This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
Working Title: Plucking a hollow reed and using it to breath: From YKTTW
Nornagest: I don't think I buy the explanation of how this is unrealistic. Unless I've got my volume estimates badly wrong, recycled air volume would only become a problem when you're far enough underwater for pressure to be an issue.
Metasyntactic D: Have to agree there. Seems like there'd be more than enough volume in your average pair of lungs to displace all the "used air" in even a relatively long reed snorkel and pull in a reasonable amount of fresh air on top. Perhaps the argument used on the page is naively extended from the reasoning behind the air pump on an old-style diving suit?
