Do You Really Need a Snorkel for Scuba Diving?

Short Answer: Probably Not.

Snorkels are a required piece of equipment in Open Water training, but once you’re a certified diver, their usefulness becomes questionable. Many divers—including professionals and technical divers—leave the snorkel behind entirely. So, do you really need one? Let's break it down.

Why Snorkels Are Required in Open Water Training

Most training agencies require a snorkel for entry-level courses because it:

• Teaches basic breathing control without using a regulator.
• Allows surface swimming without wasting tank air.
• Helps with safety skills like cramp removal and tired diver tows.

However, these benefits apply primarily to training scenarios and don’t always carry over to real-world diving.

The Downsides of Wearing a Snorkel While Scuba Diving

Once you're past Open Water certification, a snorkel can become more of a hassle than a help in many situations:

• Entanglement Risk – Snorkels can get caught in kelp, lines, wreckage, or other obstructions.
• Annoying in Rough Water – Waves can flood a snorkel easily, making surface breathing uncomfortable.
• Interferes with Streamlining – A snorkel attached to your mask creates drag and can cause the mask to pull or leak.
• Not Needed on Most Boat Dives – If you're descending immediately from a boat, there's rarely a need for a snorkel.
• Breaks or Dislodges Easily – If the snorkel flops around or gets caught, it can break or knock your mask loose.

For these reasons, many experienced divers either leave the snorkel in their gear bag or use a foldable version stored in a pocket.

When a Snorkel Might Be Useful

There are still some situations where carrying a snorkel makes sense:

• Shore Entries with Long Surface Swims – If you're diving from shore and need to swim far before descending, a snorkel can save tank air.
• Snorkeling Between Dives – If you want to snorkel during surface intervals (especially in warm-water destinations), having a snorkel can be convenient.
• Backup for a Lost Regulator on the Surface – In a rare emergency, a snorkel could help you conserve energy while waiting for rescue.

In these cases, a foldable snorkel that fits in a pocket is a better option than a permanently mounted snorkel.

Recommended Alternatives

If you don’t want a snorkel but still want to breathe comfortably at the surface, consider:

• Good Buoyancy & Air Management – A properly weighted diver with good breathing control can easily rest on the surface without a snorkel.
• Oral Inflation of the BCD or Drysuit – Instead of floating face-down with a snorkel, you can inflate your BCD and float on your back.
• Efficient Gas Planning – Most divers surface with enough air to breathe from their regulator if needed.
• Training & Experience – As you gain experience, you’ll rely less on snorkels and more on controlled surface positioning.

Final Verdict: Should You Carry a Snorkel?

Recreational Divers: Only if you’re doing long surface swims or snorkeling between dives. Otherwise, it’s optional.

Technical Divers: No. Entanglement risks and streamlining concerns make snorkels impractical.

Boat Divers: Not necessary—boat dives don’t usually involve long surface swims.

Shore Divers: Maybe—especially if you have a long swim before descending. A foldable snorkel in a pocket is a good compromise.

Bottom Line:

Snorkels are not essential for most scuba divers, and many choose to leave them behind. If you do carry one, a pocket-sized snorkel is the best choice.