importance of a snorkel?

[Thrillhouse]

I'm sure this question has been discussed to death here, but I figured I'd ask anyway.

How important is a snorkel to diving? I can see it being very useful during a long swim/in waves, but for shore-dives and in calm waters I don't see much of a point to it. I noticed a lot of people's pictures on here have them diving without snorkels, so I tried it this weekend... Couldn't have been better. In retrospect, it now just seems like one more piece of clutter and one more thing to get bumped/tangled in stuff. My mask was way easier to fumble around with while wearing thick gloves, and it was nice not having it dangling there.

So, what are people's thoughts on no snorkel?

 

[dive_lover88]

Well anything can happen on the surface when you're underwater...A squall could just form during the dive and who know you have a long surface swim to go and your air is in the red.

Plan for the worst case...

I carry mine on me though i dont attach them on my mask...

 

[Jim Ernst]

Snorkel........ I dont like having one and so I dont unless I am teaching!!

But some folks do like them.

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

Mate - this topic has really been beaten to death in several megathreads: here are just a few large threads on the matter:


http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/204094-who-dives-snorkel.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/195179-do-you-wear-snorkel.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ne...176313-why-why-not-should-snorkel-donned.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/173315-snorkel-anyone.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/fi...-snorkel-anyone-still-wear-theirs-diving.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/148831-anyone-dive-without-snorkel.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/161281-snorkel-not.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/snorkeling-freediving/117651-whats-main-use-snorkel.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ba.../129716-poll-do-you-dive-without-snorkel.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/118560-snorkel-vs-no-snorkel.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/fins-masks-snorkels/60795-wearing-snorkel-mask.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/snorkeling-freediving/117651-whats-main-use-snorkel.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/fins-masks-snorkels/117553-snorkel-no-snorkel-why.html


An advanced search with 'snorkel' for thread title will reveal many, many more threads, some of considerable size.

You seem to have answered your own question anyway - yes they can be useful for shore dives/swims but are otherwise useless. They are good for snorkeling.

Cheers,
Rohan.