Why dont many SCUBA divers use a snorkel?
- Thread starter MikeMeagher
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Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
"IF"you're going to use a snorkel, look at this one.
It's really all you need.
Cressi Freediving Snorkel California, All Black
It's really all you need.
Cressi Freediving Snorkel California, All Black
Honestly, I think a snorkel creates far more problems than it solves. There may be select situations where one is needed like long surface swims but that is the exception.
Almost every "benefit" to a snorkel is to save a little air - waiting for buddy to get in, or waiting to be picked up. A little air lasts a long time on the surface. If the surface is so choppy you cannot catch a breath between waves then a regulator in mouth is far more reliable than a snorkel. Do you climb up the ladder with your reg in your mouth or your snorkel?
On the other hand, some of the problems - entanglement, mask pulling, confusion with deflator hose - are issues that can create an underwater emergency.
If you are consistently coming up far from the boat and low on air then you have dive management issues that a snorkel cannot solve.
Almost every "benefit" to a snorkel is to save a little air - waiting for buddy to get in, or waiting to be picked up. A little air lasts a long time on the surface. If the surface is so choppy you cannot catch a breath between waves then a regulator in mouth is far more reliable than a snorkel. Do you climb up the ladder with your reg in your mouth or your snorkel?
On the other hand, some of the problems - entanglement, mask pulling, confusion with deflator hose - are issues that can create an underwater emergency.
If you are consistently coming up far from the boat and low on air then you have dive management issues that a snorkel cannot solve.
freedc
Contributor
I haven't reached the "I'm such a stud I don't need a snorkle" stage, so I proudly keep mine clipped on. I feel like I'm always waiting around to be picked up or waiting for everyone else to get off the boat, or swimming back to shore with a lot more interesting stuff below me than above the surface, so I use the snorkel a lot.
burna
Contributor
If you really believe this then I think you miss the point.
It is not about being cool, it is a personal choice of not taking something that you don't need. It is no different to not taking a stage when you don't need one, or a camera, or primary torch. I stopped carrying mine because I have only had one time where I wished I had it, coped just without it just would've been handy, the rest of the time it has been a PITA.
If you find it useful, then continue to use it, but it doesn't have anything to do with dick size.
I only wear a snorkle when I'm freediving (spearfishing). I do
Carry it in my thigh pocket when scuba diving, it's a flexible
Snorkle so it fits easily in my pocket.
I carry it in the event that I might need it at the end of a drift
Dive. But I've never needed it. I just surface swim on my back.
I don't want to wear it on my mask strap while scuba diving.
It flops around, and contributes to mask leaking,also they do look
Sort of silly hanging off of peoples masks while at depth.
-Mitch
Carry it in my thigh pocket when scuba diving, it's a flexible
Snorkle so it fits easily in my pocket.
I carry it in the event that I might need it at the end of a drift
Dive. But I've never needed it. I just surface swim on my back.
I don't want to wear it on my mask strap while scuba diving.
It flops around, and contributes to mask leaking,also they do look
Sort of silly hanging off of peoples masks while at depth.
-Mitch
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