I learned to dive with a snorkel and when I did a lot of shore diving, it came in handy esp when the surface was choppy. We would swim out about 1/4-1/2 mile to save air then do our dive back to shore. The snorkel made it easy to breathe when it was rough. I could hang lower and flatter in the water on the swim out. I still dive with it and don't even give it a second thought.