Controlling and reducing air consumption

[uncfnp]

Smoking causes lung tissue damage and scarring which would naturally reduce the effectiveness of air exchange which equates to wasted gas and the need to breathe more frequently so you've got a smoker with smaller usable lung area and less effective gas exchange which can lead to more frequent inefficient shallow breaths compared to a nonsmoking diver with larger and more effective lung capacity who can take deeper, slower, less frequent breaths.

By the time a smoker gets any where near this point they are no longer just smokers but have full blown COPD with much more to worry about then thier gas consumption diving. In fact I doubt they are diving at all.

 

[dmaziuk]

By the time a smoker gets any where near this point they are no longer just smokers but have full blown COPD with much more to worry about then thier gas consumption diving. In fact I doubt they are diving at all.

In addition, your O2 requirements if you're just drifting along looking at pretty fishes shouldn't be near where reduced lung capacity from just "regular" smoking matters. Unless you're @REVAN and your definition of "leisurely cruise" is 5 knots.

 

[Steelyeyes]

I must be in better shape than I thought. I can drift dive all morning and not break a sweat.

A few times I've decided to sprint up current to get in front of a moving turtle for a better camera or video shot but mostly drift diving is a fin flick here or there. If properly weighted and in trim it's like laying in bed watching a video.

We did have some issues when we were paired with the only other fit couple on the boat. We were on the Pelagian in Wakabobi and the other couple seemed to always think the best shot in the world was up current for some reason. We'd be kicking in the flow to hold position while they took a dozen shots of one thing or another. They used reef pointers like anchors and then kick up current until the DM decided to turn and go with the flow. Even then a 100 cubic foot aluminum tank would last us 70 minutes.

 

[Littlerayray]

I quit smoking successfully in February I've noticed a difference in my gas consumption in only 3 dives already was smoking for over 20years 3 months of no smoking has made a difference in my gas consumption

 

[Littlerayray]

A 117 25hp Faber with cave fill would last me an 1hr and10 at 30 feet water temp in the 50 f now it last an hr and a 1/2

 

[АлександрД]

...scarring which would naturally reduce the effectiveness of air exchange which equates to wasted gas and the need to breathe more frequently so you've got a smoker with smaller usable lung area and less effective gas exchange which can lead to more frequent inefficient shallow breaths compared to a nonsmoking diver with larger and more effective lung capacity who can take deeper, slower, less frequent breaths.

Do you know, what is the control of breathing rate?
I think is better to read more, before you will got even litlle more deep medical and phisical understanding of breathing...
Briefly: CO2 sensors control breathing rate, first of all. Not oxygen. When you have enough CO2 level - sensors will tell your body to make breath.
CO2 could apperas in lungs only when enough O2 will go to the oxydizing reaction in your tissues.
If you have less entry O2 (due to your opinion of dammaged lungs) - you have less exit CO2.
So - you have less CO2 - you have less breath rate....

Efficiency of O2 consumption depends on pulmonary capacity, yes. But pulmonary capacity did not correlate with smoking directly. Pulmonary capacity more depends on phisical special aspects and training of diver. There is very simple respiration exercises, that allow to starndard (non trained) people to increase pulmonary capacity, (e.g. I pass such self training), and this DO NOT INCREASE RMV... (according your conclusions)

If you have less pulmonary volume - you are breathing more frequent. If you have big pulmonary volume - you are breathing more sparse.
BUT! total RMV stay the same! (in case of same other conditions, weight, loading etc.)

 

[caruso]

Efficiency of O2 consumption depends on pulmonary capacity, yes. But pulmonary capacity did not correlate with smoking directly.

Actually it does, they are directly proportional (not inversely proportional as I had suggested initially) according to several sources including this one that talks about how smoking can actually benefit athletes who participate in sports that have high cardiovascular demand (who knew?):

Cigarette smoking has been shown to increase serum hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, increase lung volume and stimulate weight loss — characteristics all known to enhance performance in endurance sports

Cigarette smoking: an underused tool in high-performance endurance training

If you have less pulmonary volume - you are breathing more frequent. If you have big pulmonary volume - you are breathing more sparse.

Yes, and I said as much. I also suggested this:

Cigarette smoking affects the respiratory muscles through the influence of free radicals on the vascular system16), leading to a reduction in respiratory muscle blood supply which adversely impacts respiratory function.

From here:

Effects of Smoking on Chest Expansion, Lung Function, and Respiratory Muscle Strength of Youths

 

[АлександрД]

You are GUE adept.

 

[scrane]

I quit smoking successfully in February I've noticed a difference in my gas consumption in only 3 dives already was smoking for over 20years 3 months of no smoking has made a difference in my gas consumption

A sincere: Good for You!

 

[BRT]

As a new diver that has only done a 4 post cert shore dives,being in better cardiovascular shape has to help. Where I was at, we had to gear up and walkout from our ocean front hotel, to the waters edge, and then swim out almost 100 yards to our dive spot. I was quite out of shape and 30lbs heavier. I was sucking wind so bad I couldn't catch my breath before ever putting my regululator in to go down. And it probably took 10 minutes under to catch my breath, aside from my dive buddies out swimming me and me working hard to stay up with them. My trim and buoyancy was definitely off, so I fought that stuff as well. I'm going back to FL in July, and we are diving off my BIL'S boat, instead of shore diving, so I'm hoping that I will be fresh going in and should have a better time with my air. Btw, I sucked an aluminum 80 down in about 45min. I'm down 30lbs, and working on swimming laps in my gym's pool using fins and no arms to improve my technique and lung capacity before then.

FWIW, my instructor and BIL that helped me both said my first 4 dives, including a shore night lobster dive, are harder than most newbies get, and they didn't baby me any. I plan on being in better shape to be able to enjoy it more this summer, vs just being one of the hardest physical challenges I've had.

Explain that to the fat old divers who seem to use no air.