How many of u use a snorkel ?

[Wreck/Tec]

That Damn Thing........I tried several times to use one with my regular gear, basically save air while surface swimming. I won't beat it up too bad, not for me thank you very much........Between catching on hoses, or getting in the way.......SEE YA!
Wreck/Tec

 

[John C. Ratliff]

I've not heard of the "snorkel test" before, but have maintained that alcohol and diving don't mix, at all. I've seen divers completely ruin good dive trips by drinking. One time, in my teens, my dive trip was completely ruined (and subsequent diving for months) by stepping on someone's beer bottle near our tent, resulting in a long, deep gash in my heel. Like driving, if you dive, don't drink. I would stay away from any group that promoted this "snorkel test."

I just looked at the price of a new Impulse II snorkel, and will hold off for awhile. I still have my Shotgun, and will continue to use it or my wife's older, but still very good, original Impulse snorkel. The new one apparently is better designed, with the bell more streamlined, but I have some other prioritites right now.

SeaRat

 

[Phil TK]

John C. Ratliff once bubbled...
I've not heard of the "snorkel test" before, but have maintained that alcohol and diving don't mix, at all. I've seen divers completely ruin good dive trips by drinking. One time, in my teens, my dive trip was completely ruined (and subsequent diving for months) by stepping on someone's beer bottle near our tent, resulting in a long, deep gash in my heel. Like driving, if you dive, don't drink. I would stay away from any group that promoted this "snorkel test."

SeaRat

The 'snorkel test' is a very widespread tradition through Europe, Australia and Asia and on balance it is harmless enough and not directly associated with the sort of divers who have a drink problem and therfore ruin things for other people. On balance I wouldn't say it was more dangerous than diving itself, although of course there will always be mishaps. The people who 'promote it' usually do not have a drink problem and don't encourage anyone to aquire one!
I'm ok with divers drinking the night before they dive with me, as long as it is not taken to excess. Fortunately, most people who do over indulge, do not want to dive the next morning anyway, so to an an extent it is self-regulating.
Since diving is a 'recreation' and by nature is something that people do 'on holiday' a huge percentage of divers are probably drinking 'a fair bit' the night before they go diving. It's not desirable in the puritan sense but it's not a massive problem either.

Phil TK

 

[Popeye]

wazza once bubbled...
Do u use a snorkel ??
and is it import in every dive???
If yes why and if no why ??

I may carry one any time I have a surface swim, or may have to wait for boat pickup.

I always have one in my bag, for SI.

I don't think students should have to carry one, and I don't think they should be carried for no reason.

I do wear one if I'm helping with a class, because everyone else has to.

 

[sumo]

In reply to all of those regarding my 'snorkel test' post...

This was never something I experienced myself, but one of my closest friends who passed her DM on Utila, Honduras - was out with her dive buddies after passing her DM and the 'snorkel test' was something she took part in...

To think she went diving the next day - you have to be mad to think this - of course she didnt. She had a well earned rest in bed.

As for the risks with alcohol and diving - these are widely publicised - and I agree - drink and diving don't mix. If you DONT pick that up during the training, or with a little bit of personal experience yourself - then there must be something wrong with you!

As for a 'sensible' answer on snorkel use - well, personally, being young and fit I have never struggled to swim to a dive site and back. I have a trusty ladies BCD that keeps me high out of the water - and also swimming on my back helps too...

But, I have had several people - that are used to sitting behind a desk all day in Central London, and are in the 50's - who expect to be fit enough to come and dive for a week in the Red Sea - these people have struggled with the conditions, or have reached for their reg during a surface swim - and been stressed by their breathing upon reaching the descent point.

For these people - yes a snorkel is a good idea - although I have always found 9/10 times they go for their reg insted of their snorkel.

So - from experience - if you have have an empty tank and are on a long surface swim with big swell, then maybe a snorkel is useful. It's one of those 'worst case scenario' pieces of equipment we should all carry....

Rambled on for too long already,

Sumo






:bonk: :bonk: :bonk: :bonk:

 

[DocVikingo]

You might enjoy this article on the pros & cons of wearing a snorkel I wrote for the Nov/Dec '99 issue of "Rodales' Scuba Diving":

"Although major certifying agencies continue to teach use of the snorkel as part of basic recreational scuba gear, the device's necessity is openly debated by factions pro and con. As with many equipment decisions, in the final analysis use of a snorkel post-certification is a personal one. To make this choice an informed one, here are some issues you may wish to consider.

Pros: Divers expressing a preference for the snorkel cite such benefits as: (1) easing of long surface swims, especially in rough water; (2) eliminating cylinder air consumption while swimming to points of descent; (3) locating u/w markers on beach entries and exits; and (4) allowing quick surface positioning when on board and that pod of curious dolphins or squadron of playful mantas unexpectedly appears.

Cons: Divers expressing a preference to go without a snorkel argue that they: (1) cause drag which not only adversely affects streamlining but can pull the face mask allowing water to enter, or in heavy current tear the mask off altogether; (2) pose a threat of snag/entanglement, and can be an impediment to rescue attempts requiring rapid removal of the victim' s mask; (3) float into the diver's field of vision, or the photographer's shot; (4) are effortful and inefficient. This contention includes that using a regulator while doing a surface swim is much easier, and that even if this is precluded by a low or out of air situation swimming on the back gives the diver a superior field of view and places the fins in a more efficient kicking position. Also cited are a tendency to flood (with the subsequent need to clear), retain water even after clearing, and the inherent "dead air" not expelled upon exhalation and rebreathed on inhalation.

Okay, you decide to go with the snorkel. What can you do to reduce the drawbacks? You can: (1) place the snorkel in a BC pocket, strap it to your leg, or otherwise position it so as to be readily accessible reducing drag, entanglement risk and obstruction of vision; (2) purchase a collapsible or roll up model that can be conveniently tucked away; and (3) purchase a model designed to effectively reduce ease of flooding, residual water in the tube (e.g., purge vales, reservoirs) and breathing effort. Of course, gains in on area can mean losses in another, e.g., loner tubes less prone to flooding breath harder. Your own preferences should decide the optimal balance of features."

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[MgicTwnger]

I keep a fold-up in my BC pouch in case a DM insists on one.

 

[Doof]

I have one. It's in my BC pocket. At least I think it is. The only reason it's there instead of in my bag is because my wreck instructor said that PADI requires one for all classes. He said that leaving it in the pocket was good enough. Why anybody would want to wear a snorkle into a wreck is beyond me.

Another thing I heard, and I cannot vouch for the validity of this statement, is that PADI only recently agreed that a snorkle may not have any practical application during an ice dive.

 

[detroit diver]

Doof once bubbled...
I have one. It's in my BC pocket. At least I think it is. The only reason it's there instead of in my bag is because my wreck instructor said that PADI requires one for all classes. He said that leaving it in the pocket was good enough. Why anybody would want to wear a snorkle into a wreck is beyond me.

Another thing I heard, and I cannot vouch for the validity of this statement, is that PADI only recently agreed that a snorkle may not have any practical application during an ice dive.

Wrong. You can use it to chip holes in the ice. Or to fill up with snow for blowgun fights!

 

[BCS]

Funny story ( or maybe not so funny...), I was teaching a rescue class and wanted to evaluate how the students handled another diver with an OOA. The two students I had in the water both had a BC inflator/backup reg combo (i.e DUOAIR, AIR II, Air Source,...etc) as that is what the Master Scuba Instructor/Master Pool Diver at the shop preaches. They also had their snorkel monstrosities with the dry valves and purge valves and flexible hose hanging off the side of their heads. I gave the OOA signal to the first student, he gives me the reg he is breathing from (on that 26"hose) and proceeds to grab his snorkel and put this into his mouth, 25' underwater. I pulled it out and handed him his backup, but after he proceeded to do this same move two more times I began to think that maybe he'd learn better what a poor equipment choice this is if I let him try to take a breath at depth. He finally did get the OOA drill right, but even this could not convince him that the cons of these pieces of equipment far outweigh the pros.
FWIW, I vote leave the snorkel at home. Snorkels are for snorkelling, and they do a good job at that, but have no place on a scuba rig. I have never been somewhere diving and thought, "man, I wish I had my snorkel with me!"