Should I wear a snorkel or not

[TMHeimer]

If for some reason you unexpectedly found yourself in very rough seas and have no idea where your boat is, or a similar situation... I can very well see that a snorkel could be of some use. And there are other reasons using is could probably come in handy. Some have mentioned being in clear water and surface swimming to see the bottom. Others have said swimming on the back is more efficient and the snorkel only gets in the way there and always underwater. I have explained why with my particular diving in my usual known spots it is never needed. Then we get into arguments about it's place in training, etc.
I think this has all been said many times before on SB. I was wrong to assume that here in the New Divers forum the OP was a troll. As I said, I probably thought I was in Basic and was forseeing all of this.

 

[BoltSnap]

I don’t know about you, but I don’t spend a lot of time on the surface when I am diving. Once submerged, it’s a completely useless and unnecessary dangly bit that just flops around and pulls on my mask, especially in strong currents.

We use octos/alternate second and dive with them although the greater majority of divers who buy and use them never ever have to use them in OOA situation (at least they shouldn't be in OOA situation) but yet most divers and instructors use them and never dive without them. Octos are worse than snorkels in terms of drag, getting caught on the reef, maintenance, cost and many other factors, BUT you still have them on you. I use the snorkel infinitely more than I have used the octo. Whatever "inconvenience" you may have with the snorkel, multiply that by 10 for the octo. yet you have the octo on. (It is even much worse for folks that carry a pony bottle and never have to use).

If I was diving in rough seas, I’d carry a foldable one to use on the surface

So you always predict the rough seas before hand for you to decide to carry a snorkel on you or not before you get on the boat just like you can predict if you are going to face an OOA situation to decide if to carry an octo. on you (or a pony)?

If shore diving, I either swim on my back and roll over to check position periodically or just do some breath hold surface swimming for a bit.

Using a snorkel, with all of its advantages you claim, its use is superior in this scenario and will make your swimming much easier, safer and efficient. You will be much more rested when you get to the drop down point. You will be on course more to avoid wasting energy getting to the drop down point too swimming face down with the snorkel than swimming on your back and having to turn occasionally to correct your course. Breath holding while surface swimming will make you get exhausted much more quickly and you will be out of breath by the time you get to the drop down point.

 

[gamon]

We use octos/alternate second and dive with them although the greater majority of divers who buy and use them never ever have to use them in OOA situation (at least they shouldn't be in OOA situation) but yet most divers and instructors use them and never dive without them. Octos are worse than snorkels in terms of drag, getting caught on the reef, maintenance, cost and many other factors, BUT you still have them on you.

Yes but when and if you need to use the octo, you can rest assured that unlike a snorkel, it works at all depths, not just within 10" of the surface.

 

[lowwall]

Unless you have a specific use case for a snorkel, don't bother with it.

The important thing about the snorkel decision is that you never actually need one. They are occasionally nice to have, but if you can use a snorkel you can also just move your mouth out of the water and breathe.

That, by the way, is the difference between a snorkel and an octo. If your primary fails underwater, you don't have the option to simply lean back and breathe normally.

 

[BoltSnap]

Yes but when and if you need to use the octo, you can rest assured that unlike a snorkel, it works at all depths, not just within 10" of the surface.

And after you had to use an octo in an OOA, you will need a snorkel on the surface to get back to your exit point since you don't have air in your tank and you are most likely in an not so calm state and need the snorkel to help you swim comfortably to exit the water without having to strain your head to breathe, you are already stressed from your OOA experience (you or your buddy OOA, it doesn't matter, both of you are in a stress situation).

 

[BoltSnap]

if you can use a snorkel you can also just move your mouth out of the water and breathe

This is truly one of the most erroneous statements in this thread so far. Before you say such things, try to swim with your melon/head out of the water for few hundred meters and let us know how you felt especially if there are waves/swells in the area or current or any type of water movement.

 

[Lorenzoid]

And after you had to use an octo in an OOA, you will need a snorkel on the surface to get back to your exit point since you don't have air in your tank and you are most likely in an not so calm state and need the snorkel to help you swim comfortably to exit the water without having to strain your head to breathe, you are already stressed from your OOA experience (you or your buddy OOA, it doesn't matter, both of you are in a stress situation).

I have not been keeping up with this thread, but wasn't it mentioned a hundred posts or more ago that a folding snorkel kept in a pocket can address this kind of contingency?

Did someone point out some deficiency of the folding snorkel?

 

[Divin'Papaw]

And after you had to use an octo in an OOA, you will need a snorkel on the surface to get back to your exit point since you don't have air in your tank and you are most likely in an not so calm state and need the snorkel to help you swim comfortably to exit the water without having to strain your head to breathe, you are already stressed from your OOA experience (you or your buddy OOA, it doesn't matter, both of you are in a stress situation).

What???

1. Why are you necessarily out of air?
2. Why are you necessarily needing to swim anywhere to get back to your exit point?

Now you’re going to argue for the redundant snorkel I mentioned earlier so that you have one for the OOA diver as well.

Another day of humor from this thread. Thank you!

 

[lowwall]

This is truly one of the most erroneous statements in this thread so far. Before you say such things, try to swim with your melon/head out of the water for few hundred meters and let us know how you felt especially if there are waves/swells in the area or current or any type of water movement.

You picked the wrong guy for this. As an ex-competitive swimmer and triathlete, I've swum many, many miles in oceans and Lake Michigan without a snorkel. Turn your head and breathe. It's not that hard to filter out the water from the air. Every swimmer does it. It's also a lot less effort to clear a mouth full of water than a snorkel full of water.

 

[EFX]

This is truly one of the most erroneous statements in this thread so far. Before you say such things, try to swim with your melon/head out of the water for few hundred meters and let us know how you felt especially if there are waves/swells in the area or current or any type of water movement.

Do you want to know how I would feel after a 300 m swim in rough seas without a snorkel? Exhausted. Do you want to know how I would feel after a 300 m swim in rough seas with a snorkel? Exhausted. I would not go diving in those conditions if I had to make such a long surface swim. I would not attempt that long of a swim after the dive -- I would have the boat pick me up. What kind of diving are you doing that requires such long surface swims? I've been diving in relatively rough seas from a boat before and have never felt a snorkel was needed. If anything, I inflated my wing more than usual to keep my head higher out of the water.