Ode to the snorkel

[rslomkow]

I know it is silly :t

But I really love my snorkel.

Sure I can feel the drag and it really does make me slower.

Yes I have to spit it out of my mouth to do better ear clearing.

And when doing empty lung dives it pours water over my mouth when I really want to breath.

but despite that I still love my snorkel:inlove. I find nothing more relaxing for being able to just lie in the water looking down felling my body sink on exhale until my head is covered then filling my lungs and then my body coming back up to the surface.

I was just thinking about this at training last Friday as nobody else in my group bothers with a snorkel at all.

They do all hang out on the wall all the time :naughty

Sure the wall is relaxing, and it even has a foot ledge, but when out in the ocean in the spots I love, there never is a wall to hold onto. Instead I just sit their looking down watching the light and fish play in the water while recovering. Even in the pool I like to be away from the wall (some nights it gets crowded) and enjoy having my ears underwater.

So I admit the snorkel is a non-performance tools, but I sure find it relaxing.

If you made it this far.

My favourite snorkel I own is the Sporasub Samuri. Just comfy, and solid. The foldable ones are not as good, but honestly anything without valves and caps is great.

 

[iceselkie]

May I add:

Snorkel, many of you have come and gone from my life.. my first one was some gaudy blue thing with a silver sticker, I think the valve popped out. The second one, I won off Ebay, a nice black mares J tube that weathered three years until one day I decided to chase seals near some island across from Telegraph cove.
Now I have a pretty spiffy clear one. Mares Two, in honor of my first Mares.
And my forward facing snorkel which used to grind my two front teeth until I figure out how to adjust the mouth piece forwards. I've only discovered the top of the iceburg when it comes to using that thing.
I agree, snorkels have come in pretty handy, and are a wonderful prop, underwater and topside.
I've never used one as a hair accessory, but they look nice tucked in the side of a belt like a buccaneer!

 

[island_sands]

My favourite snorkel I own is the Sporasub Samuri. Just comfy, and solid. The foldable ones are not as good, but honestly anything without valves and caps is great.

Same here I love it, and just bought the camo mask as well, to go with it

 

[sanso]

Thank You, Robin
It was about time someone said that.

I call mine 'Jay'. Bought it a couple of years ago on a flea market (...and don't see a reason to get another).

So much for the deep insights

sanso

 

[demasoni]

Long live the Sporasub Samurai! What a great design. Way better IMO than any of the purge-types. The little clip that attaches the snorkel to the mask strap is so convenient and really works well. OK, enough about that...

Oh yeah, - Island Sands - your new avatar is driving me wild :t

 

[tbgsub]

I liked the black Omer Zoom Pro foldable snorkel, it was low profile, and the mouthpiece was nice and soft. the first one was black, and became badly worn from chewing out of nervousness untill I relaxed. later I bought a Clear Zoom Pro that I am using now. since I only Freedive/Spearfish, I have to admit to a grand affection for such a simple piece of equipment. Happiness is a tool like this, mostly for what it allows, a humble visit that lasts, and can be repeated for free. they shouuld have made a sales jingle similar to slinkey.

its snorkel,
its snorkel,
its a tube that you put in your mouth
its snorkel,
its snorkel,
you can swim in the north and the south!

its snorkel,
its snorkel,
and it isnt made outta wood!
its snorkel,
its snorkel,
its better than bad, its GOOD!!

its snorkel,
its snorkel,
its fun to breath through a straw
its snorkel,
its snorkel,
now tell me just what you saw!!!

ok I wont do this to you all any longer, it was a bad idea, but I sure am amused at all of the companies that pile on the bells and whistles over a giant straw.

I have become fond of the simple valveless type that takes some getitng used to, but after a short while you know when water begins to enter.
the most annoying thing is getting flooded after a complete exhale right before a breath up to freedive, you have to reset your breathing cycle all over again from the top.

well that is my ode to the breathing tube genious.
by the way, who originally invented the marvelous idea any way?

 

[DiverTodd]

Ok, here goes. *ahem*

You constantly tug my mask off my face,
you never seem to stay in place.
I reach up to grab you, and just grab air,
you're behind my shoulder...how'd you get THERE?
Look down too far, and GLUG GLUG GLUB,
you fill up with water, like a bathtub.
Spitting you out, as I cough and hack....
I think maybe I'll just start my dives on my BACK.