Snorkel, scuba and snuba

greengrass · 07-10-2009, 11:51 AM

What is the difference between snorkeling, scuba diving and snuba(ing?)? I'm not much of a water rat (at least not as much as I'd like to be) so I don't have a lot of snorkel, etc. experience. I'd love a definition of what each of these are and how they differ!

Bushman · 07-27-2009, 02:19 PM

Snorkeling is diving or swimming using only a snorkel tube to breathe with. Because you are breathing through a tube you have to stay near the surface of the water. More experienced snorkelers will hold their breath and dive underwater. This is called free diving and takes experience with snorkel gear and confidence in your diving ability.

Scuba is actually an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. As the name implies you carry a tank of oxygen with you (it is usually strapped to your back) in order to help you breathe underwater. Because scuba gear is more complicated than just snorkeling dive shops will require you be a certified diver or accompanied by a certified diver in order to rent their snorkel gear. With scuba gear you can go to much greater depths than with a single breathe of air.

Snuba is a mixture of both snorkeling and scuba diving. With Snuba you breathe through a hose that is connected to an oxygen tank on a boat. The theory is you get to experience the underwater world like a scuba diver without needing to be certified. The draw back is you can only go as deep as the hose will allow you to go, which I think is only about 20 feet.

Personally I like free diving (scuba) and scuba diving, but snuba seems more like a tourist gimmick for people that have never actually been in open water. To each his own.

WaterBaby · 08-04-2009, 02:25 PM

I had seen snuba-ing before, but I never knew it was called that! They offer it at a local park that's sort of like a mini Sea World, and some of my students have gone and said they loved it. It's definitely more for people who don't plan on getting certified to scuba, but it can still be fun.

greengrass · 08-30-2009, 06:54 PM

Just remembered I posted this! Thanks so much for the extensive answer and explanations. I have seen snuba on tv then because I know I remember watching a program with people hooked to hoses. I might like to try it sometime. Thanks!