How many of u use a snorkel ?

[ladycute1]

Hmmmm... I thought I had already replied to this -- but not it seems that I just "thought my reply real loud" -- so here goes.


I was certified with a snorkle, but I never owned one. So I never used one except for training, and then I would borrow one. I saw a snorkle at a thrift store for $2.99 and it was as good an excuse as any to buy "dive gear" so I bought it.

At first, I just carried it in my pocket. Then, I uncovered some good reasons to keep it attached.

1) There are a couple of dive sites that I like that have rocky and a bit surgey entrances -- getting knocked over and then rolled about without an air source is nasty. Yes, I could keep my regulator in, but, it's just as easy to shove my snorkle in my mouth as I enter.

2) When I do boat dives, it is common for me to be one of the first off the boat, and one of the last back on the boat. Having a snorkle handy helps and saves air.

3) Most striking example: A group of friends and I had just finished a day of diving in Fiji. We were all back on board the boat and preparing to return to shore. As the captain struggled to get the engine started with his trusty screwdriver and one of the dive guides stood ready at throttle, the rest of watched as a freighter was bearing down on us blowing it's horn.
The next day there was a repeat of the engine starting scenario but this time we watched as the large waves were bouncing us toward the reef. My instructor friend and I looked around and realized that between the ten of us there were three snorkles, and if something happened that my snorkle was coming in handy, I was going to be glad I had it! (made me give thought to carrying an extra for auction purposes!)

4) And, finally, I was diving with a friend last month on a shore dive. He was handling navigation, and I was focusing on finding critters and interesting photos for a third friend. I signaled my air volume, and the navigating friend signaled ok, and we started to head back. Shortly after that, I looked more closely at my gauges and realized that he was taking us deeper! Uh oh! Making a long story a bit shorter, let's just say that during that 45 minute surface swim I was really glad I had my snorkle. (and yes, I learned several good lessons, mostly about not abdicating responsibility for the navigation.)

So anyway, a snorkle is now part of my regular dive equipment, unless for a specific dive it should be removed for entanglement risk.

Liz

 

[art.chick]

This is an issue of location and not one of expertise. Everyone I know who dives uses a snorkel to get thru the surf zone when beach diving. We chose sites about 40' or more off shore & have to get thru some fairly big waves to get there. I do not know anyone who thinks of the snorkel as extraneous, amateurish or unnecessary. There may be dive environments where this is not the case. But to me, treating the snorkel like a sign of sissyness is like calling a lift bag or a safety sausage a sissy accessory - it is important for certain situations.

 

[alcina]

I don't take a snorkel on every dive but mostly I have one stuffed into my pocket.

Other than surface swims(which luckily we almost never have to deal with!), I find that I use my snorkel most as a critter toy. Octopus in particular seem to like the way the mouthpiece bobbles when I wiggle it by them. Eels are also curious and will often come quite ways out of their hidey holes to explore this new thing.

 

[RICHinNC]

In off shore dives...that be the ocean....yep...I use one. In quarry and lake ...very calm waters...not as often. There is no set rule for me. I always have it in my bag...look at the current situation...then use it or not. If in doubt...whip it out. Water seldom give you a second chance.

 

[Hamster]

I carry a fold-up type snorkle in my BC pocket but very rarely actually use it. Basically most of the time it's about as useful as diving with a grand piano.

 

[Joe R.]

I carry a snorkel 'just in case'. The current changes and I have a long swim. The boat slips anchor and I have a long swim. Or if I have a long swim in rough seas or a long swim period. Otherwise its in my pocket.

 

[Rush]

Typically, I don't use a snorkel when I dive. I usually dive doubles and have no need for a snorkel. I am currently doing my Divemaster Internship, so when I am using my recreational gear (single tank) I do wear the snorkel.

 

[ibnygator]

I was certified with a snorkel and have always had one on my mask when diving. I have found it useful when in the water waiting for my dive buddy to exit the boat, for long surface swims when coming up a little further from the boat than planned and, particularly, when we surfaced from an ocean dive on which we did a drive by drop off since a liveaboard boat was parked on the dive site buoy. We swam in a direction away from where the boat was circling and looking for us. When we surfaced, we could see the boat about a quarter of a mile away and looking awfully small. The snorkel came in handy and I learned a great appreciation for a whistle attached to your BC. If my buddy hadn't had one, I'm not sure we could have gotten their attention and the ocean looked mighty big at that moment...

:bonk:

 

[MaresMan1]

:doctor:

I always carry a snorkel with me. Whether it's on my mask or in my BC pocket. In calm seas, I may keep it in my BC. If conditions change, I can use it to keep the water at bay while conserving air from the tank (when necessary). I also use it for longs surface swims. IMHO, diving without one is risky. There have been too many times when I have come to the surface and condition have become hostile. Better safe than sorry.

:mean:
DiveOn

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Last weekend I dove the Clackamas River, and as stated above I always dive with a snorkel. While I could have used my regulator, I found it handy (and air-saving) to use the snorkel on the surface for a short look around, and again when I surfaced to help take off my fins. My right glove had leaked, so my right thumb was having difficulty feeling things. The snorkel helped me to simply look at my fin to see where the heel strap was to pull off my fin.

Little things like this really help during a dive. The other thing is that it conserves air, even when that is not needed (but you never know).

I found a lot of fishing lures and weights, and enjoyed giving them away to a fisherman's children after the dive.

SeaRat