weights to make snorkel less buoyant

[ballastbelly]

hi there, after long periods snorkelling my snorkle side teeth hurt & i think its because my snorkle, when full of water, exherts an upward pull which is countered by the teeth on that side.

i am trying to think of a remedy. i googled 'aluminum snorkles ' but they were for hummers. maybe i could wrap a piece of lead around the snorkle itself? any ideas? thanks

---------- Post Merged at 07:29 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 07:28 AM ----------

correction to first line, when full of air, not water! while i am snorkling on the surface. when i dive i remove it from my mouth. thx

 

[agilis]

Because the snorkel is open on top it exerts no upward pull. It has no buoyancy. The problem may be the mouthpiece, the way in which the snorkel is attached to the mask, or the way you are biting down. I can't imagine why you remove the snorkel from your mouth when diving below the surface. It complicates what should be a smooth and effortless process. I'm wondering if this is a serious inquiry, or something related to the woman who called a radio station about the poor placement of deer crossing signs.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Because the snorkel is open on top it exerts no upward pull. It has no buoyancy. The problem may be the mouthpiece, the way in which the snorkel is attached to the mask, or the way you are biting down. I can't imagine why you remove the snorkel from your mouth when diving below the surface. It complicates what should be a smooth and effortless process. I'm wondering if this is a serious inquiry, or something related to the woman who called a radio station about the poor placement of deer crossing signs.

All freedive training agencies specify that the snorkel is removed from the mouth during the dive.

 

[Diver0001]

hi there, after long periods snorkelling my snorkle side teeth hurt & i think its because my snorkle, when full of water, exherts an upward pull which is countered by the teeth on that side.

i am trying to think of a remedy. i googled 'aluminum snorkles ' but they were for hummers. maybe i could wrap a piece of lead around the snorkle itself? any ideas? thanks

---------- Post Merged at 07:29 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 07:28 AM ----------

correction to first line, when full of air, not water! while i am snorkling on the surface. when i dive i remove it from my mouth. thx

Move the snorkel a little lower in the snorkel holder and move the attachment point on the mask strap back a LOT further on your head. At least behind your ear. It should remain in place if you stop clenching your teeth to hold it there. That's very likely what's causing your teeth to hurt.

R..

 

[agilis]

All freedive training agencies specify that the snorkel is removed from the mouth during the dive.

That's the trouble with 'agencies'. Was this specification put to a vote? I've been snorkeling/freediving for more than 60 years, since early grade school, and I think that removing the snorkel is a sloppy and pointless action, especially if your hands are occupied as mine often are when I'm collecting fish.

 

[DennisS]

It wasn't put to a vote, they found out if a diver blacked out on surfacing with a tube full of water in their mouth, that water had to go somewhere

 

[Diver0001]

That's the trouble with 'agencies'. Was this specification put to a vote? I've been snorkeling/freediving for more than 60 years, since early grade school, and I think that removing the snorkel is a sloppy and pointless action, especially if your hands are occupied as mine often are when I'm collecting fish.

Yeah I also can't think of a single argument as to why that would be a good idea. Under water the snorkel has no function but if its out of your mouth during the dive then you can't clear it as you ascend and if it's rough on the surface you run a higher risk of breathing in some water.... I mean, what do you think prompted the development of snorkels to start with...

weird advice.

R..

 

[DMDavid]

Are you biting down on the snorkel?
Wrap your lips around the snorkel but try to bite down with only enough pressure to keep it sealed around your lips.
You may also want to try a snorkel with more of a curvature to fit around the face.
As posted above, you have quite a bit of adjustment available to you by moving the snorkel keeper up or down and forward and back based on the placement of the keep on the mask strap.

 

[Diver0001]

It wasn't put to a vote, they found out if a diver blacked out on surfacing with a tube full of water in their mouth, that water had to go somewhere

Well... this could be the argument I couldn't think of but it seems to me that you'd get more mileage out of preaching an "ounce of prevention" with respect to shallow water blackouts.

R..

 

[agilis]

It wasn't put to a vote, they found out if a diver blacked out on surfacing with a tube full of water in their mouth, that water had to go somewhere

If you black out with your face in the water you will inhale water if you are still breathing. Shallow water blackout is a killer in any situation, unless there is someone there watching you closely and able to intervene quickly. The 'tube of water' argument makes no sense in a submerged situation.