Snorkel: Required or dangerous?

[AfterDark]

I don't use a snorkel unless I'm DMing an OW class. When I'm diving for pleasure, a snorkel wouldn't work but not for any of the reasons mentioned thus far. Take a look at my avatar. If you can find a way for a snorkel to work with a full face mask, then maybe I"ll consider diving with one. Otherwise, I have a surface air valve (SAV) for time spent on the surface. I could probably carry a pocket snorkel, just as I carry a spare mask on every dive and a spare 2nd stage w/ a QD fitting in case I ever need it (and I did last summer in Cozumel), but things would have to go really awry for me to need it. I'd have to have problems forcing me out of my ffm into a conventional mask and reg setup and then I'd have to have considerable time on the surface after that. When I'm boat diving, I generally try to stay a few feet below the surface under the chop to avoid motion sickness. So even then, I'd more than likely be on my reg.

I certainly don't condemn others for their choice of what gear to dive, though. It's their dive and it's up to them to do what makes them comfortable. I just make certain I know what they're diving if I'm buddying with them (or even if I'm not) so I know how to handle a situation if it arises.

surface air valve a snorkel with a different design and name but provides the same advantage. I like it.

 

[Scuba Lawyer]

Ok, I'll chime in. When diving vintage (i.e., no BC) AND I have any kind of surface swim, I'll use a snorkle. I have an old one I just slip between head and mask strap. When I start my dive I tuck my snorkle under my weight belt where it stays for the remainder of the dive. Other than that, I personally find them bothersome, annoying and a PITA. With my BIU I'm happy and most comfortable doing surface swims on my back. Granted, a snorkle would be very useful for those times I want to swim face down on the surface, but I don't swim face down often enough to need one. I have surfaced into quickly changing rough seas where a snorkle would have been nice so they do have their purpose. Each to their own but I don't see them as required or dangerous. My 2psi

 

[Joneill]

Most dives, my snorkel sits unused and unnoticed on the side of my mask. I had one experienced diver yell at me for taking it, saying it was not only unneeded, but dangerous since it could get in my way. I've had others tell me it is an important and required piece of safety equipment.

Not sure why others feel the need to share such strong opinions. I don't mind if you are the operator - your dive, your rules, but if you are a paying guest equal to me, trust the operator and worry about your own gear.

I will use a snorkel if I am on the surface any length of time, but I don't need it, and can't imagine any situation having one could save my life. But it has never gotten in my way either. I wondered if anyone more experienced divers had similar experiences, or anything to share. Internet forums are a much more appropriate venue for discussing such issues than dive boats.

I don't use a snorkel anymore but never felt it was dangerous (just somewhat annoying at times). I mainly do boat dives or short surface-swim shore dives (where I'll swim on my back). I stopped using one attached to my mask as I found I never used it.

I also disliked having it dangle as I could feel it moving around and, on more than one occassion, it got in the way when reaching for the inflator hose. It also seemed to pull on the mask and create leaks during a dive and I could imaging that in strong currents (like I encountered in Tiputa Pass in Rangiroa) that it could "help" get your mask ripped off.

I can see a benefit to having one for long surface swims or if you were stuck on the surface in rough open water long enough that you drained your tank and your reg was no longer an option to breathe through. For situations where that might be a real concern, having a removable/folding one stored somewehere on your kit would be a good idea.

 

[WOODMAN]

Lots of different opinions here, and that's what you would expect. Me? I never really liked them, but found an occasional use for them, like when I am killing time on surface interval on the beach of an island somewhere, and I float around in the shallow water and the rocks close to shore, looking for whatever is there. Not enough to warrant carrying a rigid one strapped to my mask like I was taught way back when, but certainly enough to carry a collapsible one rolled up in my BC pocket. I just unzip it out, give it a little flick, and it pops out to full length and PRESTO- a fully usable snorkel. I slip it under my mask strap, and there you are. Otherwise in your pocket, you never know it is there. I carry other gear with probably less possible use, but then I was always a belt and suspenders kind of guy.

 

[SandyRobinson]

Was taught to carry a snorkel in the early 80s as a piece of safety equipment. I only carry one in the ocean - normally on my mask for a recreational dive or placed in my O2 bottle hose retainer band for a technical dive. YMMV.

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

Do I use a snorkel: No
Are they dangerous: Possibly

A snorkel is an entanglement hazard, especially in a wreck or cave. If it gets caught on something, it could rip your mask off.

Divers that are comfortable going sans snorkel should be accommodated and not harassed. I do a lot of shore dives involving surface swims. I've been caught in sudden storms that often kick up in Miami's tropical weather. I've had waves breaking over my head more than once during a long swim and always managed to time my breaths to avoid taking on water. So, I have no need for a snorkel. Even if it takes the boat hours to come pick me up in rough seas, I'll be fine, Occasionally, they're nice for you know - snorkeling.

BTW... I have a ton of snorkels. I find them all the time on the reef. I don't know who these people are loosing their snorkels, but it happens more than you might think.

 

[dmaziuk]

So one shouldn't plan for the worst?

Of course. And then one should dive one's plan.

 

[BoltSnap]

Of course. And then one should dive one's plan.

This doesn't solve the issue with the "unexpected" and the various environmental and other factors outside the control of the diver. If it were so "easy" and predictable, one shouldn't carry any type of contingency equipment or backups if everything is going to go according to plan.

It is always easy to pontificate and keep repeating the " dive the dive plan" phrase but real life doesn't like to stick with a single plan unfortunately. Little issues have a way to snowball and develop into major issues that are life threatening.

 

[Hartattack]

This doesn't solve the issue with the "unexpected" and the various environmental and other factors outside the control of the diver. If it were so "easy" and predictable, one shouldn't carry any type of contingency equipment or backups if everything is going to go according to plan.

It is always easy to pontificate and keep repeating the " dive the dive plan" phrase but real life doesn't like to stick with a single plan unfortunately. Little issues have a way to snowball and develop into major issues that are life threatening.

That’s why you dive with a team.

 

[Scraps]

What seems most dangerous in this scenario is a random passenger, regardless of his experience level, taking it upon himself to berate another passenger for his equipment choices.

I am ambivalent about snorkels.

I just got certified as a DM. I'm now re-thinking their utility, even for surface swims, in my new role.

I no longer have the luxury of swimming face down to the mooring buoy or anchor line because I need my head and eyes up to keep an eye on the other divers. So now I'm on my back with my head on a swivel as divers move from their splash point to their descent point.

On my first gig, I had a customer do a no-notice ascent independent of the anchor line (literally less than ten seconds after he had given me an "ok" sign and agreed to swim in the direction I had pointed). By the time I looked around to make sure he wasn't still in my vicinity but obscured by the fair-to-poor visibility and brought my other diver to the surface at a safe ascent rate, the first diver had been blown well downwind/down current of the boat. I left diver number two on the surface at the anchor line and swam after the first diver. By the time I retrieved him, he was exhausted, so I had to tow him back to the boat. Snorkel was no use in that evolution.

So I had two occasions to do a surface swim, and the snorkel, which I theoretically had with me because of its usefulness on surface swims, was inappropriate for both.

However, I'm helping with a class this weekend so I will dutifully have my snorkel attached.