Why (or why not) should a snorkel be donned?

[letterboy]

Can I plead "temporary insanity"?

Temporary?

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Well.... *ahem* LOL

 

[Thalassamania]

Can I plead "temporary insanity"?

Sure, works for me with great regularity. But why make it temporary?

 

[letterboy]

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=176338

 

[gypsydiver19]

I am so glad to hear that someone is talking about using caution when they have doubts due to a certain situation or condition!!! Who knows the life we save may be our own!!!!!
Just my own opinion and we all know about those.......

 

[drbill]

As I posted in your poll, I don't wear one unless I'm required to by a dive boat or local ordinance. They can be useful, but I have two problems with them based on where and how I dive. California sea lions love to steal them. When I squeeze into tight areas to videotape, they almost always get in the way.

I manage my gas well enough that I don't need to conserve air or do much surface swimming where I'd need one.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Sure, works for me with great regularity. But why make it temporary?

True. No sense in suffering from insanity. Might as well enjoy every minute of it!

 

[Charlie99]

Um, are you sure they were 10+' waves? Not exactly diving conditions. Also, 500 PSI on an AL80 is still about 13 cu ft of gas. Should easily be enough air for 20 minutes of breathing. I have absolutely no idea how a snorkel would help in 10 foot waves, nor do I understand how going to your reg would be a problem in this case.

I've met a true believer in snorkels. He spent 5 hours adrift from Molokini in 40+knot winds and high seas. February 2003. The conditions worsened quickly, and the boat was unable to locate the divers at the end of a drift dive.

He says that he would dearly have loved to have a snorkel to assist in breathing in the high waves and heavy spray on the surface.

He now always carries one in his BCD pocket.

 

[meekal]

i wear one on every dive... INSIDE my 3mm wetsuit.... really impresses the ladies!

 

[do it easy]

I have a buddy who is Y certified- they spend 4 weeks in a 10 week course just swimming and snorkelling. She dives with her snorkel religiously- I couldn't even get her to try one dive without it. Then it dawned on me- if I had spent 4 weeks practicing with a snorkel, I might use it more often. She is extremely comfortable in the water with her snorkel (although she isn't always comfortable with what's in the water )

I occasionally try my fins at freediving- I use a snorkel at the surface, but it is bungeed to my surface float so that I don't have to dive with it.