This question is in line with aquashrimps snorkel question . Its under stood that a snorkel can be a usefull aid to swimmers with neck or shoulder trouble to keep from turning (remember some of us are ''fitness" swimmers and could care less about racing) Now my question is if you use a snorkel and swim hard does it increase your aerobic ability.. That is that I think its harder to draw a breath from a snorkel, even a big one, if your swimming fast you are restricted in a way of breathing so if its a bit harder to draw air so is it giving you a better aerobic workout?
Thats what their literature says. I don't notice much difference with a standard center mount. The FINIS freestyle snorkle is definitely harder to breath through,especially if you get water in it. It also has an attatchment you can buy to further restrict the air intake to (supposedly) mimic altitude training.
I looked up this question before I posted my snorkel question. Breathing fully ventilates a standard length snorkel, so the swimmer is not breathing co2 laden/02 depleted air.
I can provide the links to the data if you want.
The claims of gains from restricted breathing are dubious and don't have much good research behind them. We've looked into it pretty extensively for the gas mask people and haven't found any positive adaptations from resisted breathing.
I was recently snorkeling with a friend who does asbestos removal for a living. He is a decent swimmer but obviously not as much as I who trains regularly.
I was amazed at how long he could hold is breath-- he could dive a lot deeper than I and hold his breath like 3 times as long.
He credited it with his having to wear a respirator all day long while doing strenuous work-- exercise for his lungs.
