New Diver, and apparently quite an Air Hog. Tips on reducing air use?

[OttoDog]

Thanks for all the advce. It seems that there's no real substitute for experience!

 

[TSandM]

There is no substitute for experience . . . but how much experience it takes to reduce your air consumption depends on how focused and productive the experience is.

The minimum air consumption you can have is set by the production of carbon dioxide in your body. You require a certain volume of gas to pass through your lungs to keep your CO2 normal (which is very important to your body). So if you can reduce the CO2 you make, you can reduce the minimum required gas consumption. You can reduce CO2 production by reducing motion -- become more efficient, master your buoyancy control, extinguish bad habits like hand-waving.

But most people aren't breathing at the minimum amount required by their CO2 production. Many are breathing FAR more than they need to, because they are anxious, and panting with full lungs. Leaning to relax, deepen your respirations to a degree, and make them steady and regular, will make your breathing pattern more efficient, and reduce your gas consumption.

So yes, practice -- but practice meaningfully and with conscious intent.

 

[NAM001]

congrats on being a non smoker. i quit in 97. when i started diving agin i had the same concerns as you and consequently bought lp95's so i wouldnt have to cut others short. never regretted it. sounds like the numbers are saying you are using 50 cu ft for her 30 cuft. that is a bit of a difference. i will get in trouble here i am sure but women in general are less muscle bound and use less air. if she is 2/3 to 1/2 your size that may explain it. what is your sac? if it is say .5 then that may be normal for you and the wife is a real mizer. if the wife is small she not only has less body to oxigenate she has a lot less resistance in the water. I dove with a couple and i was 1200 and she was 2100 my sac is .4 to .6 i am 250# and she was i guess 120. you could rent larger tanks overseas or buy perhaps an al100 or a steel lp. all this is assumng your bouyancy and trim is good. Another thing could be taking short breaths as opposed to deeper breaths.

Recently OW certified, along with my wife. Our few dives, I'm blowing through my air while she's coasting.
I was a smoker for 20+ years, but have been smoke free for 4-5 yrs now.
I'll reach 1000 psi while she's still at >1800 psi, and the dive's cut short.
We travel to dive, so I don't know if using HP100's is an option, since I understand most dive shops overseas don't offer them(?).
Any tips/ideas on what I can do to stop being the weak link?

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Great advice and I won't repeat it but I will add this. Don't focus too much on your breathing rate.. the goal should be to develop your skills. Breathing is only a part of diving and it may just be that you will always have a higher breathing rate based on your lung functions. Breathe normally .... breathing is a voluntary and involuntary action. The more you think about it the more it becomes voluntary. If you can figure out what your peaceful relaxed breathing is like on land your will find it easier to achieve underwater. Don't buy into the attitude that SAC rates indicate diver skill..enjoy your diving make sure you have enough gas to complete the dive, don't cut things tight on Reserve Gas. Your wife and dive buddies will forgive you if you cut dives short... but not if you put yourself and buddies at risk trying to extend dive times!

 

[stairman]

All good advice and relaxed breathing as well as horizontal in the water make a big difference. Also remember your BC uses air from your tank as well so adding and dumping too often uses alot of it up and if your heavier than your wife it will take more to remain buant. An HP100 isnt a bad idea IMO, since its stamped 3500 you should end up with quite a bit more air at the start. Remember to fully exhale, pause without locking your throat, inhale fully and repeat. Relax, slow down, youll get better.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Cavediver + BoulderJohn +Babyduck = all you need to know to start reducing your air consumption. Re-read them, and then put it into practice.
DivemasterDennis

 

[John_B]

Quiet hands, quiet feet, neutral buoyancy.

 

[Dive the World]

1st - Done ever compare your breathing to you wife. Females don't breathe underwater for some reason. They don't need it apparently. It doesn't matter if she is big and tall or a short and tiny - A guy should never compare their breathing rate to a women's.

2nd - When I started diving - someone showed me a simple trick. Breathe in for 5 seconds, pause and breathe out for 5 seconds. Repeat. Keep in mind the 'pause' is not holding your breath. Don't hold your breath you are no free diving. The pause should hardly last a second, if that.

It should be nice and easy breathing - if you can't do that you are working out too much. Relax.

The more you dive the easier it is going to get - My breathing rate went down from 30L/min to about 15L/Min over a period of a few dozen dives.

3rd Buoyancy is also key - if you always have to struggle to keep sinking or keep rising to the surface it will be a fight. Get your weight and trim right and you will be good to go.

 

[John_B]

3rd Buoyancy is also key - if you always have to struggle to keep sinking or keep rising to the surface it will be a fight. Get your weight and trim right and you will be good to go.

This.

To the OP: At depth, cross your arms and cross your fin tips. That way you can't scull with your hands and you can't kick with your feet. If that makes you sink, you're "heavy" (negatively buoyant) in the water and are compensating by subconsciously kicking your fins to maintain depth. Constantly kicking your feet runs your motor higher than idle, and that will make you run out of gas earlier than more relaxed, experienced divers.

 

[TSandM]

JohnB, that's a very good post. HERE is an article that goes into the idea in a bit more depth.