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Guest
I was taught to switch to snorkle upon surfacing to conserve air. Wrong!! No need to conserve at the end. Bopping up and down on the surface often ends up with my head under water. I keep my reg in my mouth where it belongs until my BC is handed off with me firmly affixed to the ladder or I am in the boat.
Sure, nothing wrong with using the reg if it is more comfortable. But if you are dependent on the reg on the surface, you may need to adjust your gas plan. And still you need to plan for an LOA or OOA event. I suggest you develop the skills necessary to survive on the surface without the aide
of scuba. A snorkel may be a nice convenience but if you find it a necessity, there could still be a problem. Simple solution is to learn to inhale only when your head is out of the water. Usually easiest if you float on your back, If you air up the BC to help you float, it is usually quite pleasant.