Dry Snorkels

[Roughwater]

Hi,

Must have been living under a rock. For the first time ever I've seen the 'Dry Snorkel'. Thought it might make a great gift for my misses.

Had a couple of questions:

1) Do they really keep you totally dry? ie - not just submerging or splashes, but do they work in real bad chop?

2) What happens if you try breathing in (on the surface) as a splash or wave comes over. Does the inwards breathing override the block, or does it still 'protect' you?

3) What is the difference between these two:

Totally Dry Snorkel, Snorkels, ScubaToys, Totally Dry Snorkel

Aeris Cuda UltraDry Snorkel, Snorkels, Aeris, Aeris Cuda UltraDry Snorkel

(Besides the fact I can buy 3 of one for 1 of the other)

4) Any other comments on Dry snorkels? Are they really 'that great', or are they more a gimmik that 1/2 works, but ain't perfect?

Thanks

Adam.

[DivingCRNA]

Originally Posted by Roughwater

Hi,

Must have been living under a rock. For the first time ever I've seen the 'Dry Snorkel'. Thought it might make a great gift for my misses.

Had a couple of questions:

1) Do they really keep you totally dry? ie - not just submerging or splashes, but do they work in real bad chop?

2) What happens if you try breathing in (on the surface) as a splash or wave comes over. Does the inwards breathing override the block, or does it still 'protect' you?

3) What is the difference between these two:

Totally Dry Snorkel, Snorkels, ScubaToys, Totally Dry Snorkel

Aeris Cuda UltraDry Snorkel, Snorkels, Aeris, Aeris Cuda UltraDry Snorkel

(Besides the fact I can buy 3 of one for 1 of the other)

4) Any other comments on Dry snorkels? Are they really 'that great', or are they more a gimmik that 1/2 works, but ain't perfect?

Thanks

Adam.

Snorkel? what is that? The thing on the side of your mask that gets in the way during training dives, but you take off after a training dive???

BTW-mine is always dry, unless water gets in the bottom of my gear chest! ;-)

[brandon]

I had an Ocean Master dry snorkel once upon a time... it was one of the first pieces of gear that I bought, before I had actually handled or dove with any.

I have no clue where it is these days...

I have a dollar store j-tube snorkel that I shove in my waistband if a boat captain or DM really wants me to have one.

/shrug, there are those that won't dive without em! To each their own.

-B.

[Puffer Fish]

They are similar, but a bit different design..one may work ever so slightly better... but it should not be much.

Do they work... yup. Maybe not perfect, but if you are bobbing in rough seas, they do stop water from coming in.

I only wear one today, if there is the possibility that I could get left out to sea. Calm water, don't wear one. But in rough seas, they actually work (although I don't choke anymore, so don't really need it.)

[No Misses]

I used an Oceanic Dry snorkle for a while. I now use a Tusa Hyper Dry which is not truly a dry snorkle. It just has a splash deflector on top. It will flood when submerged.

Pro's and con's of true dry snorkles
Pro - they will keep water from entering the snorkle when in an upright position.
Con - if you are like me and occasionally look back (under yourself), this places the snorkle in a horizontal position and it will flood.
Con - if you try to dive down (free dive), this is one more air space that is adding unwanted buoyancy.

[BuzzF117]

I have a nice scubapro dry snorkel that I paid to much for when you consider how little I use it. I have only used it in Lake Michigan due to the waves.

[mitsuguy]

my wife swears by her dry snorkel, but I have a Tusa snorkel with a splash deflector... I hate hers - if you are breathing in and water splashes the actuator, you can no longer breathe in... whereas mine, if water splashes in, the design keeps as little as possible from actually making it down the tube to my mouth, the little water that does sits in the bottom of the large mouthpiece, I sense the water, then purge it myself...

either way works, I guess, I just prefer mine over the completely dry...

[MSilvia]

Why not just learn how to use a snorkle? If it gets water in it, clear it. Cheap and simple.

I have a dry snorkle and a "black tube" snorkle, and I don't have a strong preference for one over the other.

[IrishSquid]

Originally Posted by mitsuguy

my wife swears by her dry snorkel, but I have a Tusa snorkel with a splash deflector... I hate hers - if you are breathing in and water splashes the actuator, you can no longer breathe in... whereas mine, if water splashes in, the design keeps as little as possible from actually making it down the tube to my mouth, the little water that does sits in the bottom of the large mouthpiece, I sense the water, then purge it myself...

either way works, I guess, I just prefer mine over the completely dry...

I had the same experience. Got rid of it! When I use a snorkel, I use a Tusa Edge? or my Wal-mart U.S.Divers. I'm not even sure of the brands, that's how important it isn't. Just need a tube with good air flow.

[Cambria]

Originally Posted by Roughwater

Hi,

Must have been living under a rock. For the first time ever I've seen the 'Dry Snorkel'. Thought it might make a great gift for my misses.

Had a couple of questions:

1) Do they really keep you totally dry? ie - not just submerging or splashes, but do they work in real bad chop?

2) What happens if you try breathing in (on the surface) as a splash or wave comes over. Does the inwards breathing override the block, or does it still 'protect' you?

3) What is the difference between these two:

Totally Dry Snorkel, Snorkels, ScubaToys, Totally Dry Snorkel

Aeris Cuda UltraDry Snorkel, Snorkels, Aeris, Aeris Cuda UltraDry Snorkel

(Besides the fact I can buy 3 of one for 1 of the other)

4) Any other comments on Dry snorkels? Are they really 'that great', or are they more a gimmik that 1/2 works, but ain't perfect?

Thanks

Adam.

I have the Scubatoys snorkel. I used to have a Scubapro Laguna which is similar to the Barracuda.

To answer your questions:
1. It works as advertised and keeps pretty much all the water out. It (like all dry snorkels) can be annoying to breath through though. If you are inhaling when the flapper shuts, it will stay sealed until you stop inhaling and let the suction off. If it is really choppy and shutting all the time it messes up your breathing rhythm. On the other hand you could be repeatedly sucking in water.

2. The harder you inhale, the stronger the lock is.

3. The Scubatoys snorkel comes with a deflector style top as well. If you don't like the dry top you can swap them out.