I’m going to hijack my thread with a story from my youth about my 1st “dive” into customizing and modifying dive gear. The 9-year-old critter in the picture below is making his first double tank dive into the parlor rug armed against any bugs in the depths of the rug. The date was 12-25-1963 sometime late in day. My father made the double tanks of wood as a Christmas gift. Seven months later I bought my 1st snorkel, not a ball in a cage nickel and dime store snorkel but a real U.S. Divers AquaLung J snorkel!
During the summer I’d go to work with my father at his gas station and auto repair shop. Dad would put me to work and I’d find ways to be a general PITA, also Grandma’s house was next door and that was a great thing! It also exposed me to a lot of tools and material. My main job was to listen for the bell when the cars ran over the air hose that rang it as they pulled up to the pumps for gas. I’d run out greet them ask how much they wanted and then try to guess where the heck the filler cap was hidden. Behind the license plate, no behind the taillight on the fin in back! I’d pump the gas take the money, make the change and ask them to come back.
In between customers were the PITA moments if Dad didn’t keep me busy.
In the mind of the now 10-year-old tadpole if a 1-foot long snorkel is good a 3-foot long is gooder.
So a search began for a piece of hose that would slipover the snorkel. We all know how this ends.
I didn’t find one but there were rolls of brand new heater hoses of varies sizes in the shop surely one would fit! There was a roll with hose that was just right, after laying out 3 feet of hose on the bench I reached for the cutter and heard my father's voice “Hey that hose costs X per foot”. “How are you paying for that”? “By sweeping the office and shop later” I asked? “Ok go ahead was he reply”. Then he inquired WTH I was going to do with the hose? I told him and he replied “that’s not going to work”. To which of course I asked why not? My father wasn’t well educated but he had the golden gift of common sense, something at the time I lacked, really lacked. He stared off into the distance trying to form an answer then looked at me and asked, “why didn’t you buy a 3 foot long snorkel instead of that one”? Well, because I didn’t see one at the time was my answer. Dad said, “ That’s right you didn’t see one because they don’t make one because it doesn’t work”. That sound and undeniable logic didn’t slow me down one bit, I cut the hose and slipped it over the snorkel. Well, that hose looked like a limp…..the hose drooped down in an arc. No wonder it doesn’t work! All it needs is a stiffener. I got a yardstick and tried to tie onto the snorkel but it kept slipping. Notches it needs notches!
Again I hear my father just as I grab the knife, “what are doing”?! "I need that yardstick put it back"! “I told you that is not going work, stop wasting your time”! Foiled for now the wheels kept turning.
Later as I swept the shop I came across a prize under on of the benches, it was a solid square of 2” thick cork 3’X3’, with a hole in the middle, perfect! I asked my father what I should do with my new find and he said, "throw it out". OK Dad!
The next morning when I left for work with my father I had my mask and fins, if I could get the afternoon off I was going snorkeling! After we arrived and I did my opening chores. In between customers I worked at the hole in cork until it was the right size for the hose. Then I stuck a few inches of hose above the cork and used a old hose clamp to keep it there. Voila a floating snorkel!
I packed it all on my bike that had 3 baskets, 2 in back 1 up front plenty of room for my gear. It wasn't busy and my father didn't have any cars to work on so he let go a be crazy reminding me again it won't work and to be careful. I peddled my skinny a$$ a few miles down the road to the Tiverton town boat ramp on Stafford Pond where I snorkeled in the shallow water off to the sides of the ramp area. There was a 6’ deep channel for the boats. The area around the channel was 3-4 feet deep a familiar and perfect spot for the crazy young tadpole. After deploying the floating snorkel I took a few breaths on the surface then dove headfirst right into the laws of physics.
I spent the afternoon snorkeling around with my now
unmodified snorkel, thinking about how my father knew this wouldn’t work.
Or so I've heard.
