weights to make snorkel less buoyant

[dumpsterDiver]

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.

Well, the people that can freedive better than me or you, recommend it very strongly. I am sure they dive much, much better than you can now (or 60 years ago).

I never spit my snorkel either for the first 25 years or so, but then I was enlightened about the practice.

The advancements in freediving performance far exceed ANY other sport in modern history. The changes and improvements in perfomance are astounding. Maybe you can learn a new trick?

 

[Diver0001]

The advancements in freediving performance far exceed ANY other sport in modern history. The changes and improvements in perfomance are astounding. Maybe you can learn a new trick?

I don't think it's a performance recommendation. It sounds like a safety recommendation that may give you a slightly better chance in the case of a shallow water blackout.

I doubt there are any accurate statistics about how many freedivers have shallow water blackouts and even more unreliable guesstimates about how many lives have been saved with this recommendation. To me it doesn't make any sense because you actually clear the snorkel during the ascent so if the diver ended up face-up on the surface the snorkel could hinder breathing but if they were face-down on the surface it would help.

So that sounds like 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of the other to me. Either way, if you have a shallow water black out then your chances aren't good. I think it would pay better dividends to stress avoidance.

R..

 

[agilis]

Well, the people that can freedive better than me or you, recommend it very strongly. I am sure they dive much, much better than you can now (or 60 years ago).

I never spit my snorkel either for the first 25 years or so, but then I was enlightened about the practice.

The advancements in freediving performance far exceed ANY other sport in modern history. The changes and improvements in perfomance are astounding. Maybe you can learn a new trick?

I'm always learning, and open to new tricks. When you were "enlightened", did you become a better diver? Or did you simply accept what self-annointed experts told you was better?

For reasons I've already mentioned the snorkel removing concept makes little or no sense. Besides, with both hands occupied, how do I remove/replace the snorkel? My best guess is that this concept's utility is limited to free dives that have as their purpose only the attempt to dive as deeply and/or as long as possible.

 

[DennisS]

"Remove the snorkel from your mouth

On returning to the surface - blast clearing the snorkel nearly invariably leads to a shallow water black-out if the freediver has been close to his limits. Retention of the snorkel at depth complicates equalization and when diaphragm contractions begin can lead to the inhalation of water."

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I'm always learning, and open to new tricks. When you were "enlightened", did you become a better diver? Or did you simply accept what self-annointed experts told you was better?

For reasons I've already mentioned the snorkel removing concept makes little or no sense. Besides, with both hands occupied, how do I remove/replace the snorkel? My best guess is that this concept's utility is limited to free dives that have as their purpose only the attempt to dive as deeply and/or as long as possible.

It is intended to increase safety of freedivers and spearfishing freedivers. Replacement of the snorkel does require the use of a hand. Some people can spit the snorkel without use of the hand, but I generally swipe it out with my hand and have to use one hand to clear my ears anyway.

Before I became enlightened, I often dove alone. After some practice and guidance and use of the buddy system when freediving, I was able to dive deeper and longer and felt safer with a buddy watching my dive (although I am NOT a good freediver at all).

Removal of the snorkel seemed very strange at first, but now I am used to it. Sometimes if I do a super short dive that is shallow, like 15 feet or something for a few seconds, I might retain the snorkel.

 

[Diver0001]

"Remove the snorkel from your mouth

On returning to the surface - blast clearing the snorkel nearly invariably leads to a shallow water black-out if the freediver has been close to his limits. Retention of the snorkel at depth complicates equalization and when diaphragm contractions begin can lead to the inhalation of water."

Interesting point of view. I can't say I've ever experienced trouble clearing with the snorkel in my mouth but I can see the logic of not wanting the snorkel in the mouth if your body starts gasping.

I stay by my position, though, that "managing" the consequences of going over boundaries isn't the right approach. There are maybe a few thousand people in the world who compete at a level where pushing boundaries is part of the sport and they have all kinds of support right there.....

For the vast majority of people snorkeling, "gasping" and shallow water blackout are issues that they should be trained to avoid.

R..

 

[agilis]

"Blast clearing" is what inexperienced snorklers tend to do. Clearing a snorkel does not require a blast, only a exhale. Only fools push a dive close to their limits, unless they are attempting to achieve some numbers in a relatively controlled situation. In that case they might as well be in a water tank or a pool. if your diaphram is spasming you have been holding your breath too long and are playing with disaster. I have no trouble equalizing with a snorkel in my mouth, but i do have a lot of dive time.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Interesting point of view. I can't say I've ever experienced trouble clearing with the snorkel in my mouth but I can see the logic of not wanting the snorkel in the mouth if your body starts gasping.

I stay by my position, though, that "managing" the consequences of going over boundaries isn't the right approach. There are maybe a few thousand people in the world who compete at a level where pushing boundaries is part of the sport and they have all kinds of support right there.....

For the vast majority of people snorkeling, "gasping" and shallow water blackout are issues that they should be trained to avoid.

R..

So you think people should be trained to avoid a BO? I think the training is intended to improve perfomance, safety, enjoyment , and maybe not in that particular order. Safety is stressed.

However, just as a scuba diver may one day be more susceptible to the bends, a freediver may experience a BO (or loss of motor control etc.) on a dive that he has done hundreds of times before without incident.

You seem to think that a BO is reserved for the "experts who are pushing the limits of human performance"... this is 100%, absolutely incorrect. Just as the weekend warrior scuba diving to 70 feet may take a hit, so might a 17 yr old kid freediving in 30 feet may have a BO.

I know that ALL of my freediving friends have either had a BO or have witnessed one (most of them have been exposed to BOTH). Our local freedive club had 3 saves last year, I think it was. The misconception that a BO is only for the experts is one thing that makes the sport so dangerous.

This link contains some information that you may find interesting...

Welcome to DiveWise - the Freediving Education Initiative

 

[Diver0001]

So you think people should be trained to avoid a BO?

Well.... Don't you? Sheesh.

I think the training is intended to improve perfomance, safety, enjoyment , and maybe not in that particular order. Safety is stressed.

However, just as a scuba diver may one day be more susceptible to the bends, a freediver may experience a BO (or loss of motor control etc.) on a dive that he has done hundreds of times before without incident.

When you learn how to drive a motocycle they teach you how to respond in a skid. That doesn't mean they want you to run around getting in a skid everywhere.....

How does that saying go.... "an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure....."

You seem to think that a BO is reserved for the "experts who are pushing the limits of human performance"... this is 100%, absolutely incorrect. Just as the weekend warrior scuba diving to 70 feet may take a hit, so might a 17 yr old kid freediving in 30 feet may have a BO.

I know but what I'm saying is that the 17yr old weekend warrior had to have been pushing boundaries that he should have been better instructed to avoid. Too much focus on managing the consequences can distract the instructor from thoroughly teaching how to avoid the cause.

Freediving will never be risk free, that's true, but personally, I think the "avoid" focus would save a LOT more lives than any amount of effort they could put in to debating "snorkel in or snorkel out".

R..

 

[antattack]

Try a different size snorkel mouthpiece.