Snorkel

[Ludicrous Depth]

When I did my IDC and IE for instructor, mind you this was years ago, I was taught that both the students and the instructor had to wear their snorkel on mask during all in water training, both confined and open. Once a student obtained their certification, it was then their decision or that of the dive operator who they may be doing dives with, whether they were required to use and wear their snorkel. Is this still true today or has this changed?

 

[exposure]

Still true, but if you explain to your students the appropriate use of a snorkel they should be able to make their own choice. You can have a snorkel available in a pocket, it is not necessarily attached to the mask at all time. Then, most of the time, students start to forget the snorkel after their rescue course (most of the time for bad reason in my view). Then at Tec level, we explain that snorkel is a bad choice except when stored in a pocket.

Again in my view, the student should be able to choose based on what you teach them. This point is not specific to snorkel, we are not only teaching skills but also why we do it.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

What Exposure said. I would note here than sometimes instructors forget the options for the students (and for the instructor) come AFTER certification.

 

[tursiops]

I was taught that both the students and the instructor had to wear their snorkel on mask during all in water training, both confined and open.

I don't believe the standards EVER required wearing the snorkel. They state the diver (and the instructor) must have one. As a good role model, most instructors DO wear a snorkel, but not for "all in water training." For example, dive 4 (penetration option)( of the wreck specialty, ice diving, and cavern all overtly recommend NOT wearing a snorkel; this has been true for at least 20 years (see the Training Bulletins). I do not wear one for my own, non-class, diving, but for classes and some dives I have one clipped to me or in a pocket.

 

[Patoux01]

Agreed with tursiops. you must have it, but it can be clipped off somewhere, stowed, rolled in a pocket (for those that can) etc. I'm not sure "clipped off to the anchor line" works though.

 

[TMHeimer]

Interesting discussion on an old topic. Sometimes I take my foldable snorkel in my pocket, sometimes not. As now a non-active DM, I'll contribute: do what you think is best. I THINK PADI standards -for STUDENTS--always required wearing a snorkel--ei.: my 2005 OW manual: "a standard piece of scuba equipment"--or something like that. I was diving in 13' depth of ripping current today in Connecticut. No sunbather on the shore gave a crap if I had a snorkel.

 

[tursiops]

Interesting discussion on an old topic. Sometimes I take my foldable snorkel in my pocket, sometimes not. As now a non-active DM, I'll contribute: do what you think is best. I THINK PADI standards -for STUDENTS--always required wearing a snorkel--ei.: my 2005 OW manual: "a standard piece of scuba equipment"--or something like that. I was diving in 13' depth of ripping current today in Connecticut. No sunbather on the shore gave a crap if I had a snorkel.

The oldest PADI Instructor Manual I have is the 1998 edition, 2003 revision; it states in General Standards:
1. During all open water training dives, each student diver, certified assistant and instructor must have:
a. fins, mask and snorkel (Although recommended, Ice Diver, Wreck Diver and Cavern Diver Specialty course students are not required to have snorkels.)

Nothing I am aware of EVER says it must be worn, just "have." It is VERY convenient to wear it for the snorkel-regulator exchange skill and the surface/compass swim in OW.

 

[TMHeimer]

tursiops, Interesting. I guess I thought wearing it was required, from my experience taking OW course and as a DM. Here's something I always wondered about-- Other than being a task, what it the purpose of the snorkel-regulator exchange skill? I figure this is something you'd never have reason to do while diving.

 

[Rob Phillips]

I recently completed OW for the second time a few months ago, (it had been many years since I dove so I wanted to refresh everything) - my NAUI instructor required the use of the snorkel in the pool and on all training dives, and he himself wore his snorkel on mask during all training dives.
It was explained to me during the course of training the various different types of snorkels and where and how they can be carried - and it was also explained that post training, when diving on my own it was my choice as to where, how, and if, I wanted to have the snorkel with me. My instructor told me that he often dives without it on non-training dives, but that it was a personal choice. Most of the DMs I've come across on boats recently don't use one on the mask - but might have been carrying one out of sight.

Personally I've found that I have a love-hate relationship with it. I find it intrusive and cumbersome when worn on the mask during diving, but at the same time I'm not a fan of diving without it. I've used it a few times on surface swims to a location from shore dives and boat dives, and used it a couple times on the surface waiting for a pickup - but underwater I really don't like it near my face.

I might eventually just get a roll up or some other smaller type of snorkel and keep it in a pocket - but for now since I have fewer than 50 dives since re-certification, and since I only own the one snorkel, I'm just dealing with it in the interest of having it on me "just in case".

 

[CuzzA]

Those pocket snorkels are crap. Way to flexible and not enough length to keep the top out of the water in any sort of chop.

Like everyone else, I was required to wear a snorkel during training, found countless posts on here about others not wearing a snorkel. The typical line is "You're scuba diving, you don't need a snorkel." Which is partly true... Until you need it. I had an incident where I needed it and left it at home. I wish I had my snorkel then.

Fortunately there are good solutions out there. For the snorkel, I looked at what freedivers are using. Consequently I found the best snorkel I've ever owned and perfect for scuba. The Riffe Stable Snorkel. SNORKELS A little pricey, but well designed.

Many snorkels have the big water collector at the bottom which adds another 2-3 inches to the length of the snorkel and it makes it bulky and cumbersome, especially by your face. The Stable has a wide collector which is much more streamlined and a noticeably different experience. It has a purge valve and the top is designed to keep splashing water out. It doesn't have a stupid flopper valve that only inhibits breathing. On my snorkel I removed the mask clip and replaced it with a figure 8 holder.

Part of the key to snorkels and scuba is where the snorkel is positioned. Many people leave the snorkel positioned at the point where the mask and strap connect. This is incorrect. The snorkel should be back further behind your ear. When you're face down in the water with the snorkel in that position it will be straight out of the water. Having it in the correct position also allows you to stow it properly during a dive which results in it being completely out of the way and nearly unnoticeable. You can either turn the snorkel backwards or pull it down tucked by your neck under your chin. The key here is the rubber figure 8 snorkel holder because it grips the snorkel and prevents it from twisting and turning. Also, the Stable snorkel's design is perfect for this because it's not a cylindrical tube. It's more of a tear drop shape like the wing of a plane. That design prevent the snorkel from turning during a dive and having the mouth piece bumping around your face.

Anyway, I know this thread started with training standards, but I'm an advocate of using a snorkel in the ocean and hopefully this post helps anyone looking to solve the snorkel issue.