This morning, my snorkel snapped...literally. Broke right in two, just above the point where I had reinforced the crack with electrician's tape.
Upon closer examination, it became clear that the taped area had actually held firm. The snorkel broke in an entirely different place.
The snorkel wasn't all that old...perhaps three years or so...but within a couple of weeks, it cracked, then disintegrated, so obviously it was beyond its useful life.
The good news is that I have another snorkel in my possession now, brought to me by friends from Japan. The bad news is that I tried it today, and it lets a lot of water in. Looks like I'll be spending the next couple of weeks gagging on saltwater.
Note to all equipment manufacturers: This is why you should give me stuff to test. If it survives me, it'll survive anyone.