Will I be using the snorkel for snorkeling, scuba diving or both, that is the first thing you need to ask yourself. Believe it or not snorkels are designed with that question in mind. A snorkel designed for scuba diving may not be the best for snorkeling and snorkel designed for snorkeling may not be the best for scuba diving.
What makes a good snorkeling snorkel? For many folks a dry snorkel is very popular. That means that water doesn’t enter the snorkel. When diving under water or when a wave washes over you, water won’t enter the snorkel. No water in means I don’t have to get the water out to breathe. Be careful when selecting a dry snorkel that it is not overly big and bulky. An ideal snorkel should be low profile. Ok…what does that mean? Simply stated the snorkel should not be big and bulky. Bulky snorkels weigh enough and cause enough drag in the water that they can pull on the mask strap wear they are fastened and make your mask leak. Nobody likes a mask that leaks. All too often people get frustrated with their mask wondering why it is leaking when they know it fits correctly. Taking the snorkel off the mask solves mask leaking issues for many people. If this happens to you chances are your snorkel is big and bulky. The snorkel should have a good system for attaching it to the mask strap. The snorkel should be able to slide up and down and side to side on the mask strap. This will allow you to position the snorkel in your mouth comfortably without pulling on the mask strap.
Be careful when selecting a snorkel with all the bells and whistles. Having features such as a dry top, 2 purges, and a flex tube mouthpiece may provide certain benefits, however, typically make for heavy bulky snorkel. I don’t know of any snorkel that is designed with all these features and can still be considered low profile. You may still select a snorkel with all these features, just know what you are getting and the potential drawbacks.
What makes a good scuba diving snorkel and do I even need one for scuba diving? First off, the answer is yes, you should have one for scuba diving. I was on a trip two weeks ago in Cayman Brac and watched a diver struggle on the surface because he didn’t have a snorkel. The diver ran out of air and was still a long way from the dive boat. He had a back inflation style Buoyancy Compensator which floated him face down in the water. The waves were high and he was having trouble swimming to the boat. The dive boat crew saw that he was in trouble and had to go get him. If he would have had a snorkel he could have easily swam through the waves back to the boat. A snorkel will also help you preserve air in your tank while on the surface. This means more dive time under water…everyone likes that.
These sound like good reasons to scuba dive with a snorkel. So, why are so many people getting rid of their snorkels for scuba diving? The answer is that there snorkel may not be a good design for scuba diving. It is even more important that a snorkel be low profile for scuba diving. Because the snorkel is used much less while scuba diving it should be small and drop comfortably to the side of you face when not in use. I use a snorkel while scuba diving and for the most part don’t even realize it is there until I come to use it. My snorkel is not a dry snorkel nor does it have an accordion style mouth piece as these features add size and bulk. Simply stated, the snorkel I use for scuba diving is plain-jane with no bells or whistles.
Can I find a snorkel that works for both snorkeling and scuba diving? I think so. Even though I primarily scuba dive, I still love to go snorkeling. I use the same snorkel for both. Be sure to get the right scuba gear [http://www.scubasuppliers.com]. For Snorkels, determine what your needs are, analyze the features and benefits, how they apply to snorkeling and scuba diving, and make your choice.
Rick VanRaden has been diving for over 30 years. Rick is a life long, dive shop owner and certified instructor. Rick can help you select scuba gear [http://www.scubasuppliers.com] that is right for you! Learn at [http://www.scubasuppliers.com]
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