You may wonder if using a snorkel is necessary in scuba diving or not, and this topic remains a controversial issue. While technical divers don’t need a snorkel while diving, recreational divers are advised to wear one when they take any of the scuba certification courses. 

When talking about commercial diving, there isn’t a straightforward answer to this question. Some seasoned commercial divers say that they never bring a snorkel with them, as they never have scenarios that require using it while others like to stick to the rules and always have a snorkel in the pockets of their BCD. 

To help you figure out if using a snorkel is right for you, in this article, you will find some of the pros and cons of using a snorkel in scuba diving.

Some of the Pros and Cons of using a Snorkel in Scuba Diving

The Pros of Diving with a Snorkel 

We can summarize the pros of diving with a snorkel in the following:

• If you are a shore diver, it’s recommended to bring a snorkel with you if you have to swim a specific distance to your dive site. with a snorkel you will conserve the air in your tank and enjoy a comfortable swimming. 
• With a snorkel attached to your scuba mask, you can conserve energy while you are waiting for your dive boat. This is very important if you are exhausted and have rough conditions. When you breathe through your snorkel, you will not swallow lungfuls of water or empty your scuba tank.
• With a good snorkel, you will assess dive conditions from the surface. If you are on a boat, you can assess the current and the level of visibility when you get into the water while you are wearing your mask and snorkel. 
• The snorkel will benefit you when you tow your dive buddy and need to breathe properly while surface swimming. 
• Briefly, your snorkel is considered an essential safety tool that will be very important not only while surface swimming, but also in various scenarios.

The Cons of Diving with a Snorkel 

On the other hand, the cons of diving with a snorkel include:

• While the snorkel is considered a great way to swim on the surface without the need to use the air in your scuba tank, it can be unwieldy underwater, as when there is a strong current, a snorkel may pull the strap of your mask and this causes the mask to flood with water.
• A wobbling snorkel may make you feel uncomfortable if it’s hitting your head or scuba diving equipment. You can reduce this discomfort if you wear your snorkel closer to your head or choose one that has a streamlined design. 
• Unfortunately, snorkels are from the equipment that tend to get entangled in divers’ hair. So, it’s recommended to wear head covering or a swim cap to prevent that. 
• Snorkels can create additional drag, especially when it’s your first time to enter the water or there is a strong current. if you don’t secure your snorkel properly, it can come off easily. 
• Regardless of your long, flowing hair, snorkels tend to get caught in other things, such as, down lines, reel lines and current lines and to avoid that, novice divers are advised not to wear a snorkel when they explore underwater wrecks and caves while experienced divers who always wear snorkels for a long time, know well how to avoid any issues of entanglement while diving.

Choosing the Right Snorkel for You 

You can find different types of snorkels, such as, dry snorkels, Semi-dry snorkels and classic snorkels. 

Dry snorkels have mechanisms that can prevent water from flooding in while diving. This mechanism is a floatation device that is able to move upward to shut the air pathway.

While in the Semi-dry snorkels, you can find splash guards at the top of the tube which can prevent sprays of water from entering the tube. This type is considered the best for scuba divers who want to conserve the air in their tanks while surface swimming, as it makes them don’t have to deal with the bulkiness of a dry snorkel. 

On the other hand, classic snorkels are very popular with spearfishers and experienced freedivers because they have low volume and are not prone to drag. This type is also suitable for both snorkeling and scuba diving.

To avoid many of the cones of using a snorkel in Scuba Diving, ensure to get a collapsible or foldable snorkel. Buy a snorkel that can be folded and stored in the pocket of your BC or can be attached to the buoyancy compensator while diving and also be attached to the strap of your mask when swimming along the surface.