Use of Snorkel and Skindiving

**Scuba Mama** · 01-22-2008, 04:51 PM

I teach so I have to show support of Snorkels and Skindiving.
Personally, I may have a different opinion of these items or skill. I teach in a cold water environment.

I am wondering how many divers out there still use a Snorkel past the open water training?

Also how many of you have ever use skin diving skills in the open water?

Scuba Mama

Vegas · 01-22-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba Mama

I am wondering how many divers out there still use a Snorkel past the open water training?

Also how many of you have ever use skin diving skills in the open water?

Scuba Mama

I confess to both.

We were out on a boat on Lake Mead last summer with non-scuba diving friends, so bringing along our gear wasn't really an option. We did, however, toss our fins, snorkles, and masks in a mesh backpack to bring along.

We had a great time jumping off the rocks, and playing on a little hidden beach, but once I noticed the fish (it's always about the fish for me! lol!) I had to see 'em up close. So out came the fins, mask, and snorkle. When a paticularly large and interesting looking catfish came along I wasn't completely content to squint at him from the surface, so I practiced a little of that skin diving to get right down near the bottom with him. It was alot of fun - we were both really glad we'd brought the gear we did! (and we made a note of a future spot where we'd like to go scuba diving).

As for the snorkle - yes I use it....again, it's about the fish - It's been more than once that during even a short surface swim I get a great show of fish that I'd have missed, or had to draw on my tank at the surface, to get to see.

The most notable time for this was on my first trip to California, when, on our last dive of the day we surfaced a bit further from the boat than we would have liked - the swim wasn't long, but without the snorkle I'd have missed the antics of the 50 or so sea lions swimming along with us!

So there it is. I confess. LOL! and I am not ashamed!

**MgicTwnger** · 01-22-2008, 07:43 PM

I never wear a snorkel and rarely skindive.

**dalehall** · 01-23-2008, 06:34 PM

I don't skin dive either.. The only time my snorkel leaves my boat bag is when I'm DM'ing a class (because I have to look like the students) or, like my February trip, it's a "snorkel with the manatees" trip. Other than that, I have to check it for dry rot every few months.

**glynneco** · 01-24-2008, 12:37 AM

Snorkel? You mean tubular annoyance device. I have one from my own training days plus the ones I find in the quarry after a class. I too will wear one if I'm helping with training but otherwise no. My rig actually precludes its use. I have a long primary wich I wrap around my neck. The octo is on a neclace. In the event of an emergency I unwind the primary and donate it. My head tilts forward and I grab the octo with my mouth. A snorkle would actually become a liability in an emergency as a potential tangle hazard for the primary and get in the way of easily getting the octo.

**glynneco** · 01-24-2008, 12:40 AM

I didn't mention I rerig for training to be "normal". Not a word normally used in a sentence involving me unless of course there's an "ab" in there as well!