Snorkles

[samaka]

I live and work in Egypt where I guide divers on demanding dive sites such as Brothers, Daedalus, Rocky, Zarbagad, Elphoinstone, St. John's and more. On my boat you may dive with a snorkel or without. I don't care. However, when you climb up the ladder you better keep your mask on your nose and your reg in your mouth. Conditions are wicked sometimes and it might be so rough that a snorkel wouldn't help you at all. You keep your reg in until your back on the platform or back in the zodiac.

Obviously there are situations where you'd be more comfortable on the surface with a snorkel but there are also situations where it would be more in the way.

We roll in fro the zodiac with the reg in. We enter with giant stride from the platform with the reg in... We always make negative entry. Always. That would be tricky with snorkel or nothing at all ;o)

.......anders.......
Red Sea Expert ;o)
For more info regarding diving in the Red Sea check out my website:
WELCOME TO AZIAB

 

[Thalassamania]

I live and work in Egypt where I guide divers on demanding dive sites such as Brothers, Daedalus, Rocky, Zarbagad, Elphoinstone, St. John's and more. On my boat you may dive with a snorkel or without. I don't care. However, when you climb up the ladder you better keep your mask on your nose and your reg in your mouth. Conditions are wicked sometimes and it might be so rough that a snorkel wouldn't help you at all. You keep your reg in until your back on the platform or back in the zodiac.

Obviously there are situations where you'd be more comfortable on the surface with a snorkel but there are also situations where it would be more in the way.

.......anders.......
Red Sea Expert ;o)
WELCOME TO AZIAB

No, actually I can envision no such situation, but perhaps I lack imagination.

Since "suggestions" are fine, but "you'd better" puts me off my feed, I guess I'll find a different boat and guide when I'm in the Red Sea.

 

[tridacna]

...but "you'd better" puts me off my feed

Just the thought of you with your nosebag off is funny. It takes a lot more than that to put me off my oats!

 

[Underwater Ogre]

Thalassamania,
If you are ever anywhere near my stomping grounds I would love to take you out diving. I guarantee we have a few days of diving when you hit the surface you wont start sucking on snorkel. Your better judgment and experience will kick in and your regulator will be in your mouth when you are "trying" to get aboard the boat. Chop and current can create extremely "confused seas" Its hard to time the sets of waves so you get pushed around.

I agree that when doing a good stride jump your head should stay above the water. When you dive in 42F with...hmmm 50+42+15...yeah over a 100lbs of gear and a 2' swell your chances are pretty high for full immersion.

I think we have to all agree not all situations are the same...so not all of us feel comfortable relying on a snorkel.
I prefer my reg, but I would still let you dive anyway you want on my boat...and yes the invitation is still open. I always take the time to learn from others.
Dive safe

U/O

 

[Thalassamania]

Been there, done that. I've made many many dives out of the Friday Harbor Lab, used a snorkel, as usual, with no problem. I loved it up there, I'll take you up on the invite, if my ancient snorkel doesn't put you off too much.

 

[Twistedarts]

I use mine when snorkeling. is'nt that what it is for? besides surface swims I do on my back, sooo much easier. To each his own I suppose.

 

[rstofer]

Note: I also posted this reply over in the New Divers forum on a similar thread.



There was an interesting briefing on the dive boat this weekend: If there was a medical emergency beyond the capabilities of the boat personnel, they would abandon all the divers still in the water to make a run to a harbor..

The divers were briefed that there would be a buoy at the surface for them to grab. The turnaround was promised to be as short as possible but who knows how long the divers would have to survive in open water? Twenty divers holding onto a single buoy sounds like a lot of fun.

I want my snorkel.

Richard

 

[rstofer]

oops! Duplicate post

Richard

 

[D_B]

I'm going to keep my reg in my mouth.
Besides ... .. I'm at risk of having an embolism during the whole dive anyway

 

[diver 85]

There must be about 200 snorkel threads all saying identical things on this forum in the last 12 months alone.

For my view:- ridiculous pointless bits of plastic that have absolutely no conceivable useful role in diving what so ever and can actually cause incidents. Anyone wearing them is either very new or very strange.

So, what's your game plan in a low air situation--that leads to an OOA surface situation when you're floating on the surface for (up to) several hours in a 2 to 5' choppy sea??........Please don't tell me you're that good of a breather when your head constantly remains slightly above the water line in that kind of a sea...