Huge air consumption even after +200 dives

[Tycksel]

What does this even mean? Do you go to the gym more than 5x per week or are you being sarcastic and you don't do any exercise? What's your level of fitness in general? Can you hike up a mountain, or a few flights of stairs without getting winded? The high air consumption is a symptom of a BIGGER problem, you are obese according to the charts and that will lead to more serious problems than rapidly draining a tank.



This is a really good idea but realize it's just dealing with the symptoms not the underlying problem.

I mean that I love lifting weights but hate to do cardio. Been going to gym +15 years 4-5 times/week. Body fat under 20% and waist circumference 105cm, so I'm not that obese. But of course I could lose 10-15kg. Actually on a diet right now.

I walk at least 10000 steps/day and also cycle to work 5 times/week. 25 min/one way.

 

[Searcaigh]

I use 12L alu tank

Never seen one of these in SE Asia, it's probably an AL80 which is 11.1L

Try recalculating your SAC rate using that number.

 

[Tycksel]

Never seen one of these in SE Asia, it's probably an AL80 which is 11.1L

Try recalculating your SAC rate using that number.

I did use 11.1L for calculating. They just use 12L and 15L measurements here, even though it's really 11.1L and 13.2L

 

[Umuntu]

@Tycksel have you considered simply buying yourself your own personal cylinder (15l or 18l) and keep/use it at the shop where you work ?

 

[34109411]

I did use 11.1L for calculating. They just use 12L and 15L measurements here, even though it's really 11.1L and 13.2L

you should do the maths in cubic feet much easier

 

[RyanT]

Part of the issue is simply that you are a big guy. A larger body is going to consume more oxygen, it's just physiology. There is a point, where no amount of exercise or perfect trim and slow movements will reduce your consumption further. A friend of mine is a big guy and experiences the same issue. He just uses a bigger tank. I think you just need to figure out how to get something bigger.

 

[FreqFlier]

I'm 186cm and about 108kg.
SAC is about 17-18. Can't really do much about that unless I go with shallower breaths. The science of slowing your breathing takes a lot of time to master, but it's well worth it too IMHO. My SAC used to be around 23 or so when I started diving.
What makes a noticeable difference for me is being "frugal" - not using my gas when I don't have to, like inflating my BCD from the tank on the surface, using my reg on the surface etc. Same goes about the "xmas tree" under the water.
Other than that - you're a big guy, big body needs a lot of oxygen...

Edit: Maybe have a look at your fins? Like try freediver fins or something more powerful?

 

[dmaziuk]

I mean that I love lifting weights but hate to do cardio. Been going to gym +15 years 4-5 times/week. Body fat under 20% and waist circumference 105cm, so I'm not that obese. But of course I could lose 10-15kg. Actually on a diet right now.

I walk at least 10000 steps/day and also cycle to work 5 times/week. 25 min/one way.

AFAIK cardio/HIIT is mostly about the VO2 max -- great for competing and will do roughly squat at the intensities of an average vacation dive. It may get you to slow down your breathing rate for the same level of exertion and save you some gas that way, but with the amount of biking you do, chances are you're already there.

You could try taiji: it'll help stay more relaxed while working, but that tends to take a couple of years before you start noticing the effects.

 

[Jai Bar]

Also, you shouldnt really have a goal to reduce your sac to begin with.

Good sac rate is a result of good technique and efficiency in the water, so thats what you should focus on, and then sac rate will fall into place and you will reach your personal good sac rate. For everybody its a different number.

Normally, you are right, reducing SAC is not a goal and improves with experience.

However, OP appears to be experienced and with good technique from his description, and the problem, according to him, is that he works as a divemaster and probably concerned that he finishes air first. I can imagine some customers still with half tank full, pissed off that they cut the dive short because the DM runs out of air, or to have more reserve for one of those inexperienced divers that "suddenly" surprise you with a signal you they OOA...So I can understand the concern to improve sac in his case.

 

[nippurmagnum]

Get a 15 liter tank. Problem solved. And you'll probably relax knowing that you have plenty of gas, and by relaxing you'll consume less, and eventually you may be comfortable switching back to a smaller tank.