Folding Snorkels x 2

[RStyle]

During a recent trip, two divers were lost for approximately 50 min. One of them made the comment after he was on the boat that he wished he had a snorkel with him.
There were 17 divers on the boat and none had a snorkel on them.
Found a recent thread about folding snorkels and would like to ask some follow up questions or would like to hear some comments

1) I am concerned that Aqualung, Sherwood and others discontinued making them.
Maybe they are useless.
2) A diver mentioned that they are to flimsy when opened and will flex with the
waves. Has anyone actually used them? Is this comment acccurate? Is anyone
happy with the performance of their folding snorkel? This would be as a safety
device and not to be used for recreational diving.
3) Would be nice if BC makers would make a sleeve for a snorkel. I.E. Zeagle could do
it behind the wings

 

[Jeff Toorish]

I just picked up a folding snorkel, although I have not used it yet. I've dived sans snorkel for years and very rarely have I wished I had one with me. I bought the new snorkel mostly because I am curious about it.

From experience, if the water is calm, I never used my snorkel and if it was choppy or worse, the snorkel proved pretty useless. This is my experience, of course, others' may vary.

By the same token, a snorkel can be a hazard as has been described on so many threads that I won't go into that there. The pocket is a good idea, because on the rare occasions where a snorkel would be useful, you have it. The rest of the time it can be safely tucked away.

Sounds like a great after market product someone could come up with --a Deluxe Snorkel Holder Pocket with Attachments for fifty bucks!

Jeff

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Scubapro sold one for a year or so that seemed like a good idea. If was a rigid design that folded in half with the connection between the two halves sealed with two thin o-rings. When ready for use it was an excellent schnorkel and when folded it easily fit in a small pocket. The problem was the thin o-rings used to seal it tended to be cut over time by the folding/unfolding process.

But of all the folding schorkel designs I have seen, it is the best place to start.

 

[james croft]

There are countless threads on this pro and con. I carry one religiously when I am diving wherever seas can pick up. I think it is an important piece of survival gear in the ocean if you should need to be on the surface for a while.

 

[mdb]

Here is an option that many divers have found useful:
Apollo Sports: Dive Gear: Snorkels

 

[RStyle]

Has anyone actually used a folding snorkel??
Easy to carry but how practical are they when needed. Are they usable or are they so soft that they collapse