View Full Version : Do U Use A Snorkel
Hi all ,
Quick question as it was on mentioned on another section.
Do you posses a Snorkel and do you use it regularly on scuba dives ?
I.E. is it left in your kit bag to gather dust or do use use it for surface swims and while your on the surface instead of using gas or use it between scuba dives to do some snorkelling ?
Ben Panter
11-11-2005, 14:59
I've got a foldy one which lives in a pocket on my drysuit. I use it for surface swims when shore diving just to conserve gas before a dive, and as a further option if I get seperated from my surface cover after a boat dive. For the former I've used it many times, for the latter only once, but it was good to have.
Of course, you should always have enough gas to do whatever it is your planning to do without the snorkel - they're easy to forget/misplace. I would absolutly not recommend wearing the snorkel tied to your head for the whole dive. It's akin to sticking a lever on your mask, ready for any kelp to knock it off!
Andy Wade
11-11-2005, 15:16
Got one in my bag, I'd only take it diving if I had any concerns about currents or similar. Worst case and all that.
I haven't used one in anger for years.
Gary Pittaway
11-11-2005, 18:04
I dont bother any more. Breathing your gas on the surface, unless a long swim to your site (which raises a question as to why the long swim) uses little. Once the dive has ended I just breath from the reg. If I'm on Nitrox, I continue to off gas quicker, rather than breathing the air.
Ian@1904
16-11-2005, 20:33
I used mine when I originally trained through PADI to Rescue Diver. Teamed up with some BSAC people who took the pi55, thought about it. I now only use the snorkel for snorkelling.
I think of the snorkel as an entanglement hazard.
As I plan to surface with plenty of gas, and if surface swimming do so on my back, the snorkel is surplus to requirements.
I have a proper one in my kit bag, if it looked possible I may need one I'd take it although I'd also consider if that meant the dive's beyond my comfort zone. Of course my plan is to always have enough of a reserve to be able to use that anyway.
I did buy one of the folding ones and did take it in a pocket a few times until in a moment of weakness I thought I'd try it out. It was floppy - and as we fellas know floppy isn't much good for anything ;)
Ian (JAG)
16-11-2005, 21:54
When I used single cylinder I carried a snorkel. When I moved to twins and stages, with the thirds rule for twins and half rule for stages, there's enough gas for any surface transits. Also helped when I switched wings and backplate to one that didn't put me face down at the surface. So, no, don't use a snorkel anymore.
Hi.
Sorry I do not posses one, I have all the air I need CCR!!!!!.:D
David Walker
16-11-2005, 22:40
Snorkel is used for octopush in the pool... and snorkelling abroad.
There's nothing interesting enough in the shallows around the UK to bother snorkelling here, i'd rather be underwater sheltered from the weather!
Surface swims in the sea are only necessary if you're shore diving... which in the UK I only do in Oban, and they are shallow pootles where I wouldn't mind using an extra 5bar of air on the surface anyway. The rest of my UK dives are from boats, and there's no excuse for having to surface swim at all - in exceptional circumstances thats why we come up with some gas in reserve. To be honest even if my cylinders were empty I wouldn't drown - I just wouldn't float with my face in the water!
The other time I surface swim is when i'm in Stoney and someone wants to go down the Stanegarth shotline... in which case I usually swim on my back.
Would never dive with a snorkel on my mask - don't like it, tugging away at the mask strap, can make the mask leak a bit, get caught on things, etc - just unnecessary.
David
John Williams
17-11-2005, 09:43
Snorkel is used for octopush in the pool... and snorkelling abroad.
There's nothing interesting enough in the shallows around the UK to bother snorkelling here, i'd rather be underwater sheltered from the weather!
REALLY!
I guess that's why we have some VERY successful snorkelling clubs all around the UK!
I find that the life and light in the surface waters is usually MUCH more interesting than the stuff lower down!
It's generally warmer, closer and prettier nearer the surface!
The weather is not an issue ...it rains on divers too!
If it's wind you are worried about - snorkellers have it better than divers! There is no shelter on that offshore wreck ....but there is always the other side of the island, the headland or whatever.
The ONLY time divers have it better than snorkellers is when the viz is poor inshore after a long period of wind that has now become calm - when that offshore wreck might have better viz (and of course where the planned dive site is deeper than comfortable snorkelling depth!)
Back to the question at hand:
I take my snorkel everywhere with me...but it does not like the cold - so it stays in my bag (or on the boat) unless I am likely to need it. I use it every time I go snorkelling and it is always with me when I visit a pool training session (but again only worn if I need it for the lesson I'm practicing or teaching)
I find that although my snorkel needs refilling more often than my cylinder - I like the price/availability of refills much more! There is also no need to work out air requirements or decompression schedules with a snorkel. God gave us a fairly effective warning mechanism that you will soon need another breath - and we were all born wearing the only deco computer a snorkeller will ever need!
John
PS
Hi Bob and Alistair (hope this covers everything?)
I dont bother any more. Breathing your gas on the surface, unless a long swim to your site (which raises a question as to why the long swim) uses little. Once the dive has ended I just breath from the reg. If I'm on Nitrox, I continue to off gas quicker, rather than breathing the air.Try one of the new Nitrox snorkels :D
Mark Wayt
17-11-2005, 15:43
REALLY!
I guess that's why we have some VERY successful snorkelling clubs all around the UK!
I agree with you there John. I maybe a Scuba Diver, but I also snorkel and freedive - in fact it was Snorkelling that got me into diving all those years ago.
In shallow water off Flamborough Head, for example, there's loads to see but taking a set of dive gear down the long-ish walk to the beach at Selwicks Bay (by the lighthouse) for a 5m dive is a bit overkill, however, wandering down in a wetsuit, fins and snorkel is a much easier proposition, and you can stay in the water for 4 or 5 hours if you wanted to.
However, I don't scuba dive with a snorkel on ever - I've a picasso foldable snorkel I keep in my backplate pocket with my spare reel and SMB in case it's needed.
Mark.
howard lewis
17-11-2005, 15:48
Hi all ,
Quick question as it was on mentioned on another section.
Do you posses a Snorkel and do you use it regularly on scuba dives ?
I.E. is it left in your kit bag to gather dust or do use use it for surface swims and while your on the surface instead of using gas or use it between scuba dives to do some snorkelling ?
yes I always take one strapped to my BCD I can't stand it on my mask but was always taught I might need it on surface.
I always carry a snorkel on the boat, in case of seals, basking sharks or other interesting stuff that might be found to snorkel with.
Rarely carry one on dives, they get in the way!
mark willoughby
17-11-2005, 18:37
never when diving..but on a red sea boat i use one at the surface interval for messing about in the sea with...:D
Steve Walsh
17-11-2005, 23:00
Usually in the pocket of Drysuit or BCD, just in case I get it wrong and a surface swim is in order, or the rare chance of snorkelling with dolphins.:D
Usually in the pocket of Drysuit or BCD, just in case I get it wrong and a surface swim is in order, or the rare chance of snorkelling with dolphins.:D
Of course you use one Steve - you are far too busy messing about on the surface whilst your buddy is at the bottom of the shotline! :D
Back to the subject here - yeah - I've got one. I use it for snorkelling but don't take it with me when I'm diving.
BubblinStu
18-11-2005, 10:04
Have mine with me and deployed all the time. Have done for 7 years. Its never caused me a problem and it has helped me out a few times.
Great for any surface swims (I try to limit these :) , but there are occasions when I need to do one). Also if I'm RIB diving in choppy seas and my Kit has been lifted into the boat, I sometimes pop the snorkel into my mouth and it prevents any chance of a mouthful of seawater prior to my beached whale impression as I get back in the boat.
I guess if it started to cause me greif I would consider dropping it from my kit set up, but so far I have never had that problem, so it stays.
bburville
18-11-2005, 17:14
Every time I dive I ALWAYS take a snorkel. For safety I believe a snorkel is a must. I use it most dives when I am at the surface. In unforseen emergencies it can be a lifesaver.
You surface on a reef / rock face and whilst you've been in, the sea state has deteriorated. The wind is blowing onto the reef / rocks and you are faced with a swim into more open water to get a pick up from the hard boat.
There's a very gentle current at the surface... save your 40/50 bar reserve for worst case scenario and use the snorkel.
Ben.
Got one in the shed. Take it abroad, or when I'm in the pool trying to get fit finning up and down.
Cannot find anywhere on my rebreather to store it...
Adrian Kelland
18-11-2005, 17:39
or when I'm in the pool trying to get fit finning up and down.
Not often then? :D
Mine is usually in the kit bag - in the car.
Mark (seadweller)
18-11-2005, 17:58
Keep one in my bc.If marked up properly they are excellent for measuring crabs and lobsters.
Cheers
David Tombs
03-12-2005, 21:10
I take mine except to Stoney.I have to say however that I usually use the reg on the surface in choppy conditions.Have seen(and done),the mistake of going down with the tube not the reg in place,but you only do it the once. I agree about the mask and entanglement issues.But I allways feel that bit safer when it is with me,its take you choise I suppose.
Even after 28 years the snorkel is still attached to my mask when I dive.
Edward
Always do, always will. I use a fold up jobbie in ma pocket, when on RB dives ;-)
Refills are so cheap too :)
Taff Griffiths
09-12-2005, 13:08
My snorkel is strapped to my lower leg and it gets used whilst on the surface whilst people are faffing around attempting to look cool with so many gadgets before descent, waiting for boat pick ups, surface swims and it is essential when used as pointie thing when showing students transits!!! :cool:
iain aitchison
18-12-2005, 14:49
Hi,
I always have one with me on dives. Usually a simple one tucked into knife straps. I have a poseidon one with valves on it which I liked for snorkelling in the med but it is not quite as dry as the simple one (nemrod). I always teach with the simple one.
My snorkelling changed when I treated myself to real apnoe fins from Cressi. Although not the legendary C4 carbon fins, I feel free UW on breathhold dives for the first time.
regards
Iain
James - Narked@50
18-12-2005, 21:51
Never use one.
No, I lie, I used one to swim with whale sharks a few months ago, but that was planned, so does not count.
In general, I consider them of little use, and view those carrying them on open water dives (unless they have a real expectation of using it) as beginers or inexperienced. I know that's not fair, but it is my view. :rolleyes:
James
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