Who Wears A Snorkel When Diving ?

[JustJules]

Last winter, when I started to wear a hood, I found that I couldn't get a good mask seal unless the mask strap went inside the hood. That meant there wasn't enough mask strap exposed for attaching a snorkel, so I left it in my dive bag. Suddenly, all of the problems with my mask seal that I had blamed on hair, poorly fitting mask, etc. went away. It had been the snorkel the whole time!

I have been thinking about getting a collapsible snorkel to carry in my BC pocket, but I haven't done it yet... probably will before I go out of the country and am diving with boats I don't know and trust "just in case". However, I have to say that in 40+ dives since I stopped wearing it, I haven't missed it at all.

Julie

 

[tholt576]

I have to vote "no" as well. I don't find that the snorkel has a lot of use.

 

[mattiedread]

Depends on surface conditions, and potential. After my AOW I gave up on them as a hassle. But, after drifting of the Darwin Arch in the Galapogos in 4' swells with a Galapagos shark follwing me I carry one if the surface is swelling or a change of weather/pressure seems imminent.

 

[Rosie]

I always have one and although I haven't been diving for very long, I haven't experienced any problems with mask leakage or entanglement so far.

cheers
Rosie

 

[Curly]

...as a chew toy.

http://www.pbase.com/image/3547737

http://www.pbase.com/image/3547740

 

[Scuba446]

My opinion is that they are an entanglement hazard and useless unless 'snorkeling.'

When snorkeling, I wear a snorkel...when diving, I use my reg!



GUE/DIR does not support the use of them, and I can't see where on a wreck or a cave dive it would be useful.

I guess the KEY words here are - SNORKELING and SCUBA DIVING.

 

[chaney]

Just did 5 dives this week and it will be the last time that I dive with a snorkel my ear hates it.

 

[cdiver2]

From all the replies it would seem US divers are against snorkels and divers from europ are for them ?.

 

[DenverCoJeff]

Dove without the snorkel for the first time, and my mask had far less leakage than normal. So, I reluctantly have to admit that unless I am in a class or teaching a class in the future, it will be in my pocket...

Jeff

 

[MichaelG]

Being a still new diver, I have to say I always hated the snorkel and wanted to get rid of it. If any of you read my Mis-Adventures of my AOW, then you would understand why I am a believer in the snorkel.

On a OOA situation, surface swimming 100+ feet in chops is too much hassle without a snorkel. I know OOA should not happen, but it does and that makes it reason enough to have one. Plus, using a snorkel saves on tank air when surface swimming to the down line.

If anything, I would suggest at least having a fold-up snorkel for those instances when you just might ifnd that you need it.

--MichaelG