Where Did the Snorkel Go?

Walk around many dive boats around the world today and you will notice something strange.
Professional scuba instructors enter the water fully equipped with expensive regulators, dive computers, BCDs, DSMBs, backup masks, pointers, slates, cameras… but one simple piece of equipment is often missing:

The snorkel.

And that raises a very important question:

If instructors themselves ignore one of the most basic equipment standards in scuba diving, what other standards are they willing to ignore?

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, an SSI Instructor Training Center on Gili Air in Indonesia, this is a discussion we regularly have with divemaster candidates and future instructors during the SSI Instructor Training Course. The snorkel may seem like a small detail, but the philosophy behind it says a lot about professionalism, consistency, and respect for standards in the diving industry.

“Nobody Uses a Snorkel Anymore”… Really?

One of the most common comments heard in the diving industry is:

“Snorkels are outdated.”

Or:

“I never use it anyway.”

Yet many training standards from diving organizations still clearly state that instructors or students should be equipped with a snorkel during training dives. The wording may differ slightly between agencies and programs, but the principle remains the same: the snorkel is still part of standard scuba equipment.

So why has it disappeared from so many instructors?

The answer is often simple: convenience and appearance.

Some instructors think it looks less “professional.” Others find it annoying when taking photos or videos. Some believe they will never need it. Over time, the industry slowly created a culture where ignoring the snorkel became normal.

And that is exactly where the danger starts.

Standards Are Not Created Randomly

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we strongly believe that standards exist for a reason.

Standards are not written to make life difficult for instructors. They are designed around safety, consistency, risk management, and professionalism. Every requirement in an instructor manual has been discussed, tested, and evaluated over many years.

Of course, a snorkel alone will not magically make someone a better diver.

But the real issue is something much bigger:

What happens when instructors start deciding for themselves which standards are “important” and which standards can be ignored?

Today it is the snorkel.

Tomorrow it may be ratios.

The next day it may be skill performance requirements, supervision standards, or safety procedures.

Once instructors start creating their own curriculum instead of following the system they represent, consistency disappears. And when consistency disappears, training quality often drops quickly.

The Dangerous Culture of “Selective Standards”

One of the biggest problems in modern scuba diving is selective standard enforcement.

Many instructors follow standards only when it suits them. If a rule feels inconvenient, old-fashioned, or unpopular on social media, it suddenly becomes “optional” in their minds.

But professional diving education does not work that way.

As an SSI Instructor Training Center, Oceans 5 Gili Air teaches future instructors that professionalism means following the complete system — not only the parts you personally like.

When candidates join our SSI Instructor Training Course, they quickly discover that our philosophy is very straightforward:

If you choose to teach through SSI, then you teach according to SSI standards.

Not your own standards.

Not Instagram standards.

Not “everybody else does it” standards.

The standards of the organization you represent.

That consistency is exactly what creates strong and reliable instructors.

The Snorkel Is Not the Real Problem

Let’s be honest.

The snorkel itself is rarely the actual issue.

Modern diving conditions, boat diving, and equipment configurations sometimes mean instructors barely use their snorkel during dives. That is understandable.

The real discussion is about attitude.

Professionalism in diving is often measured in small details:

• Performing proper buddy checks
• Respecting student ratios
• Conducting complete briefings
• Following ascent procedures
• Carrying required safety equipment
• Respecting environmental standards
• Wearing required equipment

Small shortcuts slowly create bigger shortcuts.

And eventually, shortcuts become normal.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we prefer to create instructors who understand why standards matter rather than instructors who constantly look for ways around them.

SSI Training at Oceans 5 Gili Air

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, the SSI Instructor Training Course focuses heavily on realistic teaching techniques, professionalism, and consistency.

The goal is not simply to pass an evaluation.

The goal is to create confident instructors who can teach safely anywhere in the world.

During the SSI ITC, candidates learn:

• How to control students underwater
• How to teach with neutral buoyancy
• How to conduct proper briefings
• How to solve problems underwater
• How to organize courses professionally
• How to follow SSI standards correctly

And yes, that also includes equipment standards.

Because once instructors start deciding which standards they personally want to follow, the quality of diver education becomes inconsistent.

Why This Matters for Students

Many students do not realize when standards are being broken.

A beginner diver trusts the instructor completely. They assume the instructor is teaching according to the official system of the agency they represent.

That trust is important.

When instructors ignore standards, students often unknowingly receive a modified version of the course — a version based on the instructor’s personal opinions instead of the official curriculum.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we believe students deserve consistency and honesty.

If someone signs up for an SSI course, they should receive an SSI course taught according to SSI standards.

Simple as that.

Professionalism Is About Discipline

The best dive professionals are often not the loudest people on social media. They are not always the instructors with the biggest cameras or the most dramatic videos.

Very often, the best professionals are simply the most consistent.

They follow standards.

They respect procedures.

They teach carefully.

They understand that standards are there to protect students, instructors, and the diving industry itself.

And sometimes professionalism is demonstrated in the smallest details — even something as simple as wearing a snorkel.

So… Where Is the Snorkel?

Maybe the better question is:

Where is the professionalism?

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we continue to believe that high-quality instructor training starts with respecting the complete system, not only the convenient parts of it.

Because once instructors start building their own curriculum, diving education slowly becomes inconsistent.

And that is exactly what we want to avoid.

SSI standards are followed here for a reason.

Not because they are fashionable.

Not because they look good online.

But because professional diving education should remain professional.