Re: What is wrong with a snokel I reckon they are great

dechucka wrote:

> I  can understand in some situations a snorkel can be a hindrance.
> For example I have dived sinkholes in the Nullabore and yes a
> snorkel supposedly
> was  a catch hazard ( I will never do it again it scared the ****
> out of me and if you want to do this for fun good on you ) and the
> same applies to penetrating wrecks.
> 
> However for normal diving isn't a snorkel a good thing

It depends on your definition of *normal*

I'm doing several types of diving at the moment. Some days
I'm diving with a single cylinder as a DM either guiding
relatively new OW divers or as an assistant to an instructor
with OW or AOW divers. I use a snorkel on those dives so I
don't give the wrong message to students. Remember, they
*are* students, and learning to use a snorkel is yet another
useful skill. In Melbourne, we have a fair few shore dive
sites that may involve up to 500M surface swims to get
to "the good bit". Being able to use a snorkel comfortably
is a significant advantage on these dives.

I personally use a snorkel on single cylinder dives where 
I expect a reasonably long surface swim. It is easier to 
use the snorkel and keep my head in the water. And I don't
use half of my air getting to the real dive. 

 - - - BUT - - -

When I start diving deep with twin cylinders (or twins plus 
slings) the snorkel stays at home. In the worst case I might 
have three second stages in the vicinity of my mouth. One more
mouthpiece would only be adding to the potential confusion.
A snorkel is best left out of this equation.

I'd just suggest that this is a case of "horses for courses"
and leave it at that. I certainly don't feel a need for
heated discussion one way or the other.

-Don