In Reply to: Dumb things to do # 47 posted by Observer on March 23, 2010 at 09:46:50:

"The argument of snorkel entanglement in kelp doesn't hold water. "
Water no, kelp yes. Each diver makes their own dive decisions and each situation is different and will change with kelp densities.

In my limited experience snorkels (which are required by some agencies and cities too) do the following:
1. catch on everything - this week it caught on another divers hair while doing skills.
2. Bump on rocks when looking into holes etc and cause my mask to leak
3. Create additional drag underwater
4. Create additional drag on the surface as I normally swim on my back.
5. Do entangle in kelp
6. Are of no value in the kelp crawling I do, as I am in the recommended kelp crawl mode of crawling over the top of the kelp which is essentially a dog paddle type of movement with my head out of the water, but usually I just swim around it or through it on my back with no issues of entanglement, if I get caught I just pull it off or break it.
7. Increases the breathing dead space.

You may have another preference regarding snorkels in which case I would suggest you follow your bliss.