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Yes, a Snorkel

A snorkel seems out of place in minimalist tropical diving. Some divers hate them – right up until the moment they have a quarter-mile swim through chop against an outgoing tide with an empty cylinder. Then they'd trade their titanium regulators for one.

You weren't arbitrarily taught to have a snorkel. Yes, it's a bother sometimes, but when you need it, you may really need it. Get one of the collapsible ones that will fit in your BCD pocket if you can't deal with it hanging from your mask.

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