somewhereinla:
I didn't say that certification agencies didn't require a snorkel for OW classes, I said that "Most" agencies did not "Stress" how important the snorkel is.
How would you know? How many agencies have you been associated with?
I can tell you that all of the agencies I've worked classes for require a snorkel as part of the basic gear, and require instruction in its use as part of their basic curriculum.
somewhereinla:
I didn't say a snorkel make you a safer diver I said a snorkel is a very important piece of safety equipment, so that, for example if you are caught in bad weather or a rough tide/strong current when coming back up you don't actually drown breathing water instead of air (we are assuming you have no more air in your tank and this is not a boat dive).
Why would you assume that a diver would end a dive with no more air in their tank? If you do so, you are violating some pretty basic things that you were supposed to have learned in your basic open water class.
Sounds to me more like you're saying you use a snorkel to make up for a lack of fundamental skills.
somewhereinla:
I am a bit surprised since you are an instructor that you don't know the answer to that question???
Actually, I know AN answer ... and I'll share it.
A snorkel ... like every piece of scuba gear ... serves a specific purpose. Depending on the circumstances of your dive it can have advantages and disadvantages. You need to understand why you're wearing it ... just like every other piece of gear you carry. Otherwise, you can't make a rational decision as to whether it's safety equipment or not.
If you're using a long hose, a snorkel can interfere with a shared-air exchange.
If you're diving in a strong current, a snorkel can create enough drag to cause your mask to get pulled off your face.
If you're diving in kelp ... or towing a flag or smb ... it can be a potential source of entanglement.
Under those circumstances, a snorkel isn't a piece of safety equipment ... it's an impediment to your safety.
Daniel gave some good examples of when a snorkel can be a piece of safety equipment. Some other folks did as well.
So my answer is "it depends on the gear I'm wearing and the circumstances of the dive" ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Most of the time it is just in the way
