do you use a snorkel?

[jeepinkev]

Who here uses a snorkel? I haven't been diving long, but I have noticed that some "old salts" don't use snorkels, or if they do have one, they keep it in thier BCD pocket. It was drilled into my head during my first open water class that I should always use a snorkel, but after diving in a few different places, and talking to different people, opinions vary on this. I think I will go with one of the new, fold-up snorkels, and just leave it in my pocket until needed. What does everyone here think?

[JustJules]

Opinions vary a lot about whether or not to dive with a snorkel. Old salts, as you say, often don't. Cave/wreck divers don't, with good reason. You don't want your snorkel to get caught on something inside a wreck.

Personally, I like having my snorkel during open water dives so I don't need to use the air in my tank when I'm on the surface. But if I know there's a strong current, I will leave the snorkel in the boat... I have found that my mask leaks when the snorkel is being subjected to the current and twists the mask strap.

If you're comfortable with a snorkel, use one. You'll get a comment or two from the "old salts", but if it's going to make you more comfortable in the water, it's worthwhile.

Julie

[randyjoy]

I use the fold up model by Sherwood. Fits easily in my pocket and is there if I need it. Plus, when you extend the mouthpiece section, it makes this loud raspberry sound which is quite a fun :devilish: surface attention getter.

[Fishkiller]

is the only time now that I'll use a snorkel,,, I think it is another sales Item for the shops to make money with..

[scubakat]

So... what are the chances that you will run out of air with a long surface swim (or worse, lost) in heavy seas? Small, I know, but I am taking my snorkel and safety sausage just in case.

-kate

[CheeseWhiz]

...if you dive anywhere where the waves are any size at all, you're going to get water in your mouth. Keeping the regulator in is the best option, but uses air, which, as I understand it, some people would rather use under the surface rather that on it. I personally use a snorkel, if I'm going to be waiting / swimming on the surface for more than a minute or two.

Having said that, I would stow the snorkel for a cave/wreck penetration.

[miked]

I certainly qualify as an "old salt",and I always carry a snorkel (a bendable type), whether it is in a BC pocket (most of the time) or on the mask strap (only when in use-only on the surface, obviously) . Circumstances will vary- and the previous posts address many of them. IMO, for the type diving I do, the extra problems, both potential and observed, of wearing the snorkel u/w (drag, interference with access to reg, possible mouthpiece confusion, entanglements, etc.) outweigh the nuisance of having to find it and attach it when/if you need it.
As with so many things, personal preference and experience should be considered in making a decision.

Mike

[martinjc]

I am also a scuba-newbie (as I was just certified in August) but I have been snorkelling since I was a little kid - so I find the snorkel very comfortable on the surface - rather than use my regulator (I consume too much air as it is! <S>) I do plan to get into wreck diving next year after my AOW course - so I know I will probably leaving my trusty snorkel behind on the boat...or buying one of those cool fold-up one's. (I don't have any pockets on my BC (Dive Rite Transpac II), however, as I wanted to keep things failry streamlined, so I may have to pick one up....)

[Natasha]

I'm with Cheese and Kate. I use mine on the surface, while waiting for others to get off the boat, if we're all going down together. And I think it was Fish that said, for long swim outs. It's the only way to not use up air before getting to the site. I keep mine connected to my mask. But the fold up kind makes sense too. Just be sure to have one. The one time you don't have it, will be the one time you wish you had it. I feel the same way about my safety sausage.
:sunny:

[herman]

I don't use a snorkle unless there is a real need, like a long surface swim. I take it off and either leave it on the boat or put in my pocket. I found it caused a lot of problems, the worst being it would pull my mask strap over my head, almost lost a mask several times due to it. As for waiting for others on the surface, I usally wait until my buddy is ready to go before getting in the water or just turn over and float on my back, I can see better that way anyway..Do what YOU feel comfortable doing.

[DivingGal]

Originally posted by Natasha
I'm with Cheese and Kate. I use mine on the surface, while waiting for others to get off the boat, if we're all going down together. And I think it was Fish that said, for long swim outs. It's the only way to not use up air before getting to the site. I keep mine connected to my mask. But the fold up kind makes sense too. Just be sure to have one. The one time you don't have it, will be the one time you wish you had it. I feel the same way about my safety sausage.

that's when I use mine - waiting for others at the surface, and surface swims to a descent point. Like Natasha, I have a "safety" bag that is always with me. In the bag is a whistle, sausage and a CD. No, not something to listen to -- just one of those CDs that are always coming in the mail - I use it as my 'mirror'

[scubakat]

Ah Hah! Another use those damn AOL CD's!

-kate

[Lost Yooper]

I absolutely cannot stand snorkles. :)

Mike

[DEEP SEA]

I definitely can qualify as an old salt and used my snorkel on every dive. When I first started to dive, I only had one single 72 cu. ft. 2,250 psi tank. The air in it was as good as gold. All my dives were shore dives with about 100 to 150 yard swims to the off shore reefs. I used the snorkel through the surf and checked out every nook and cranny before I went to my air. If the bottom and/or reef didn’t look good, I went back to the surface and snorkeled around for another spot. I used up every pound of air before I surfaced then snorkeled back to the beach. Believe it or not, I also did not have a BC or pressure gauge! The only instrument I had was a dive watch and capillary gauge. I knew I was running low when I got about 2/3 of a breath. Then I knew I had about 2 to 3 more 1/3 breaths (depending on the depth). I would reach back and turn my “J” valve down to the on position giving me another 300 psi. However, most of the time the valve would be knocked down and I was scrambling to the surface out of air.

Since I only had one tank and my average dive was only around 35 to 45’ I did not worry about dive tables! This was in 1964 when diving was still pretty young. I also made about 60% of my dives alone!

In 1971 I went to U.S. Navy Dive school and was SHOCKED to learn all the things that could have put me in harms way. I still to this day don’t know how I got away with most of my beginning dives. Oh, I bought all my dive gear at a garage sale for $35.00 and did not take any kind of course until the Navy! I averaged about 1 dive every Saturday.
:confused:

[Walter]

"You'll get a comment or two from the 'old salts'"

Actually, I don't think you will. Most "old salts" or mossbacks will never say a word to you about what you should or should not do. They may ask questions about what you are doing and most will answer yours, but few will but in. I've known and learned from quite a few mossbacks, I don't know any who'd make comments about snorkel use.

A snorkel IMHO, is a useful piece of equipment, but there are times it's in the way. Around lines, in overheads and in moderate to strong current I don't want it attached to my mask. I take it out of my bag when I feel conditions call for it or if I'm teaching.

DSSW,

WWW™

[DivingGal]

Originally posted by scubakat
Ah Hah! Another use those damn AOL CD's!

-kate

... you got it Kate. It was a case of using them as mug coasters, or this. Though a friend did cut out small disks and made a pair of "glitzy" earrings....

[syruss32]

I use my snorkel when I dive in the ocean, and probably if I were to dive a lake with waves like the great lakes, other than that I do not use one. I find it cumbersome to wear and it seldom gets used so what's the point of lugging it along

[TexasMike]

I just completed my Rescue Diver course, and now I've switched side back to "Always carry one".

I had a collapsable snorkle in gear bag, but the other students didn't have one at all. Several of the scenarios we ran would have worked best if a good snorkle was attached to my mask, allow me to do my surface searches and keep my face in the water.

So my plans are now to invest in one of the better attaching devices that I see in the LeisurePro catalog and figure out a way to bungie the snorkle to my BC when under the surface.

While most of the time, I might never ever need it, I sure will miss it when I do and it's on the dock/boat/shore.

[large_diver]

No snorkel -- haven't used it since switching to a long hose primary regulator, given the likelihood of snagging when deploying/restowing long hose.

Not condemning snorkel usage...just doesn't work for my current diving style. I do have some long surface swims, but I usually spend them on my back -- more efficient when finning at the surface. Plus, since you can't see the bottom in water with 10 ft vis......why swim face down? ;-)

[syruss32]

Originally posted by TexasMike
I just completed my Rescue Diver course, and now I've switched side back to "Always carry one".

I didn't have mine even in the gear bag, as did none of the other students. Several of the scenarios we ran would have worked best if a good snorkle was attached to my mask, allow me to do my surface searches and keep my face in the water.

So my plans are now to invest in one of the better attaching devices that I see in the LeisurePro catalog and figure out a way to bungie the snorkle to my BC when under the surface.

While most of the time, I might never ever need it, I sure will miss it when I do and it's on the dock/boat/shore.

Mike,

One of the guys I dive with out at CSSP bought one of those fold up snorkels so he could put it in his BCD. It is not as snazzy as some of the better snorkels but it folds nice and small so you can always have it when needed but not have it in the way all the time.

Not sure who the manufacturer is but if I talk to him I will ask and let you know, or someone on here may even know.

[Natasha]

Deep Sea,
That is a great story. Thanks for sharing.
:sunny:

[TexasMike]

Originally posted by syruss32
One of the guys I dive with out at CSSP bought one of those fold up snorkels so he could put it in his BCD. It is not as snazzy as some of the better snorkels but it folds nice and small so you can always have it when needed but not have it in the way all the time.

Not sure who the manufacturer is but if I talk to him I will ask and let you know, or someone on here may even know.

You're thinking of the Sherwood Avid snorkle. Where the tube collapses into the rigid barrel of the snorkle like a bendable drinking straw. I have one of those, and did use it this past weekend during the rescue scenarios.

While I beleive you are offering help for stowing of the snorkle, due to the rescue training I just finished, I now need to demand performance when using it over convenience of stowing it underwater.

For casual snorkeling, the Avid would work fine. But my experience with it was not very good. I found that I had to always clear it, it breathed wet too much, and it was very difficult to clear.

While it does stow in a space as small as a UK SL4 flashlight, that's it's only good point. Besides the "Cool! Can I look at that!?!?" you get on the beach when you show it off.

The inwater performace between the Avid snorkle and the TUSA Hyperdry I purchased for my o/w classes is like night and day. The Hyperdry was much easier to clear, and was less likely to get water in it in the first place.

The Avid will be going on eBay for sale in the next week.

[syruss32]

Sorry to hear that didn't work for you but I was just offering it as an idea. Hope you find something more to your liking.

[Scottri]

I never use a snorkel. They always seem to get tangled up in something. The only time I have used on since I began diving was during my rescue class. I keep one in my dive bag in case it is required somewhere or I need it for some reason but I hate them!



Scott:jester:

[Zept]

I'm always grabbing my snorkel instead of my BC inflator hose. I don't want to do without the snorkel, but it would be nice to find a way to distinguish between the two corrugated tubes hanging over my left shoulder. The snorkel is less than useful if I'm trying to inflate/deflate my BC, but I usually grab it first because it sits over the BC hose.

Any ideas?

[miked]

Zept,
First, welcome from NJ.
Next, as far as the snorkel goes, why not "stow it" in a BC pocket, or attach it to your leg (like some do with a dive knife), once you are u/w, or sooner, if the conditions permit.
That will help avoid the problem you presented.
Good luck,
Miked

[Zept]

Thanks for the welcome, Miked.

I'd have to saw eight inches off the end of my snorkel to get it into a pocket, and then it might not work so well :). I've thought about attaching it to my leg, but... how? I guess maybe I could make a long, thin pocket and strap that to my calf.

[scorpiofish]

I use one when I teach. I don't dive with one. I carry it in my gear bag in case some whale sharks or dolphins show up. It gets in the way. If I think I might need it, I'll carry it.

[TexasMike]

Zept...

Depending on which BC you use and the configuration, why not try what I plan on working out: developing a series of bungie loops on the cumberbund that would allow me to stow a standard sized snorkle there. If I get it worked out (and I remember), I'll snap series of photos showing how I worked it out.

--TexasMike

[miked]

Hi again Zept,
My "snorkel in the BC pocket probably only works for a foldable/curlable/ bendable or small snorkel.
as I have one of those, it fits in a pocket.
I ike the sound of your idea and also think TM's loop idea is worth investigating.
In addition to those ideas, I have seen two others ways that people carry a snorkel on their leg.
One method- which I tried and didn't like- is to hold the snorkel to your leg by using the belts from your dive knife- so the same belt secures the knife/sheathe and snorkel.
The other technique that I have seen-but never tried- is to use long strips of velcro to hold the snorkel onto your leg.
A short (2") strip, or two, of the "fuzzy" velcro is glued to the snorkel,and a longer strip of the 2 sided velcro goes around it and your leg-securing the snorkel to the long strip, and to your leg.
Let us know what you decide to do-and how it works out.
Good luck,
Miked

[luvdiving]

Do I use one? You bet!

I do most of my diving in open water. I have always felt that it better to have and not need than to need and not have. Besides, I don't really think it's that much of an interferent.

Thanks, Ken