snorkel purge valve or not ?

[strangelove]

I am kind of getting tired of drinking salt water, I was wondering if any one out there uses snorkel with purge valves. I always have being against the valves but perhaps the technology has improve.

Any input about this issue is welcome also recommendation about brands as well.

 

[laminar]

Yes, I love my Impulse II with solid neck. It's a large snorkel but it work amazingly well. Great in rough water, too.

Probably too big for spearos though.


pete

 

[vjanda]

I found it noisy - spooks cautious fish I'm after like guilthead bream.
In the warm med most folks don't use a valve.

 

[Huw]

Most people that speafish i have heard to be against the use of a purge valve... however... i use one with no problems whatsoever... in fact it really helps with the clearing of water at the end of a dive. If you are intending to use one however, make sure that you rinse it well after each time you use it... as salt water tends to weaken the valves over time. I have had mine for about 3 years and it is still going strong .
Huw

 

[foxfish]

I use a simple PVC 2" extension on the end of my pipe. I find this helps in rough weather & causes no other problems. I tend to swallow water if I have problems equalising, obviously I could not do this with a valved pipe.

 

[Marwan]

i use the impulse 2 and the Impulse 3 for spearfishing, i agree they look big and bulky, and if you hunt in caves dont get it (it could get stuck on the cave and take your mask off....
BUT, if you want those last seconds of relaxing on the surface to be spent breathing pure air, with no water drops or splashes, to ruin your breathup just before you go down to stalk that nice grouper, in any kind of sea/swell... go for the impulse

 

[Pinggene]

I find having a purge valve makes it much easier to clear the snorkle prior to that first breath & any left in the pipe, collects at the bottom of the pipe near the valve & not at your mouth.

my 2-cents.

Gene

 

[strangelove]

Thanks guys,

I will give it a try, my next dive will be in 6 months : (