. But honestly if the surface conditions are so rough i cant back stroke it ( a resting stroke and quite comfortable and stable) then we dont even run offshore to make a jump. They suck on your mask while diving , It sucks to swim with a steel 85 or 120 on your back face down , long surface swims are shortened by learning how to operate a boat and or anchor properly. In some cases Yes a snorkle is nice to have. The perfect place is in your gear bag where its an arms reach away. I find that shallow dive slinging steel a snorkle is nice to save air and bottom time especially when doing many many short jumps a day. No point in decending on a 20-30 ft deep reef to shoot fish if there isnt anything moving , too many cuda or jew fish or sharks around ect ect ect.

I get a kick out of seeing soming in a SHORT cave dive wearing dual HP 120s a dry suit a pony bottle every thing up to and possibly including an electric tooth brush and there is a GIGANTIC super 16 inch long wouldnt drip a drop of water dry snorkle hooked onto their mask. We are talking a place that u dive an 80 ( 1200 psi left in an 80 with a SAC or 30) I believe the key is rigging for every trip specifically and having the gear to be flexable with your load out. IE you and your buddy dont bolth need duel 120s and a pony for a 15 min loop thought with a max depth of 100 ft like your going down to the damn doria for lunch or somthing.

 

[scubak]

I keep mine a long ways away in my dive bag...
Hardly ever use it and use it only if the situation requires it...
Just like a sling, twins, singles or what have you.
Kirsten

 

[Azza]

If you want to wear a snorkel then go for it my friend. Ultimately its your decision to wear it or not and if it makes you feel better to wear when then do so.

Personally I hate snorkels but unfortunately I have to wear them while teaching.
They break the seal of the mask when they get caught in kelp and flop around like a 70 year old belly dancer. I curse the day they were invented.
I have never ever needed to use one and I dive in some pretty unpredictable waters.
I used one the other day as a novelty/something different and waves kept crashing over the top and filling it with water. My student on the other hand had the good sense to use his reg instead...
Must find me one of those roll up jobbies...