Snorkel Keeps Choking You? It Could Be These 3 Reasons

Snorkels actually come in several types: dry, semi-dry, and wet.

A dry snorkel has a sealing valve at the opening that closes automatically when submerged, making it less likely to let water in during normal use. A semi-dry snorkel has a splash guard on top that blocks most splashes.

Today we're focusing on the wet snorkel—it has the simplest structure, with a completely open top. Water goes straight in, so most choking incidents happen with wet snorkels.

The vast majority of snorkel choking incidents aren't because the snorkel is broken, but because it's being used incorrectly. The odds of water getting into a snorkel are already high—the wrong wearing angle or even a slight wave can let water in.

Here are 3 common mistakes that beginners—and even some experienced divers—tend to repeat.

Mistake 1: Inhaling Too Fast and Too Full

After putting on a snorkel, many people instinctively inhale hard and fast, as if drinking through a straw.

The problem is that there may already be a little water inside the snorkel. If you inhale sharply, that water gets pulled into your mouth along with the air and triggers a coughing fit. Plus, big gulps of air throw off your breathing rhythm—the more you gasp, the more panicked you get, and the more panicked you are, the more likely you are to choke.

The correct breathing rhythm is actually: inhale slowly, exhale quickly.

Mistake 2: Tucking Your Chin Too Far Down

When snorkeling, it's easy to get drawn in by the underwater scenery, lower your head further and further, and unconsciously tuck your chin toward your chest.

As soon as you tuck your chin, the top of the snorkel sinks with it. You think you're still breathing normally, but the opening is already close to the surface—or even underwater—and one tiny wave sends water straight into the tube.

The correct head position: keep your chin slightly tucked but not overly drawn in, so the snorkel opening stays steadily above the surface.

Mistake 3: Reacting to Water Inside by "Looking Up and Inhaling"

The moment water gets in the tube, you immediately lift your head—which means giving up on the snorkel altogether. Your body goes from horizontal to vertical, drag increases, energy burns faster, and you end up even more panicked.

The right move: clear the water by blowing out, not by lifting your head.

If the opening is above water, give a short, forceful blow to push the water out. If the opening is already underwater, blow gently first so bubbles help push the trapped water out, then raise the opening back above the surface to finish clearing. Once it's clear, resume breathing.

All of these tips come with one important boundary: a snorkel is surface equipment, not diving equipment. Diving down with a snorkel in your mouth is very dangerous—descending requires breath-holding, and underwater a snorkel can't supply air and only adds drag.

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