Professional divers were asked at The Scuba Show if they always dive with snorkels attached to their masks.
In this video: Dan Howard, Bella Zandona, Red Sullivan, Greg Holt, Chris Leons, RJ & Morgan, Liz Parkinson, Kimber Collins.
COMMON MISCONCEPTION: Many still believe that snorkels are required to be worn in Open Water scuba training, and some even think it’s a hard rule while diving anywhere. *There are a few local parks in the world that require them, usually at tourist hotspots. But outside of that, there is no general or broad requirement. This used to be a training standard, but with more integration into Technical training early on, and modern “roll up” snorkels, the language has shifted to just requiring Instructors or students to have them “available”, not worn directly on their masks. While training agencies differ slightly in language, the only time they are required to be worn by all major agencies is when actually conducting snorkel skills (obviously).
My experience: While there are certainly cases where snorkels are beneficial in diving, wearing one at all times without a site-specific requirement generally produces more problems than it solves, especially with new divers. Further, many divers often cite “waiting for the boat”, such as in choppy water. Sure, do what you prefer… but in many cases the regulator needs to go back in your mouth anyway when getting over to the ladder and onto the boat (esp in chop or high current). A regulator is a totally dry option (& gives you the ability to drop back down for any reason, including an oncoming boat). When diesel fumes are present, the regulator provides clean, filtered air, vs recycled CO2. Not to mention sometimes old gross and moldy insides of a snorkel.
If getting lost at sea is a major concern, get an iPhone with satellite enables & put it in a dive case, Nautilus GPS device, or other readily available equipment that will notify the Coast Guard of your location.
In summary, rollup snorkels or stowing one out of the way in your rig are my goto methods if they’re absolutely needed. But ultimately… do what makes you feel safe and happy, respect different opinions, and keep going diving!
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#scubadiving #snorkels #scubalife #divesafety
