Scuba Snorkels

Aside from saving cylinder air when you are on the surface, scuba snorkels allow you to breathe in rough surface conditions as well as assisting on the surface swim back to the boat or land, in the event that you run low on gas. They are attached to the left side of your mask with your regulator on the right.

The average of its are j-shaped about the length of a ruler with mouthpiece and fitted with a plastic or rubber mouthpiece. The tube provides air form the surface to the diver while submersed underwater and is fixed to the mask with an elastic rubber strap.

Apart from scuba masks, it is another essential, though optional, diving equipment are the snorkels, sometimes referred to as the swimmer's snorkels, which divers use to breathe air found above the surface of the water. A J-shaped tube that measures about t30cms in length, usually comes with a mouthpiece that is made either of plastic or rubber.

Various types of snorkels are available, although a more common type is the one having a single tube designed to get flooded while the diver is underwater. Once this takes place, the diver, or more appropriately, the snorkeler, simply expels the water by one of two methods. The first involves a backward tilting of the head once the snorkeler reaches the surface water. The other involves one sharp exhalation once the diver's head gets above water.

Other its versions carry a sump or a space where a small amount of water can be stored in the tube without the snorkeler inhaling it as he breathes in and out. Recent models of this particular snorkels type feature a single output valve that automatically drains liquid from the sump once it overflows.

In many cases, its can be found attached to diving masks, usually just outside the strap. Previous versions of the scuba snorkels where it is merely stuck between the mask and its strap caused the former to leak, eventually leading to more serious problems. This type has since been rendered obsolete.

Additionally, some of it are made of plastic material and sometimes of substandard glass. These are likewise not recommended when engaging in regular scuba diving activities as they pose potential dangers.

Most scuba snorkels are designed to be only 50cms long, which is the maximum. Developing longer tubes is not advisable as it will mean exposing the human lungs to higher water pressure under which the said organs would not be able to inflate as a snorkeler inhales. This is primarily because the lung muscles are not developed to withstand such high water pressure.

Admittedly, snorkel scuba diving takes some practice if one wishes to thoroughly enjoy the sport. It is imperative, therefore, to make sure that one is comfortable enough with these diving equipments before going into the water.

Additionally, it is always a good idea to check the gears, especially the snorkels, before using them. Specifically, snorkel for anything that may be blocking its water passageway.

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