PowerSnorkel.
Expensive. But I *want* one. Next beach trip that has good reefs.
Comments:
True. But for shallow reef exploration - esp. underwater photography - this looks to be just about perfect.
I don’t think so, unless you’re specifically doing it to not have to do the scuba course. It seems like it has all the drawbacks of tanks, without any of the advantages.
You’re really limited on your depth. You’re dragging around this 30’ long hose that’s going to get snagged on stuff (like coral), damaging the stuff, pulling the regulator out of your mouth, and then making you do a regulator recovery where it’s not attached to your back. At 20-30’, a tank is going to last longer than the battery. You’ve still got bubbles coming out in front of your face. (look at Cousteau’s old gear, all the bubbles come out at the back. all the new (expensive pro) stuff is rebreather, so no bubbles at all) You’re down 20-30 feet, but you don’t have buoyancy control. And contrary to snorkeling, if you’re down at 20 feet and breathing regulated air, you’ve got to make sure you’re not holding your breath when you come up.
So, to sum up, I don’t see the advantages.
Given that, I suppose the larger danger is some yahoo who weights themselves down to stay on the bottom ... and the battery runs out as they panic.
I used to scuba dive but I can’t go below 10-15’ any more, so one of these would be just fine for me.
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I’ll just take a tank. Scubas more fun than snorkeling any day.