Challenging the "Rules" of Diving (Pt 1)

In this series, we will be taking a look at some of the things that divers have been taught as hard and fast rules. Now, while they may make sense, they are not necessarily rules in the truest sense. Many authors have covered these facts about diving, and we have covered some of them here in this tips area. However, the article "Challenging the "Rules" of Diving" by Cathryn Castle Garcia in the Sept / Oct 2017 edition of Dive Training inspired me to do this as a series of tips over the next few weeks. It will be divided into two section, 1) Rules related to how we treat equipment and 2) Rules related to how we dive. 
The first weeks will deal with how we treat equipment. 
Rule#1 - Always wear a snorkel. 
This is a required accessory for scuba students and their instructors during training dives, but after that it can sometimes be a hindrance. If you are in an overhead environment, it could get snagged. If your are in a current, it could become a drag. However, it is very handy to have once you are on the surface. So, while it is not REQUIRED that you always wear a snorkel, it is highly recommended. If you reach the surface, and you are out of air, it would be handy. Or, if you surface and you want to conserve your air, it would come in handy at that time also. However, that does not mean you need to wear, it. Just carry it with you so you have it if you need it.