jwc3
Contributor
Etheostoma, you only need to lean your head back for a second or two, just long enough to exhale.
Trouble Clearing Snorkels
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BigVin
Registered
Yeah, I've found it just matters which way my head is tilted...
Etheostoma,
The displacement method is the way to go with this, and I too have been using it for years. Basically, coming up from below (as described by others here) look up and watch the surface. When you are about two feet below the surface, begin your exhalation. It does not have to be forceful, just enough air in the snorkel tube to displace the water. If you continue your exhalation as you surface, and then look down again as you break the surface, the snorkel will be completely dry and you will be ready for your next breath.
Now, there is a bit to talk about in snorkel design. We now have snorkels with protected openings, which actually increase the work of breathing through the tube by restricting the air flow. Some snorkels also have a little "catch basin" at the bottom which will potentially make it a bit harder to clear with the displacement method (but not if you exhale completely while surfacing). The displacement method was developed before there were any fancy snorkels with features which keep water out. So if you want to try it, pick up an older style snorkel which is a simple tube that allows the water and air flows to be close to laminar through the tube. These are actually very efficient snorkels, and work well in calm seas.
The real reason for wearing a more advanced design of snorkel is to snorkel in choppy water. Examples would be rivers with currents and rapids, surf, wind chop, etc. In these areas, the old designs can still be used, but will sometimes require constant clearing because of water coming down the tube. The best snorkels I have found are:
--The Aqualung snorkel with the bell on top (it used to be called the US Divers Impulse snorkel, which acts by capillary action to have the water go down the sides of the bell, and exit a non-return valve in the top of the snorkel).
--The Scubapro snorkels based on their tried "Shotgun" design. I still have my original Shotgun snorkels, and find them very effective for removing water coming down the tube.
Some other snorkels have good action for removing the water, but the design inhibits air flow by creating much more resistance in the tube, which I do not like.
SeaRat
The displacement method is the way to go with this, and I too have been using it for years. Basically, coming up from below (as described by others here) look up and watch the surface. When you are about two feet below the surface, begin your exhalation. It does not have to be forceful, just enough air in the snorkel tube to displace the water. If you continue your exhalation as you surface, and then look down again as you break the surface, the snorkel will be completely dry and you will be ready for your next breath.
Now, there is a bit to talk about in snorkel design. We now have snorkels with protected openings, which actually increase the work of breathing through the tube by restricting the air flow. Some snorkels also have a little "catch basin" at the bottom which will potentially make it a bit harder to clear with the displacement method (but not if you exhale completely while surfacing). The displacement method was developed before there were any fancy snorkels with features which keep water out. So if you want to try it, pick up an older style snorkel which is a simple tube that allows the water and air flows to be close to laminar through the tube. These are actually very efficient snorkels, and work well in calm seas.
The real reason for wearing a more advanced design of snorkel is to snorkel in choppy water. Examples would be rivers with currents and rapids, surf, wind chop, etc. In these areas, the old designs can still be used, but will sometimes require constant clearing because of water coming down the tube. The best snorkels I have found are:
--The Aqualung snorkel with the bell on top (it used to be called the US Divers Impulse snorkel, which acts by capillary action to have the water go down the sides of the bell, and exit a non-return valve in the top of the snorkel).
--The Scubapro snorkels based on their tried "Shotgun" design. I still have my original Shotgun snorkels, and find them very effective for removing water coming down the tube.
Some other snorkels have good action for removing the water, but the design inhibits air flow by creating much more resistance in the tube, which I do not like.
SeaRat
Last edited:
OP
Etheostoma
Registered
Still haven't tried tilting my head back yet because I switched back to my old snorkel and I realized that blast clearing the old is very easy and I could clear it about 10 times on one breath. I forgot that the reason I bought a new one was because the old snorkel fills with a small amount of water after about a minute or less at the surface and its really annoying. I thought there was a hole in it or something but I noticed that the new one does this as well, perhaps not so often though. I don't think its leftover water after clearing that slowly collects at the mouthpiece either.
The difference between the two snorkels:
Old Snorkel:
Plastic restriction piece at top, no bell or anything to keep water out when submerged, so this must be for waves and such.
There is sort of a small drop chamber below the mouthpiece and the purge valve is at the bottom of this
New Snorkel:
Nothing at top, just an open tube
Much smaller chamber located under mouthpiece and purge valve is at bottom
Impossible to blast clear!!!
There may be some other subtle differences, I'll take a few pictures of each and post them up maybe this weekend.
Now to figure out my friggin mask problem, I'll make a new thread for that.
The difference between the two snorkels:
Old Snorkel:
Plastic restriction piece at top, no bell or anything to keep water out when submerged, so this must be for waves and such.
There is sort of a small drop chamber below the mouthpiece and the purge valve is at the bottom of this
New Snorkel:
Nothing at top, just an open tube
Much smaller chamber located under mouthpiece and purge valve is at bottom
Impossible to blast clear!!!
There may be some other subtle differences, I'll take a few pictures of each and post them up maybe this weekend.
Now to figure out my friggin mask problem, I'll make a new thread for that.
Etheostoma,
Check to see whether the non-return valve at the old snorkel is stuck. If it is, then there will be no way to push out the water with the blast method. Usually, with the blast method, there is enough air pressure to open the non-return and push out that water in the bottom of the snorkel. 'More when you post photos.
SeaRat
Check to see whether the non-return valve at the old snorkel is stuck. If it is, then there will be no way to push out the water with the blast method. Usually, with the blast method, there is enough air pressure to open the non-return and push out that water in the bottom of the snorkel. 'More when you post photos.
SeaRat
jwc3
Contributor
Dude, blasting doesn't work. Tilt your head back and blow. It's simple and effective.
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