Safety sausage as a snorkle vest?

[Bullswan]

With the goal of traveling VERY light (trying to use nothing but carry-on) what do you think of using safety sausages as snorkeling floating aids? I've read about some lifeguards getting irritated by the thought of using safety equipment as "NOT EMERGENCY" equipment but I don't see that as an issue where we will be snorkeling down in the Carribean.

I have snorkeling vests but I want to leave them at home this time and my thought is to partially inflate the sausages and just hook them under your armpits and let both ends stick up in the air.

What do you think?

 

[seaducer]

IMHO if you need a floatation device to snorkel, you need the proper equipment. SS are not designed to float someone. There is no way to properly and securely fasten it to the person, there is not enough bouynacy to keep someone afloat.

If you need the vest, you need the vest. Nothing else will suffice. That being said if you are a good swimmer, you don't need a vest at all, unless the resort forces you because of insurance. In which case, again, you need a vest.

 

[rstofer]

SMBs do have enough lift! This one has 50# Xs Scuba Surface Marker Buoy if you have enough breath to inflate it. There are smaller ones like this unit with 40# Ideations Dive Alert Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) DS-1 with reviews at scuba.com

So a search for SMB at scuba.com among other places.

I don't know how much lift a skin diver needs. Ten # should hold the head above water but my guess is that the vests have more like 30# of lift - like a BC.

How much space do you thing you are saving? A deflated snorkel vest just isn't going to take up much room. Laid out flat, it probably won't even be noticeable and I just can't see the space/weight savings as being significant. Leave your T shirts and shorts home. Buy them when you arrive and leave them behind.

You will be a lot safer using the proper vest.

Richard

 

[Gombessa]

A lot of people snorkel without any kind of exposure protection or floatation device, in which case a closed circuit SMB held horizontally under your arms (like wings) would seem to approximate those styrofoam tubes they sometimes give out to snorkelers. If something did go wrong and you were out there floating for an extended period of time, you'd probably wish you had a vest, and I don't know if the SMB is tested as well (or as poorly?) as a typical vest.

But an SMB is NOT solely emergency equipment (some people shoot one routinely on every dive), and in a pinch it should probably do. But it wouldn't be my first choice.

 

[FishOutUvH2O]

. . . SS are not designed to float someone. There is no way to properly and securely fasten it to the person, there is not enough bouynacy to keep someone afloat.

Well, actually. . . I own one of the below devices, but I don't use it. In fact I've never actually carried it or used it as a SS (I have one on a reel w/an OPV I use and the Oceanic was a gift), much less a flotation device. I've also never used a "snorkeling vest" to go snorkeling, so I have no idea if it would work as one of those either. I'm just throwing it out there because it *may* be an option.

Oceanic P.S.D.

 

[matts1w]

SMBs do have enough lift! This one has 50# Xs Scuba Surface Marker Buoy if you have enough breath to inflate it. There are smaller ones like this unit with 40# Ideations Dive Alert Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) DS-1 with reviews at scuba.com

Actually the SMBs you are showing would not really work in the manner the OP was thinking under the armpits... unless you somehow tie a knot at the open end. As for inflating it with one's breath...out of the question...or at least waaay too much work.

I think what the op is referring to is the little SS with the valve designed to be blown up with one's mouth. I don't anyone would care if you float around holding one of those as long as it didnt say "emergency" or "help" on it...mine do not. It wouldn't look any different than swimming around with a styrofoam "noodle."

In fact...why not just buy a noodle for $3-$4 once you get down there?

 

[Web Monkey]

With the goal of traveling VERY light (trying to use nothing but carry-on) what do you think of using safety sausages as snorkeling floating aids? I've read about some lifeguards getting irritated by the thought of using safety equipment as "NOT EMERGENCY" equipment but I don't see that as an issue where we will be snorkeling down in the Carribean.

I have snorkeling vests but I want to leave them at home this time and my thought is to partially inflate the sausages and just hook them under your armpits and let both ends stick up in the air.

What do you think?

Physically, a descent sized SMB (I have 50 and a 75 pound SMBs) would work, since it only takes a few pounds of lift to float an un-weighted person, however it will make the lifeguards insane because it will repeatedly attract their attention and may be reported by other beach users since they're typically used to mark something that requires attention (a surfacing diver, someone in trouble, etc.)

A real snorkeling vest weighs almost nothing (maybe 6 ounces) and is about 1/2 as thick as a magazine, so you can easily lay it inside your suitcase. As an added benefit, yours won't be all scummy and leak.

Terry

 

[matts1w]

...it will make the lifeguards insane because it will repeatedly attract their attention and may be reported by other beach users since they're typically used to mark something that requires attention (a surfacing diver, someone in trouble, etc.)

BTW- This is really a moot point... I mean has anyone actually ever seen a lifeguard on a Caribbean beach?

 

[Tomikp]

For this case use a neoprene suit - you will float and at the same time you will have better thermal comfort.

 

[mksmith713]

Depending on where in the caribbean....you need nothing to help you float.
In Roatan....you actually need help to submerge.