Surface air snorkeling / hooka?

[hackalar]

Any body have the surface supplied snorkeling unit on board? Any recommendations?
I have seen several. Some use gas power some are battery powered. Some float behind you and some are mounted on board.
We like to snorkel a lot and we love scalloping. Would be nice to not have to deal with a snorkel and not have to carry tanks for scuba diving. Just float around and maybe go 5-10 ft deep.

 

[smitty477]

We carry a "brownie" dive hose system that allows a quick connect insertion of the longer hose for diving without the tanks. We chose a hose extension of 50' for our use bit other lengths are available. You can quickly change (5 seconds) between a hose length of about 4' to about 54 feet between the valve on your tank and the regulator.
Although you can add pumps that are either gas or electric powered we had found that a few dive tanks will last longer than we need at the shallower snorkeling depths we utilize and eliminate the complexity, storage space and costs that the pumps would represent.

 

[biglar]

quote:

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Originally posted by smitty477

We carry a "brownie" dive hose system that allows a quick connect insertion of the longer hose for diving without the tanks. We chose a hose extension of 50' for our use bit other lengths are available. You can quickly change (5 seconds) between a hose length of about 4' to about 54 feet between the valve on your tank and the regulator.
Although you can add pumps that are either gas or electric powered we had found that a few dive tanks will last longer than we need at the shallower snorkeling depths we utilize and eliminate the complexity, storage space and costs that the pumps would represent.

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Very, very good idea. If you need more mobility, just strap the tank to an inner tube or other float. No matter if a wave tips it over. When I get to FL I'll set one up. Thanks. Lars.

 

[Roy]

Be careful with those hookah systems. You could easily kill yourself if not properly trained. I personally think anyone who uses one should be scuba certified.

Roy

 

[boatbum]

Folks that clean the bottom of our boat in the U.S. and Bahamas go the tank route as well. This way you know what kind of air you are getting as well as the convenience. Having a surface compressor could get you a lung full of crap from passing traffic etc..

 

[gerrys]

I have two tank mounted hooka rigs with 60' hoses that we use while lobstering. Tanks stay on the boat. Our dives are shallow (35' or less, but most less than 20 feet so air consumption is minimal. gauge is up top so we monitor available air in the boat. Dives are generally short so easy to know when to swap tanks. I won't let anyone use them without scuba certification.