Snorkel
Here is an item that is useful in the tropics, but much less so around here. This is because the water here is not nearly as crystal clear as in the tropics, and the depths are often greater. Therefore it is unlikely you will be able to see anything interesting below from the surface.
On a boat dive, a snorkel is totally useless - leave it home. Chances are, the captain and crew will tell you to take it off anyway. The same is generally true for inlet diving where the entry is steep. A snorkel is just one extra thing to get tangled up, and you will probably have enough of that already. A snorkel might be useful in a surface swim from the beach out to a close-in dive site, if it is a good one with purge valve or a dry valve to keep the water out entirely. Even then, you are better off doing a backstroke out to the site, with your head out of the water so you can navigate by landmarks, or an underwater swim if the currents are favorable.
I'm not saying you shouldn't own a snorkel, just that you shouldn't use it here. I own two snorkels, which I use in the tropics. The first is a real cheapie - no more than a plastic J-tube. It requires a Herculean blow to clear the water out, and is nearly useless unless you like choking on saltwater. The other one is much better, with a purge valve at the bottom and internal water-blocking baffles at the top. This is a pleasure to use, and the extra features are not just nice to have, they are essential.
Even with these niceties, there is no reason to spend a lot on a snorkel. There is simply not that much difference between a good $30 snorkel and a good $80 one. When buying a snorkel, avoid models that are big and bulbous, and look for something small, light, and streamlined. Remember, your snorkel hangs from your mask strap, and a big snorkel can literally pull your mask off !
An even better way to get a snorkel is to just find one on the bottom of Dutch Springs - it's like a snorkel farm down there!
After helping with yet another Open-Water class, I have come to the conclusion that the snorkel should be banned from scuba diving. It is nothing but a source of confusion and problems for students and wastes valuable course time that could be spent on more important skills. Don't even waste your money on one - you'll never use it again.
DIR
DIR seems to recognize that snorkels are idiotic, or maybe it is just that they are so hard to use in a cave.
