Air consumption

[hazmatmess]

I've been told that as I dive more I will need less weight. And that has happened already since I got certified at the end of June. As of this past weekend, I need 10 less pounds!. I have also been told that as I dive more, my air will last longer. I haven't seen a change in that yet (well at least a noticeable one anyway). I only have 14 dives under my belt. I feel very comfortable in the water. I took videos on my recent dive and my sister was watching them. She said that I have to do breathing exercises because I have no pauses between breaths. Should I? Just wondering how long did it take you guys before you saw that your air was lasting longer. I can breathe down an AL 80 that started with 2800 psi to 500 in about 23 minutes with an average depth of 50-70 feet (fresh water). I'll admit, I am no small guy 6'1" 275lbs. :11: so I know that has to do with it. But I really do not get winded easily so..... Am I expecting too much too fast?

Tim

 

[rocketry]

Both a reduction in weight and getting your gas consumption down is a factor of many things---but experience is a big factor. On my OW checkout dives I remember blowing through an 80 (no pun intended) in about 25 minutes at 60ft-ish. All of my dives after that I made myself conscious of my air consumption, which is something you should try. Focus on your breathing, long inhales and long exhales, get into a rythmic motion. I was taught to never have dead-breathing time---never to do nothing between breaths. Constantly inhaling and exhaling is the technique I use. I'm 6'4" and 220lbs. Size CERTAINLY has a lot to do with it, I found myself at turn pressure while my buddy (smaller girl) had about 500 psi to go!

 

[mred]

Reducing lead is one thing, getting more tank time is another. Being relaxed, a good profile, streamlined stance, no dangling thingies from you ... all help. There was a good article in this months scuba magazine on the benefits of Yoga as an aid to getting more tank time ... last month there was an article on freediving for much the same reason ... it is something we all strive for to allow us to achieve our goal ... more time below the surface, less time on the surface... I took up jogging to help me build up more lung capacity ... ymmv

 

[Web Monkey]

I've been told that as I dive more I will need less weight. And that has happened already since I got certified at the end of June. As of this past weekend, I need 10 less pounds!.

Enjoy, but don't rush it. You need enough weight to be able to hold a safety stop with a mostly empty tank. If you feel too "light" at the end of your dive, you might want to put a couple of pounds back on.

It's easier if you adjust your weights in small (~2 Lb increments)

I have also been told that as I dive more, my air will last longer. I haven't seen a change in that yet (well at least a noticeable one anyway). I only have 14 dives under my belt.

Your air usage is partially voluntary and partially involuntary. It's mostly controlled by how hard you're working and how anxious or excited you are. The first part "working hard" is generally caused by being overweighted and not being horizontal. Both increase your workload. These will both improve as you dive more (assuming you work on tuning your weights and trim).

The second part (being anxious or excited) also improves as you dive longer and become more relaxed in the water.

I feel very comfortable in the water. I took videos on my recent dive and my sister was watching them. She said that I have to do breathing exercises because I have no pauses between breaths.

You don't need breathing exercises, you just need to relax, enjoy and dive more.

Things improve gradually, and you'll find that you're using less air as you dive more, but probably won't notice a really big difference until you have done a bunch of dives.

That said, air usage isn't a contest. If you're using a lot of air now (everybody did when they started), and your dives are too short, just rent bigger tanks for a while.

Have fun!

Terry

 

[k4man]

I agree with mred. Relaxed breathing with a streamline position in the water (as little resistance as possible) is vital. I find myself with greater bottom times each time I dive (ok, you know what I mean--better air consumption overall). I'm 6'6" and over 250 pounds, so lung capacity and weight DO also play a roll.

 

[scubamickey]

Bicycling and skulling expend agreat deal of energy. Have you tried the frog kick? Are your hands moving while you are diving? For me, learning the frog kick and using it almost exclusively dropped my SAC rate down to .40 where I'm now almost as low as my hubby who is a steady .35.
Looking at my log, it was literally an overnight drop. Between dive 25 and 30 I went from .65 to .35-.40. The frog kick made the biggest difference in slowing my breathing rate down.

Good luck and keep at it. Before you know it you will be staying down for an hour on a single tank.

 

[cummings66]

While I won't claim miracles due to kick style, I have a lower air consumption rate now vs earlier. It took me a while to get the frog kick to work, the problem was one of trying to kick too often. So now that I'm more relaxed in the water and the frog kick is working I'm anywhere from about a .344 to .445 measured over the last 10 dives.

I know how to make it higher, keep up with a buddy who thinks he's swimming in the olympics. Slow down, enjoy the sights and practice kick, glide, kick and glide and you'll find the rate dropping.

I'm not heavy so it's not really weight related as to how much air you use. I've dove with guys twice my size and they use half the air I do, and I've dove with skinny as a rail people who used a lot more air. It's all in what you do in the water, go fast burn air, go slow save it.

 

[Charlie99]

I can breathe down an AL 80 that started with 2800 psi to 500 in about 23 minutes with an average depth of 50-70 feet (fresh water).

New divers often go around significantly negatively buoyant (note that even if overweighted one can get neutrally buoyant by proper adjustment of the BCD). Since they are negatively buoyant, to stay at the same depth they have to continuously fin while angled slightly upwards.

If you sink when you stop finning, then you have this problem.

The solution is learn how to stay at one depth while doing nothing. Stop finning. If you sink, then you need more air in you BCD. When you have the right amount, you will rise slightly when your lungs are full, and sink slightly when you exhale.

Being neutral means you don't have to keep finning. Being neutral makes you feel more in control and allows you to have a calm, relaxing dive.

Learn how to "do nothing" in the water. The air consumption will improve as a side effect.

Charlie Allen


p.s. I'm convinced that the air consumption improvement some divers see with the frog kick is because the kick-and-glide action of the frog kick makes it easier for you to monitor your buoyancy and to stay neutral at all times.

 

[hazmatmess]

Thanks for all the information.

I feel I have no problem staying horizontal so my trim and weight are ok. Probably could use a little less weight. Going to practice/experiment this weekend. As well as practice a breathing rythm.

I am pretty aware of what is or isn't hanging while under. I try to be as streamline as possible. My instructor has been diving with us and I want to look good infront of him. LOL He has seen a very big improvement in all of us since we started.

And I do have that article on the yoga. Started it today as I heard it works wonders.

Thanks again all,
Tim

 

[miesemer]

You might also find your air consumption increases when carrying the camera. Depending on it's size it could make you less streamlined in the water and require more effort to move through the water. Also, I find when using a camera I'm constantly using breathing control to get into position for shots and I tend to use a bit more air than I do when I'm diving without the camera.