How many of you really like to dive with a snorkel on your mask!!!

[covediver]

I can take it or leave it. not really a burden or advantage (until its needed). people make way too much of this piece of equipment, almost as vehemently as the "backmount" versus "jacket" debate.

 

[wolflegresley]

For me I HATED the snorkel being in the way of everything I wanted to do.... Until one day I came up from a dive and had to wait on the surface for 10 minutes in some seriously choppy water , never again will I dive without a snorkel of somesort.

 

[Barefootdog]

For me I HATED the snorkel being in the way of everything I wanted to do.... Until one day I came up from a dive and had to wait on the surface for 10 minutes in some seriously choppy water , never again will I dive without a snorkel of somesort.

100% agree re water conditions.
So much more comfortable in choppy water.

Never really experienced any negatives with having a snorkel as part of my normal kit.

 

[dmoore19]

That is why you keep one in a pocket. It stays out of the way until you need it.

 

[Aotus]

For me I HATED the snorkel being in the way of everything I wanted to do.... Until one day I came up from a dive and had to wait on the surface for 10 minutes in some seriously choppy water , never again will I dive without a snorkel of somesort.

if you're waiting on the surface for a boat, there's not really a need to conserve gas right? So, can't you just use your regulator? Better yet, if the water is terribly choppy, could you deploy a surface marker and go back down 10' and wait for the boat to come?

---------- Post added December 3rd, 2014 at 05:53 PM ----------

my snorkel is in my gear bag, where it lives now, and will stay until my wife wants to use it for an OW class. Granted, I almost exclusively dive caves now and there is no one who would argue that you should wear a snorkel in a cave, but I've never used it in OW except during my initial training. At this point, I'm more inclined to see it as a potential hazard than a safety device: not useful under water where the greatest risk is; a snag hazard to deploying my long hose (sidemount) in the case of an emergency; to me it's primary function is to help random obstacles pull your mask off.

 

[Max Speed]

A snorkel is essential as a conversation starter while cave diving.

 

[Doomnova]

Roll up stuffed in the side pocket of my BCD. Its there if I need it. If I don't its not getting caught on all the bull kelp here.

 

[BUDMANOK]

I just need to remember to switch back to the regulator when I start my descent.

+1. never had much use for a snorkel till I was doing a long (1/4 mile +) surface swim on Cayman Brac recently. then I found it really handy.

 

[Doomnova]

For most of the shore diving here there is tons of bull kelp(there are some sites with enough kelp I think about bringing a machete just to get in the water) on most dives so I see it as an entanglement hazard more than anything. So it stays in my pocket unless needed.

 

[Z Gear]

I think that after reading most of the replies I decided to use my snorkel as a sleep aid. MY new anti SNORING DEVICE, just stick it in your mouth and you should automatically stop snoring!!!