Snorkels are an optional piece of freediving equipment that some divers choose to use and others do not. Many serious freedivers favor the simplest possible snorkel, concerned that additional snorkel features add weight, bulk and drag to a freediver’s body without significant benefit. For those who find these features comfortable and useful, it is possible to buy snorkels with purge valves, splash guards and dry-sealing float valves.
Freedivers should never descend with the snorkel mouthpiece in their mouth as this is a drowning hazard and could flood their lungs with water if they e.g. experience a shallow water blackout.
You can freedive with a snorkel or without, but should learn correct snorkeling technique for freediving if you do decide to use a snorkel. Snorkels fill with water when fully submerged, and this must be cleared from the tube in order to continue breathing on return to the surface. Choose a simple snorkel specifically designed for freediving, and made from materials which are flexible, comfortable and light-weight.
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Whether you’re a freediver, a snorkeler, or a complete beginner to both diving and snorkeling, you may have questions about how snorkels work in freediving. Read on to find out more about using a snorkel to freedive, the best kind of snorkel to choose, and some of the different types of snorkel available.
How do you use a snorkel for freediving?
There a number of ways in which a snorkel may be useful for freediving, including:
- Viewing water conditions before a dive: Freedivers may want to spend some time looking down into the water in order to check visibility and the location of possible hazards, while planning the length and depth of their dive. A mask and snorkel are the easiest way to do this.
- Monitoring the safety of your diving buddy: it is much easier to observe your diving buddy’s movements face-down in the water with a snorkel.
- Preparing for diving and breathing-up: Before breath-holding and descent, freedivers relax in the water and complete their breath-up exercises, filling their lungs with plenty of oxygen rich air. Some freedivers do this on their backs but others like to be face-down in the water with the aid of a snorkel. This helps to trigger Mammalian dive reflex (MDR) with its diving-optimized efficient physical responses.
- Combined recreational freediving/snorkeling: Some divers like to combine recreational freediving with snorkeling around reefs and other interesting underwater sites. A snorkel is ideal for this kind of activity, allowing divers to view and choose the best locations for their freedives and to explore at shallower depths before descending deeper.
NB Freedivers should always remove the snorkel from their mouths before diving to avoid drowning hazard. When the snorkel is submerged at depth and the mouthpiece in place, only your tongue prevents water from running into your mouth. If you blacked out underwater, your tongue would relax and water could flood into your lungs.
Do you need a snorkel to freedive?
You do not need a snorkel for freediving and many freedivers never use a snorkel. A snorkel is a completely optional piece of equipment for freediving and its use depends entirely on the preferences of the diver.
In fact, we’ve written a whole article on how to freedive without a snorkel here (opens new tab).
What kind of snorkel do you use for freediving?
While there are similarities in the sports and their equipment, freediving snorkels are of a slightly different shape and construction to scuba and snorkeling snorkels. Freediving snorkels are designed to allow you to breathe-up, dive and return comfortably and efficiently.
When choosing a snorkel factors to consider include:
- Material: Freediving snorkels should be made from flexible materials which bend comfortably without distorting and also spring back easily into shape after being under pressure. Hard, rigid plastics etc.. could cause discomfort or pain while diving. Overly soft materials could be compressed under your mask and restrict air flow on return to the surface and need to breathe. Silicone or high-tech polymers are good options.
- Tube size: For freediving, a breathing tube with a mid-sized diameter is ideal. Smaller tubes won’t allow you to get enough air at the beginning and end of a dive. Larger tubes will require too much effort to clear when you return to the surface and need to quickly start breathing again.
- Mouthpiece construction: Compared to scuba and snorkeling snorkels, freediving snorkels should have a smaller and softer mouthpiece. The mouthpiece angle should also be at a slightly altered, more comfortable angle, connecting to a curved breathing tube that stays in place easily.
- Snorkel accessories: Unlike scuba and snorkeling snorkels, freediving snorkels often come without accessories like dry-top / splash covers or purge valves as these can add unnecessary weight, bulk and drag without significant additional benefit for freedivers. They might also restrict air-flow during breathe-up and recovery. (You can get these accessories if you want them but they may not enhance comfort or performance.)
The best snorkel for freediving may well be the simplest snorkel available. J-type snorkels are a lightweight and basic kind of snorkel which is frequently used by freedivers and spearfishers.
Can you go fully underwater with a snorkel?
You can dive completely under the water with a snorkel but will need to learn the correct techniques for securing, controlling and clearing your snorkel while freediving in order to stay safe and enjoy your dive.
When you are fully submerged snorkels fill with water. This will need to be cleared from the breathing tube when you resurface, in order to start breathing through them again. If freedivers are planning to do this with their first exhale on resurfacing, they should make sure that the breathing tube is definitely out of the water first.
What is a purge snorkel?
Purge snorkels have a purge valve which makes it easier to drain water from the breathing tube. It utilizes a one-way valve mechanism at the bottom of the snorkel which makes it easier to force water out from the snorkel with an exhale.
Freedive snorkels often come without any purge system in order to avoid adding extra weight and drag during a dive. If you like to have the comfort of a purge valve you can look for specific freediving snorkels with this feature.
What is the difference between a dry and semi dry snorkel?
Dry snorkels have a cover and floating seal mechanism at the top of the breathing tube, preventing water ingress both at the surface and when submerged.
Float valves are only activated when a snorkel goes underwater. To deal with waves and spray at the surface, dry snorkels may also have splash guards, flex tubes or purge valves. The splash guard is an additional plastic section sitting over the snorkel opening and shaped in a way to direct water away from the opening.
Semi-dry snorkels can be almost identical to dry snorkels in many respects but lack the float valve feature.
References
https://www.deeperblue.com/the-final-breath-in-freediving/
https://blog.padi.com/difference-between-freediving-and-snorkeling/
https://tidetrek.com/wet-vs-dry-snorkel/
https://williams.eeb.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/1-s2.0-S1095643304001515-main.pdf