BASIC SCUBA DISCUSSIONS - Is a snorkel really necessary?

MSD FORUMS - BASIC SCUBA DISCUSSIONS

TOPIC: Is a snorkel really necessary?

chitowndiver

Posted: 6/20/2006 1:44:35 PM

Joined on
1/14/2006

I have been diving for just over a year and always wear a snorkel. People I dive with often do not wear one and ask me why I do. I usually say "Because I was taught to always wear one and sometimes I have to kick a long way back to the boat and I don't want to rely on having a lot of air in my tank when I hit the surface". People don't always agree...it seems they would rather be more comfortable than safe (kind of like riding a motorcycle without a helmet). What do you think? Am I overcautious?

SDAnderson

Posted: 6/20/2006 2:03:08 PM

Joined on
5/30/2006

Snorkels can be useful tools – they’re a great way to conserve energy and gas on long surface swims. Unfortunately, most of the time they are just another dangly that gets in the way, causing masks to leak, adding drag and getting tangled in everything. For wreck divers, especially, they are a serious entanglement hazard and should not be used.

Without regard for what the agencies teach, they aren’t always desirable. Unless you’re shore diving, you will rarely encounter a long surface swim and should carefully weigh the pro’s and con’s of having a snorkel attached to your mask. It’s more than a comfort issue – it can be a safety issue, too.

Bottom line: every diver should own one but most of the time they belong at the bottom of the dive bag or rolled up in a pocket.

captdarrick

Posted: 6/20/2006 3:09:13 PM

Joined on
1/10/2006

I agree with SDA. Snorkels just get in the way. On long surface swims I just swim on my back. Doffing and donning gear is more easily accomplished without a snorkel and you have a more streamlined profile underwater. I very seldom run across experienced divers (technical or professional) that use a snorkel.

Captain Darrick Lorenzen
captdarrick@midwestscubadiving.com
www.divemaxscuba.com
773-732-8972

Dean810

Posted: 6/20/2006 7:47:35 PM

Joined on
5/22/2006

There have been times when I didn't have a snorkel that I wish I had one, like those long surface swims Steve talked about. I have swung both ways on the issue. I used to always wear one, then never wore it, but lately I have been wearing one. My last wreck dive in Lake Michigan was a case in point. I kind of liked the feeling of not breathing my valuable gas while fighting the current to get to the mooring line.

But as a recreational diver without a lot of heavy duty penetration experience, the "dangely" issue hasn't been that big. an issue. I would say your preference would depend on the type of diving you are doing at the time. Don't let someone convince you not to wear one if you feel it would be helpful.

chgodvr

Posted: 6/20/2006 11:24:28 PM

Joined on
5/29/2006

I have to say that I cannot remember a dive where having a snorkel was necessary. I wear one only when I do training dives because it is required. If I have a long surface swim to reach the descent point, I'll just flip onto my back and leisurely kick. I've experienced far more problems and discomfort wearing the snorkel. The only time I see a need to wear a snorkel is if I needed to find something before descending on it. But this is really a personal decision. No one is going to penalize you for not wearing your snorkel unless your doing a training dive or working with students. How do you feel about it?

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