snorkel on surface of choppy sea

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chintz

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:confused: A question for the more accomplished diver...

I've been taught to keep the snorkel in my mouth on the surface while waiting for everyone to gather before descending. This is to conserve air.
Sometimes the seas are choppy, and the waves wash over the snorkel. This is quite distressing, especially when it takes more effort to keep in one spot. Clearing the snorkel is also more difficult, with the increased effort.
What do you guys do? Keep the reg in? Take the snorkel out? Or is there some posture or head tilt that reduces the washover?
My BCD is well inflated, and I don't think I've got too much weight.

Chintz
 
I usually don't wear a snorkle, but I DO have one in my pocket. It is a dry snorkle. Problem solved. I just can't tell you the last time I used it.
 
Either get a snorkel with one of those fancy doodads that keeps the water out or just breathe off the reg...
 
chintz,

I just started SCUBA this year but I've snorkeled for 30 years. My best guess is that you are keeping your face out of the water. A snorkel works best when your face is in the water and you are looking straight down, unfortunately this makes it difficult to see what is going on at the surface. If you lift your face up out of the water, you tilt the snorkel downward into the water. Vest type BCDs, when fully inflated make magnify the problem as they make it difficult to stay horizontal on the surface.

I would suggest that you use only enough air to stay positively buoyant and keep your face in the water.

Mike
 
For me, it depends on the conditions. Sometimes it is so choppy that I have to use the regulator for a surface swim to the anchor line. I try to relax and not swim too hard in order to conserve air. If you are relaxed and don't struggle to move too fast in choppy seas, you won't consume too much air anyway, but you will be much more comfortable when it is time to descend.
 
Snorkles are just plain goofiness IMO....
Leave it on ebay.

If conditions are so rough that you can't breath on the surface without your regulator then use your head....
Get out of the water and go home.

But really folks.... I see it all the time....
Divers with their regulators or snorkles plugged into their face while on the surface! What's up with that?! Are you afraid you might drown if water gets splashed in your face. Come on... if you are that prone to drowning then you need to find a new sport... like knitting sweaters.

It is OK to hold your breath on the surface between waves....
You do not have to breath water.... arrrggggg......
Snorkles are for..... snorkling snorklers!!!
 
The object of the exercise is to breathe comfortably. With this in mind, use the means you like best for the conditions. On the surface with a fully inflated BC you should be able to breathe normally, holding your breath when being swamped as Uncle Pug said. I don't know why you want to conserve air at the end of a dive waiting for pickup. But, anyway, you can breathe for a very long time off your reg on the surface if you want to, if that's more comfortable. If you are having trouble breathing with a snorkel due to the conditions, by all means just breathe normally or with your reg. Some of these "rules" that somehow get taught don't pass a sanity check! Moxie
 
Uncle Pug, you are right on the money with the snorkle thing. Snorkels are for snorkeling. If they were for scuba diving then they would be called a "scuby". A good place for the snorkel is in the dive bag.
As for the question at hand. If the waves are rolling overhead, hold your breath while underwater until the wave washes over. Wait until the crest and swim down hill instead against the whole ocean. Not too many people can push the whole ocean. If need be, use the reg. If it gets too tough, get out of the water. But the best solution when swimming to the line in high seas, swim on reg underwater, under the waves.
 
I hate to disagree with Pug, but, here in the Northeast if you pack up and go home everytime a snorkle is called for, you are going to miss a lot of great dives. A long surface swim in choppy water is a nice time to have a snorkle, even if you are swimming on your back it's nice to be able to stop and look around without swallowing water after getting hit in the face by a wave. A snorkle in big surf for an exit (if you are low or out of air) is nice too. Of course, if you don't know how to use it, it's not much good.

Just my $.02
 
Regarding conserving air at the surface, the need arises at the BEGINNING of the dive, if you have a surface swim to the anchor line against a current that you need to make prior to descending.
 

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