Who dives with a snorkel?

[spectrum]

Well, now that we have had our monthly snorkel thread and all of the usual suspects have restated their ironclad positions, like Dr Seuss, I ain't and you is and is and ain't will stand toe to toe till the end of time and never agree.

N

I agree that it's a personal choice.

A mutual acquaintance recently visited our waters for some diving. After the first dive he realized our world was a different kettle of fish and unpacked his snorkel for the second dive.

So what I use is based on my world and how I choose to deal with it just as you make decisions based on your diving and other gear.

My biggest fear of this perpetual thread is that impressionable new divers can be shamed out of using a snorkel by some of the trite pontification against the item.

To the OP.... Me

Pete

 

[Nemrod]

I agree that it's a personal choice.

A mutual acquaintance recently visited our waters for some diving. After the first dive he realized our world was a different kettle of fish and unpacked his snorkel for the second dive.

So what I use is based on my world and how I choose to deal with it just as you make decisions based on your diving and other gear.

My biggest fear of this perpetual thread is that impressionable new divers can be shamed out of using a snorkel by some of the trite pontification against the item.

To the OP.... Me

Pete

I think the trite pontifications go both ways. Adults can decide for themselves, if they allow "shame" into the equation then shame on them. I assure you there is nothing magic about your dive location that would require a snorkel vs some other place. Your style of diving that location requires one, mine would not. Like I said, toe to toe 'till the end of time.

N

 

[Steve50]

23.725%

 

[trucker girl]

My biggest fear of this perpetual thread is that impressionable new divers can be shamed out of using a snorkel by some of the trite pontification against the item.

I think I covered the trite pontifications in support of the item!

Seriously, though. I love my snorkel. I don't like breathing from my regulator at the surface- yeah, I'm sucking on air through a tube, but if my reg is out of the water at all, I just don't like the way it feels. I don't know. It's all personal choice- I do think it's funny how some divers look at almost as though "real divers don't wear snorkels."

Give me a break.

If I were doing a wreck penetration or going cave diving, that would be different. Heck, even if I wrapped long hoses around my neck... I'd wind up getting the hose caught on something and strangle myself though. I don't think that would be wise. I'll take the snorkel entanglement hazard option instead- LOL.

I also like looking down if I'm waiting on anyone at the surface- and I don't like wasting air pre-dive. I dive mostly in quarries, so oncoming waves isn't an issue at the surface. But who doesn't like to look for giant catfish?

Plus, I have a lot of fun with my snorkel. After all, what's not fun about a big yellow tube strapped to the left side of your face?

 

[Nemrod]

Many divers who use a BP/wing do their surface swims on their back, it is easy, efficient, faster, more comfortable and more stable even in rough conditions and allows the diver to navigate and keep an eye out for motor boats and jet skis. It may not be the way you learned in your scuba class but it is OK to learn on your own and make decisions on your own. People take these open water classes and then upon completion freeze in time and refuse to continue to learn and grow and adapt.

N

 

[BKP]

Only when there's a possibility of a long surface swim in open water... and then, it stays rolled up and bungied...

 

[MBH]

People take these open water classes and then upon completion freeze in time and refuse to continue to learn and grow and adapt.

N

That is good signature line material!!!!

 

[Nemrod]

I got to get going here but feel free to use it MBH, Open water as it is taught nowadays is a beginning from which to progress either through experience or additional training-- adavanced, cave, GUE, DIR, tech training, rescue training or whatever. An "essential" piece of safety gear may turn out to not be so essential afterall. Well, off to the world.

N

 

[SussexMedic]

I've never used a snorkel while in dive gear, partially because I use a long hose setup and partially because I've never really felt I needed it. Having said that, I usually bring one alone in my dive bag on boat dives to use during my SI if I want to cool off in the water.

Allen

 

[NJDiver_34]

Since I do a majority of my diving from a boat it really is not necessary to have a snorkel. When I first started diving I used one but then it just always seemed to just get in the way so I took it off and never put it back on.