Andy Torbet traces the possible roots of the humble snorkel and asks the question – what did its earliest exponents look like ?
TORBET ON THE TUBE
Ancient snorkelling
Andy Torbet traces the possible roots of the humble snorkel and asks the question – what did its earliest exponents look like ?
Ancient Persians used heavily polished turtle carapace for goggles
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snorkel has to be one of , if not the , most simple device in diving . You can put splash guard covers on top , purge valves on the bottom , debate the exact length , degree of curve or general shape , how best to locate and attach it ; but it all comes down to the fact it ’ s just a short tube .
As I ’ ve listed so many potential variations above , I ’ d like to add that I use it in its most
More Persian snorkellers , this time using animal bladders for ‘ spare air ’
simple form . A J-shaped tube , clipped or stuffed under my mask strap . Nothing else . I ’ m not convinced any of the other augmentation make any real difference . This simplicity has made it easy to design and manufacture , regardless of a society ’ s level of technological advancement . A snorkel is even simpler to make than a mask or fins , which is why it is probably the oldest piece of diving equipment in history .
I have little doubt that the use of a snorkel predates the historical evidence . Thanks to all the plant materials that come near ready-made as hollow tubes , even primitive humans could have chopped up a reed or bamboo with a simple stone tool and popped their heads underwater .
Of course , the archaeological record is pretty thin on the ground due to the degradable nature of such organic snorkels . Besides , if a piece of fossilised reed were to be unearthed at an archaeological dig , it would be a stretch to conclusively state it was ever used as a snorkel . Still , artwork from Ancient Greek painted pottery or carved stone reliefs does depict people engaged in underwater swimming . These would likely have been for practical , commercial purposes such as sponge collection or foraging rather than sightseeing . Much of the literature I have read suggests there is evidence for snorkelling around Greece from around 2,000 BC , using hollowed out canes .
The written historical record also helps us trace the early days of snorkelling . Aristotle , writing around 350 BC , mentions people going underwater using tubes like
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