How to Properly Use a Snorkel While Scuba Diving

Before jumping in the water with your brand, new gear, there’s something you should know: how to properly use a snorkel. Because, believe it or not, getting this right has a real impact on both your enjoyment and your safety underwater. Learning how to properly use a snorkel early on can make your dives far more comfortable.

How so?

Let’s get into it.

1. What Is a Snorkel (And Why Does It Matter for Diving?)

A snorkel is that tube that lets you breathe while your face is underwater.

Sounds simple. And it is.

But understanding how to properly use a snorkel is what makes the difference between a relaxed surface swim and a frustrating one.

So… why would a scuba diver even need one if they’re already carrying a tank?

Great question. And it has a few very concrete answers.

On the surface

When you’re in the water waiting to descend, or you’ve just surfaced and are swimming back to the boat, you’re on the surface.

You don’t need to dive. You just need to float and move forward.

If you’re breathing through your regulator during that phase, you’re burning through your tank air for absolutely no reason. Divers who know how to properly use a snorkel avoid wasting gas during these moments.

With a snorkel:

• You breathe free atmospheric air.
  • You save the tank air for when you actually need it: down below.
  • You extend the total duration of your dive.

It’s that simple, and it’s one of the reasons why learning how to properly use a snorkel is so valuable.

Swimming to the Dive Site

Picture this: the boat anchors 200 yards from the reef.

You need to swim there on the surface before descending.

Doing that with a regulator in your mouth is awkward, inefficient, and a waste of gas. A snorkel lets you swim relaxed, face in the water, checking out the bottom as you go. That’s exactly why knowing how to properly use a snorkel when you dive matters.

Divers who understand how to properly use a snorkel can cover long distances on the surface with far less effort.

And you’re not burning a single breath of tank air.

 

The Swim Back to the Boat or Shore

Same thing, just reversed.

When the dive is over and you surface, the exit point is often far away. Swimming back with your regulator in is an option but divers trained in how to properly use a snorkel often finish dives more relaxed and with more gas left in the tank.

 

If Something Goes Wrong with Your Gear

A snorkel is also a passive safety tool.

If your regulator fails at the surface, if you need to stay afloat before descending or climbing back on the boat… the snorkel is right there.

Always. No batteries. No moving parts. No failure points.

In situations like these, knowing how to properly use a snorkel can make the difference between calm problem solving and unnecessary stress.

 

2. What’s Happening Inside Your Lungs When You Don’t Use a Snorkel Properly

Here comes the science part. But we’ll keep it painless.

Understanding how to properly use a snorkel also means understanding what happens in your lungs when breathing through a tube.

When you breathe normally, some of the air you inhale never actually reaches your lungs. It stays “in transit”, in your nose, throat, and bronchial tubes. Physiologists call this dead space.

Now add a snorkel tube.

That tube has internal volume. And that volume adds to your natural dead space.

What does that mean in practice?

When you exhale through the tube, CO₂, rich air can get trapped inside, and you breathe it right back in on your next inhale.

That happens when you breathe too fast. Short, rapid breaths mean poor ventilation.

A diver who breathes slowly and deeply through the snorkel oxygenates far better than one gasping superficially even if that second person breathes twice as often.

The deep breath flushes out the CO₂. The shallow breather recycles it.

3. How to Breathe Through a Snorkel

Simple. Three rules that help you properly use a snorkel:

• Slow rhythm. There’s no rush underwater.
  • Long, full inhales. You should feel your chest expand.
  • Total relaxation. Tense muscles burn oxygen and produce more CO₂.

Step, by, Step: How to Properly Use a Snorkel

Learning how to properly use a snorkel doesn’t require complicated skills, but it does require doing a few basic things correctly. Follow these simple steps to breathe comfortably, avoid swallowing water, and move efficiently on the surface.

1. Attach the Snorkel to Your Mask

Start by securing the snorkel to the left side of your mask strap using the snorkel keeper or clip.

This position is the international standard because scuba regulators come from the right side. Keeping the snorkel on the left avoids hose interference and makes switching between snorkel and regulator easier.

Correct placement is the first step in how to properly use a snorkel while diving.

2. Position the Mouthpiece Comfortably

Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and rest it gently between your teeth. Your lips should seal around the mouthpiece to prevent water from entering.

Avoid biting too hard. The mouthpiece should feel secure but relaxed so your jaw doesn’t get tired during longer surface swims.

A relaxed mouth seal helps you properly use a snorkel without discomfort.

3. Keep the Snorkel Tip Above the Surface

When floating face down, keep your head in a neutral position so the top of the snorkel stays above the water.

If the snorkel tip dips below the surface, water will enter the tube. Small adjustments in head angle can make a big difference.

Maintaining this position is essential for anyone learning how to properly use a snorkel in real conditions.

4. Breathe Slowly and Deeply

Breathing through a snorkel feels different from normal breathing because of the extra air space inside the tube.

To properly use a snorkel, focus on:

• Slow breathing rhythm
• Deep inhalations
• Full exhalations

Short, rapid breaths can cause CO₂ to build up in the tube and make breathing feel uncomfortable.

5. Clear the Snorkel if Water Enters

At some point, water will enter the snorkel. Knowing how to clear it is part of understanding how to properly use a snorkel.

The most common method is the blast clear:

1. Take a deep breath.
2. Exhale sharply through the snorkel.
3. The burst of air pushes the water out through the top or purge valve.

After clearing, inhale slowly to make sure the tube is empty.

 

4. The Types of Snorkels Out There

Not all snorkels are equal when it comes to breathing resistance.

• A tube that’s too long or too narrow increases the effort needed to breathe.
  • That extra effort raises your internal CO₂ production.
  • Result: you get tired faster, even in flat, calm water.

Classic or J, tube

• No mechanisms, no valves, no complexity.
  • Light and hydrodynamic.
  • Used by competitive freedivers.
  • The catch: if water gets in, you clear it yourself. Manually. With technique.

Semi, dry snorkel

• Has a splash guard at the top that deflects surface water.
  • Great for recreational diving.
  • Not fully waterproof, but handles normal chop well.
  • Usually has a flexible section that makes it more comfortable with scuba gear.

Dry, top snorkel

• Has a valve that automatically seals when submerged.
  • Perfect for beginners learning how to properly use a snorkel.
  • Very comfortable. Very reassuring.
  • The downside: heavier, more drag.

Full, face mask

• Covers your entire face.
  • Great for aquatic tourism.
  • But users still need to understand how to properly use a snorkel safely to avoid CO₂ buildup.

 

Type	For Whom	Pros	Cons
Classic (J)	Experts, freedivers	Lightweight, precise	Manual clearing required
Semi, dry	Recreational, scuba	Splash guard, flexible	Not fully waterproof
Dry, top	Beginners, kids	No water entry, reassuring	Heavier, more drag
Full, face mask	Tourism, beginners	Breathe naturally	CO₂ risk if poorly ventilated

5. How to Wear Your Snorkel Correctly

Because just putting it on isn’t enough.

The position of the snorkel relative to your mask and head directly affects comfort, safety, and the effort it takes to breathe. And there’s more science behind it than you might think.

Always on the left. Always.
This isn’t a suggestion. It’s an international standard.
The snorkel goes on the left side of the mask strap.

Why?

• The regulator comes from the right. If you put the snorkel on the right too, you end up with a tangle of hoses and straps across your face.
• Many mouthpieces have an anatomical curve designed specifically for that side. If you flip it, the seal is worse, and your jaw ends up tight and sore.

Left. Always left.

Height matters more than you think
The ideal attachment point is at ear level.
Not higher, not lower.
And the tube should tilt slightly backward, not straight up like an antenna.

Why? So that when you put your face in the water looking down at about a 45° angle, the top of the snorkel points straight up at the sky.

This way:

• The tube stays out of the water most of the time.
• Waves and splashes are less likely to get in.
• You breathe with less resistance and fewer interruptions.

If the tube is too horizontal or tilts forward, even small waves will submerge the tip. And you know what happens then: water in the tube, blowing it out, a pause…

 

6. What to Do When Your Snorkel Fills with Water

Water will get in. It’s normal. Don’t panic.

A wave, a splash, a dive, it happens. Water enters the tube, and suddenly you need to handle it without getting nervous or interrupting what you’re doing.

There are two techniques for using a snorkel correctly when this happens:

Technique 1: The Blast Clear
This is the most basic method, used by 90% of recreational snorkelers.

Here’s how it works:

• Take a deep breath and fill your lungs with air before trying.
• Exhale sharply, forcefully, and quickly through the snorkel.
• Think of it like shouting “TWO!” with all your energy.
• The water shoots out the top or through the purge valve.
• Then inhale slowly and carefully, just in case a small drop is left behind.

That last step is important. Don’t take a big breath right after blasting. Any leftover water in the tube could make you cough.

Technique 2: The Displacement (for Freedivers)
This is the elegant technique, the one freedivers use.
It doesn’t require any extra effort. It takes advantage of physics.

Here’s how it works:

• As you ascend from the bottom, tilt your head back and look toward the surface.
• Just before you reach the top, release a small bubble of air into the tube.
• As you rise, the water pressure decreases.
• That bubble expands on its own and pushes the water out of the tube.
• By the time you break the surface, the tube is already clear.
• You inhale directly, no blowing, no effort.

Very elegant. And very efficient when you’ve been holding your breath for several minutes and need oxygen fast.

By following these steps, you’ll understand how to properly use a snorkel for a safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable scuba diving experience.

7. Common Snorkel Mistakes While Diving

• Strapping the mask too tight. It seems logical: tighter = fewer leaks. But it’s the opposite. A tight strap deforms the silicone skirt and causes exactly what you’re trying to avoid. Adjust until it seals, not until it hurts.
• Placing the snorkel on the right. Already mentioned, but worth repeating: the international standard is the left side. Always. The scuba regulator comes from the right, and both can’t coexist on the same side.
• Incorrect tube angle. If you don’t tilt it back, the tip sinks as soon as your face enters the water. Result: water in the tube with every small wave.
• Not checking your gear before entering. Five minutes of a dry gear check can prevent surprises in the water. Make sure the mouthpiece has no cracks and the tube’s valve isn’t blocked by sand or dried salt.

 

8. Frequently Asked Questions: Snorkel and Scuba Diving

1. Is it mandatory to carry a snorkel when scuba diving?
   There isn’t a universal “law,” but most certification agencies (like PADI or SDI) consider it part of standard safety gear. It’s essential for conserving tank air while swimming at the surface or in case you encounter unexpected waves while waiting for the dive boat.
2. Which side of the mask should the snorkel be on?
   By international convention, the snorkel is always placed on the left side of the dive mask. This is because your scuba regulator comes over your right shoulder. Placing the snorkel on the left prevents the two from tangling or bumping into each other.
3. How can you prevent the snorkel from getting in the way during the dive?
   Many experienced divers use collapsible or flexible snorkels. These can be folded and stored in the BCD pocket during descent, reducing water resistance and minimizing the risk of getting snagged on the mask strap.
4. What features should a snorkel for diving have?
   If you’re going to use it for scuba diving (not just freediving), look for these three features:
5. Purge valve: Makes clearing water easier with less effort.
6. Flexible tube: Allows the mouthpiece to fall away from your face when not in use.
7. Quick, release clip: Lets you attach or remove it from the mask strap easily, without tugging.

Knowing how to properly use a snorkel isn’t complicated.

But mastering it requires practice, attention, and a little theory.

Once you understand how to properly use a snorkel, you’ll enter the water with far more confidence.

The sea awaits.