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Recently theres been a lot of mail (alot of it in flames) regarding snorkles, independents and a whole pile of gear related wars. Take it one step further : The reason that we use additional gear (by comparison to the recreational diver) is that we're going deeper and staying longer. This in addition to the overhead environment means more risk. The additional gear and it's configuration is a means of reducing the risk to acceptable standards. ie before a particular dive, I assess the dive and look at all my gear individually "if this piece of equipment craps out on the dive, will I die? what is the probability of this piece of equipment crapping out?" The answers to this will determine the equipment needed and the level of redundancy I will require (This and probabilities of various "what if..." senarios.) My level of risk acceptance is different to the next guy who might have six kids to get thru school and a wife he doesn't want to leave paying a mortgage if he should die or be incapacitated. Gilliam's "wah" dives are an example of this, he was prepared to do a 120msw dive on air with a single 11 l (80cf) tank, no redundant reg. - my risk acceptance isn't that high. On the other extreme you get the people who won't go deeper than a bathtub. Somewhere in the middle are the bulk of us. Unfortunately if your risk acceptability level and risk profile of your dives (and be extension your gear configuration) is different from George's - you're a stroke or a wheenie. He's not doing the dive, you are! Having said that, how many of us on here have the experience to determine the risk and probabilities accurately. Therefor we are obliged to listen and use a successful rig (which George's appears to be) and with experience modify it to our particular risk profile and acceptance levels. In other words, if you're more comfortable diving with a snorkle and you can put it somewhere where it will not hamper you in an emergency or on your dive, take it! Paul
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