What Changed?
By the mid-1980s, use of modern jacket- and back-flotation BCs was almost universal. For the first time, divers could easily rest and swim on the surface with their heads completely out of the water. What this meant was that, while most divers did not stop carrying snorkels, they did stop using them.
Think about it: How do you prefer to rest or swim on the surface? Is it face down, breathing through a restricted airway that doubles the amount of “dead air” space in your breathing passages? Or, is it on your back, breathing through your mouth and nose — and able to chit chat with buddies as well?
The fact is, snorkels are no longer essential for every scuba dive. They haven’t been for over two decades.
But can’t you make the argument that, in so far as there are situations in which you might want a snorkel, it’s a good idea to have one? We used to think the same way in cave and technical diving. In other words:
- Because it was theoretically possible that both your backup lights might fail, why not carry a third…or a fourth?
- Because your safety reel might jam, why not carry a second or third one?
- For that matter, why not two pressure gauges, or two long hoses?
What we eventually figured out was that having all this excess junk caused far more problems than it solved. Today’s approach to technical diving equipment configuration stresses simplicity and reliability over looking like a traveling dive store.
The same principle applies to snorkels. In those situations in which having a snorkel may prove valuable, by all means take one (although you don’t necessarily want to attach it to your mask). Be aware, however, that under most circumstances having a snorkel attached to your mask may cause more problems than it solves.
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