Diving equipment serves as the bridge between humans and the underwater world — enabling exploration, discovery, and safety beneath the waves. Among these tools, the snorkel is one of the simplest, yet most debated, pieces of gear. While essential for snorkeling, its usefulness in scuba diving continues to raise eyebrows. Some divers wouldn’t hit the water without one, while others view it as unnecessary clutter.
In this blog, we’ll dive deep into the circumstances that make a snorkel useful for scuba divers, when it can be a hindrance, and how to decide whether or not to include it in your diving equipment setup. This is not a one-size-fits-all answer — like many choices in scuba diving, it depends on the environment, dive plan, and diver preference.
The Humble Snorkel: A Controversial Yet Classic Part of Diving Equipment
At first glance, the snorkel seems too basic to be controversial. A bent plastic or silicone tube with a mouthpiece — what’s there to debate? But in scuba diving, every piece of diving equipment must justify its function. The goal isn’t to bring every tool imaginable, but to bring the right tools for the mission.
Take for example a beginner diver enrolled in an Open Water Diver course. Standard training mandates a snorkel. It’s used to practice breathing while face-down in the water before ever using a tank. This helps build water confidence, teaches air conservation at the surface, and allows the diver to understand breath control in waves or current. At this stage, the snorkel is undeniably useful, even essential.
But fast forward a few years. That same diver is now advanced, doing drift dives in the Maldives, wreck dives in the Philippines, and night dives in Bali. With surface support readily available, and entries often straight from a boat, the snorkel is used less and less — perhaps never. For this diver, it may not earn a place among streamlined diving equipment anymore.
When a Snorkel is a Smart Addition to Your Diving Equipment
There are still many scenarios where a snorkel becomes an asset rather than a burden.
1. Shore Dives with Long Surface Swims
Shore diving is popular in many coastal regions where dive sites are close to land. Locations like Tulamben in Bali, Hanauma Bay in Hawaii, or Eilat in Israel offer incredible shore dives. However, these often require a significant surface swim to reach the descent point.
Imagine swimming out 200 meters from shore — a snorkel lets you conserve precious tank air for the actual dive. You breathe comfortably at the surface while observing marine life beneath you. In such cases, having a snorkel as part of your diving equipment is not only practical but energy-saving. Without it, you’d be forced to either use your regulator (wasting air) or lift your head constantly to breathe (uncomfortable and tiring).
2. Surface Waiting in Choppy Waters
Divers don’t always exit the water immediately after surfacing. Sometimes, you must wait for a boat to come around, especially in liveaboard settings or strong currents. The Red Sea, for example, is known for drift dives where boats pick up divers as they surface downstream.
In choppy waters, keeping your face in the water while breathing through a snorkel can reduce fatigue and motion sickness. This is especially helpful when diving with new students, who might feel uneasy bobbing in rough conditions. Including a snorkel in your diving equipment gives you the flexibility to remain calm and breathe easily until pickup.
3. Emergency Air Conservation
Though rare, low-air emergencies do happen. Divers sometimes surface with minimal air due to miscalculated bottom time or stronger-than-expected current. In such scenarios, having a snorkel means you can breathe at the surface without using up the last few bar of air from your tank. Even a few extra breaths can make a difference in cold water or stress-induced fatigue.
Experienced instructors often keep a foldable snorkel tucked into a BCD pocket for such “just in case” moments. It’s a lightweight form of insurance — one that can add value to your diving equipment during uncertain situations.
When a Snorkel Might Work Against You
Of course, there are times when having a snorkel can become a nuisance or even a hazard.
1. Overhead Environments: Caves, Wrecks, and Kelp
Diving in overhead environments presents a unique set of risks. Snorkels, especially rigid ones, can snag on lines, entangle in kelp, or get caught in narrow spaces. A diver navigating the interior of a wreck in Coron, Philippines, has limited headroom and visibility. A protruding snorkel adds to the chance of scraping, tangling, or getting stuck.
For wreck divers, cave divers, and those diving in kelp forests like those in California, minimalism is key. Every piece of diving equipment is evaluated for entanglement potential. In these environments, snorkels are often excluded altogether.
2. Streamlining for Advanced Divers
Tech and sidemount divers often pursue gear configurations that prioritize efficiency and hydrodynamics. A snorkel sticking out from your mask increases drag and resistance — not ideal when you’re conserving energy on deep or technical dives.
Divers training in GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) or similar methodologies tend to carry only what’s essential. If the snorkel isn’t needed, it doesn’t go in the water. For these divers, refining diving equipment setups means keeping only what truly enhances performance and safety.
3. Relying on Boats and Surface Support
Many tropical dive operations provide immediate surface support. In places like the Maldives or Komodo, divers enter and exit directly from boats. There’s little to no surface swimming involved.
In such scenarios, a snorkel becomes redundant. The risk of waves washing into it or the discomfort of having it tug on your mask outweighs its potential benefit. Many divers on guided dives in these regions simply leave it behind and enjoy a clutter-free mask.
Choosing the Right Snorkel for Your Dive
If you decide that a snorkel deserves a spot in your diving equipment, not all snorkels are created equal. The right one depends on your dive profile and comfort level.
Traditional J-Tube
These are old-school, simple, and effective. With no moving parts, they are durable and reliable. They’re also easier to clear, making them a solid choice for those who use snorkels frequently in their diving routine.
Semi-Dry and Dry Snorkels
Modern snorkels often come with splash guards or float valves that seal off the tube when submerged. These features are great for snorkeling in waves, but can make clearing the snorkel harder. They’re also bulkier — which can be frustrating when trying to streamline your diving equipment.
Foldable Snorkels
Foldable or roll-up snorkels have surged in popularity. Made of flexible silicone, they can be tucked into a BCD pocket or clipped securely out of the way. These are favored by advanced divers who want the option of a snorkel without the drawbacks of having it attached throughout the dive.
If you want the versatility of a snorkel without the hassle, a foldable model is an excellent addition to your diving equipment checklist.
Practical Perspectives: What Divers Say
Divers around the world have different takes based on their training, experience, and dive location.
- Sarah, a dive instructor in Koh Tao, says: “I always have a snorkel when leading beginner dives. It helps my students feel safe at the surface. But when fun diving solo, I don’t carry one.”
- David, a tech diver in Australia, shares: “It’s not even in my kit. My BCD is already full of stage tanks and safety gear. A snorkel would get in the way.”
- Julia, an underwater photographer in Indonesia, notes: “I pack a foldable snorkel when traveling. It’s light, compact, and has saved me a few times on long surface swims.”
Your diving equipment should reflect your diving style. The snorkel isn’t a universal requirement, but rather a tool to be used selectively.
Transporting Diving Equipment Today
As diving continues to become more urban and accessible, how we transport our gear is evolving too. In compact cities like Singapore, divers often look for eco-friendly transport options to get their gear from home to dive shops or coastal locations. That’s where potential modern solutions like ebike Singapore models come into play.
Instead of relying on taxis or private cars, divers can use other alternatives equipped with cargo racks or waterproof bags to move their diving equipment efficiently and sustainably. This not only reduces carbon footprint but also aligns with the environmental ethics many divers share.
Should a Snorkel Stay in Your Bag or on Your Face?
So, how do you decide? The key is to evaluate each dive.
- Is it a shore dive with a long swim? Bring a snorkel.
- Will there be choppy water on exit? Consider using one.
- Are you diving from a boat with immediate pickup? You can probably skip it.
- Are you exploring wrecks, caves, or kelp forests? Leave it behind.
The beauty of scuba diving is the ability to tailor your approach. Your diving equipment should serve the dive, not the other way around.
Final Thoughts: Customize What Works for You
Whether you’re a minimalist tech diver or a recreational explorer, the decision to include a snorkel comes down to functionality. Your diving equipment should be a balance of preparedness and efficiency.
If a snorkel adds safety and comfort to your dive — even occasionally — it’s worth packing. If it creates more problems than it solves, it’s okay to leave it behind. Thanks to innovations like foldable snorkels and improved clip systems, you can have the best of both worlds.
Every diver is different. Every dive is different. Let your diving equipment be flexible and tailored — and that includes your decision on the snorkel.
