tsteinme
New
A funny thing happened to me the other day...I was preparing for a night dive and someone on the boat -- not anyone I knew -- made the comment (in a tone that was not jokingly) that I must be an inexperienced diver as I still used a snorkel. The captain (a very experienced diver and dive boat captain) and I laughed about it later. But, I admit that it seemed a little rude especially since the person knew nothing about me. I've been diving twelve years, plus I'm a fulltime instructor.
I don't believe that a person needs to wear a snorkel for all occasions; however, just like you dress appropriately in real life, like a tuxedo/dress for a formal event or jeans to the movies, you should "dress" appropriately for your type of dive.
As someone with divemaster/mate experience in Key Largo, I've seen the appropriateness for wearing a snorkel on the type of dives we have here. First, we use a mooring system: the boat stays in one place so the divers need to make their way back to the boat. I have seen a few (actually a bit more than a few) divers run low on air and attempt to swim back to the boat on the surface in waves. They waste was little energy they have -- as they typically are down current -- trying to swim with their heads above water. If they flip over on their backs, they can't see where they are going so they typically cover more distance then they need; plus most of them lose ground when they pause to rollover and look for the boat again. They remind me of goldfish or bettas gulping air. Second, on our advanced dives, such as the Spiegel Grove, the snorkel is a great tool. The diver doesn't waste any air in their tanks as they are fighting the current on the wreck line going to the descent line.
What I've noticed with a lot of people would don't use snorkels is that there is a group of them who are uncomfortable with using them. They haven't learned proper airway control or how to clear the snorkel properly. Yet they'll make up excuses instead of getting experience and training.
I don't believe that snorkels are necessary in all situations, or that you need to wear it (you can put it in your pocket as long as you know how to put it on without taking your mask off); however, I have a lot of respect for people who do use them...especially in dive situations similar to ours in Key Largo.
Tori
I don't believe that a person needs to wear a snorkel for all occasions; however, just like you dress appropriately in real life, like a tuxedo/dress for a formal event or jeans to the movies, you should "dress" appropriately for your type of dive.
As someone with divemaster/mate experience in Key Largo, I've seen the appropriateness for wearing a snorkel on the type of dives we have here. First, we use a mooring system: the boat stays in one place so the divers need to make their way back to the boat. I have seen a few (actually a bit more than a few) divers run low on air and attempt to swim back to the boat on the surface in waves. They waste was little energy they have -- as they typically are down current -- trying to swim with their heads above water. If they flip over on their backs, they can't see where they are going so they typically cover more distance then they need; plus most of them lose ground when they pause to rollover and look for the boat again. They remind me of goldfish or bettas gulping air. Second, on our advanced dives, such as the Spiegel Grove, the snorkel is a great tool. The diver doesn't waste any air in their tanks as they are fighting the current on the wreck line going to the descent line.
What I've noticed with a lot of people would don't use snorkels is that there is a group of them who are uncomfortable with using them. They haven't learned proper airway control or how to clear the snorkel properly. Yet they'll make up excuses instead of getting experience and training.
I don't believe that snorkels are necessary in all situations, or that you need to wear it (you can put it in your pocket as long as you know how to put it on without taking your mask off); however, I have a lot of respect for people who do use them...especially in dive situations similar to ours in Key Largo.
Tori
