Any Tips on Conserving Air?
- Thread starter Dive Hawk
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Charlie99
Contributor
- Messages
- 7,966
- Reaction score
- 169
- # of dives
- 500 - 999
Is that to make up for the times she sneaks up behind you and catches a free ride by holding on to your tank valve?
first.. do all the other things that have been suggested.
After that mentally prepare yourself and get a breathing rhythm as soon as possible (just like at the street light on your way to the dive) sip air in for a count of five, then breath out for a count of five, once comfortable add one more count in and out. If you can count six in and six out - that should equate to about a 60 minute dive at say 55 feet average depth, as you dive more try to increase by one count and before you know it you will be 10 in and 10 out. NO SKIP BREATHING? it defeats the purpose. if you lose your rhythm and need to take a couple big breaths...no big deal, just restart when you can. using this technique will have you feeling a little air starved initially, but will pass with more practice.
I just had a 92 minute dive at 65 feet, and 84 minutes on the second dive at 55 feet- I got cold and came up with 900psi. That is practically three dives for the price of two. NOTE: not all dive operations are receptive to this; they want to give you 72's and limit your dive to 50-60 minutes $$$$ - usually the smaller six-pack opertations allow this over the big cattle boats.
the only draw back to perfecting this technique is you gotta have a computer and monitor NDL time, RDP tables would not allow such a profile.
good luck
After that mentally prepare yourself and get a breathing rhythm as soon as possible (just like at the street light on your way to the dive) sip air in for a count of five, then breath out for a count of five, once comfortable add one more count in and out. If you can count six in and six out - that should equate to about a 60 minute dive at say 55 feet average depth, as you dive more try to increase by one count and before you know it you will be 10 in and 10 out. NO SKIP BREATHING? it defeats the purpose. if you lose your rhythm and need to take a couple big breaths...no big deal, just restart when you can. using this technique will have you feeling a little air starved initially, but will pass with more practice.
I just had a 92 minute dive at 65 feet, and 84 minutes on the second dive at 55 feet- I got cold and came up with 900psi. That is practically three dives for the price of two. NOTE: not all dive operations are receptive to this; they want to give you 72's and limit your dive to 50-60 minutes $$$$ - usually the smaller six-pack opertations allow this over the big cattle boats.
the only draw back to perfecting this technique is you gotta have a computer and monitor NDL time, RDP tables would not allow such a profile.
good luck
That makes perfect sense to me. I don't necessarily fear runaway ascents, though I do consider them a possibility. The real problem for me is not actively using the BCD until I realize, "Wow, I'm putting in way too much effort to stay level, I should probably add some air to my BCD." Then, it's difficult to say how much you should actually add, etc., etc., but I know that to be lack of experience, especially experience at greater depths.
As for weight, I know I'm overweighted because I've been told on three separate occasions that I'm overweighted. I know what this sounds like, but I've proven it to be my suit: the Pinnacle Merino-Elastiprene 3mm. Once the suit begins to crush it sinks like any other suit I've tried, but I can't get past 15 feet with anything less than 16 lbs in that suit.
Examples: I can sink with 18 lbs in my Bare Elastek 7mm with a 7mm hood, 5mm gloves and 7mm boots. (I use 3mm boots with the Pinnacle suit). In the Bahamas, I switched to a rented 5mm suit and sank with 12 lbs wearing boots and gloves. In Hawaii, I rented a 3mm for two dives and sank with 10 lbs, although 8 lbs would have been more than enough.
The divemaster in Hawaii had no idea what the deal was, and my instructor here in Arizona said that he had similar problems with his Merino lined suit, and he sold it after 4 dives.
Anyways, I know that has nothing to do with negative buoyancy at depth, but shedding 6-8 lbs couldn't hurt.
Thanks again for the input.
Hi,
I have the same suit. And I use the same amount a weight as u (16lbs). But, as far as conserving air. I have noticed the more I dive the better I am getting with my air. My last time I went diving (last wk) I noticed after my 2nd dive I had alot more air left compared to what I normally had. And I was able to use what was left for my 3rd dive. I know I am relaxing more and slowly breathing.
Just my 2 cents.
Kurt in Cebu
Elvistheking
Contributor
Yer but at depth your breathing MORE O2 with each breath (because of the increased ppO2) but you still breath the same amount, as I said the breathing response is to do with build up of CO2 NOT needing O2, and this isn't just some academic pedantic point this can have an effect on your diving, start breathing too hard you expend so much effort that the CO2 build up can't be removed, so you start breathing harder making it worse leading to a CO2 hit,meanwhile you are getting more than enough O2........
Elvistheking
Contributor
Take it you've never dived with a twinset then, 15's are light ;-)
Elvistheking
Contributor
That makes perfect sense to me. I don't necessarily fear runaway ascents, though I do consider them a possibility. The real problem for me is not actively using the BCD until I realize, "Wow, I'm putting in way too much effort to stay level, I should probably add some air to my BCD." Then, it's difficult to say how much you should actually add, etc., etc., but I know that to be lack of experience, especially experience at greater depths.
As for weight, I know I'm overweighted because I've been told on three separate occasions that I'm overweighted. I know what this sounds like, but I've proven it to be my suit: the Pinnacle Merino-Elastiprene 3mm. Once the suit begins to crush it sinks like any other suit I've tried, but I can't get past 15 feet with anything less than 16 lbs in that suit.
Examples: I can sink with 18 lbs in my Bare Elastek 7mm with a 7mm hood, 5mm gloves and 7mm boots. (I use 3mm boots with the Pinnacle suit). In the Bahamas, I switched to a rented 5mm suit and sank with 12 lbs wearing boots and gloves. In Hawaii, I rented a 3mm for two dives and sank with 10 lbs, although 8 lbs would have been more than enough.
The divemaster in Hawaii had no idea what the deal was, and my instructor here in Arizona said that he had similar problems with his Merino lined suit, and he sold it after 4 dives.
Anyways, I know that has nothing to do with negative buoyancy at depth, but shedding 6-8 lbs couldn't hurt.
Thanks again for the input.
Just keep doing weight checks every 20 dives or so, by far the biggest way to reduce he amount of weight you need is to dive more (see same solution to reducing your SAC), in addition a new wetsuit will need more lead to sink it than a rental as it won't have been compressed by use at depth, don't worry about it.
P.S.
Weight checks at the end of the dive (with 30 bar dunno what that is in psi, if you have more just blow some off using your Octo) are much more accurate than at the start then add an amount.
It's to make up for all the air I used on Search & Recovery when she launched her mask like a slingshot while "adjusting" the strap.
Jewls
Contributor
Hi Dive Hawk,
Reading about your weight issue with your wetsuit enticed me to pull out to good ol AOW Manual. According to my AOW Manual in the Peak Performance Buoyancy chapter, a man of your physiology and weight in salt water with a 3 mm wetsuit and 80 cu/ft aluminum tank should be wearing between 17 and 22 pounds of weight. I say 17 lbs because you are an athletic man, and 22 because of your weight. I included Ideal Weight to decrease the weight for a lean individual such as yourself, however, you would need to increase the weight for a heavier individual. Here is a comparison between our weighting needs.
Dive Hawk
Body Weight 195
3 mm wetsuit
5% of body weight 9.75 lbs (10 Lbs)
80 cu/ft aluminum cylinder add 5 lbs
Salt Water add 7 Lbs
Total Weight 22 Lbs
Ideal Weight 19 Lbs
Jewls
Body Weight 135
3 mm wetsuit
5% of body weight 6.75 Lbs (7 Lbs)
80 cu/ft aluminum cylinder add 5 lbs
Salt Water add 5 Lbs
Total Weight 17 Lbs
Ideal Weight 14 Lbs
According to my dive log, all of my salt water dives have been at my "Ideal Weight" with no issues. However, in fresh water I decrease my weight by about 4 pounds making it an even 10. You would decrease your weight by 7 pounds if diving in fresh water.
I also think the reason you sink when you are at depth is that you need to slightly increase the air in your BCD as others have said. Is the BCD completely empty once you have reached your max depth? Once your reach your desired depth, try giving a small inflate to an empty BCD until you can hover comfortably without skulling and while controlling your breathing.
Reading about your weight issue with your wetsuit enticed me to pull out to good ol AOW Manual. According to my AOW Manual in the Peak Performance Buoyancy chapter, a man of your physiology and weight in salt water with a 3 mm wetsuit and 80 cu/ft aluminum tank should be wearing between 17 and 22 pounds of weight. I say 17 lbs because you are an athletic man, and 22 because of your weight. I included Ideal Weight to decrease the weight for a lean individual such as yourself, however, you would need to increase the weight for a heavier individual. Here is a comparison between our weighting needs.
Dive Hawk
Body Weight 195
3 mm wetsuit
5% of body weight 9.75 lbs (10 Lbs)
80 cu/ft aluminum cylinder add 5 lbs
Salt Water add 7 Lbs
Total Weight 22 Lbs
Ideal Weight 19 Lbs
Jewls
Body Weight 135
3 mm wetsuit
5% of body weight 6.75 Lbs (7 Lbs)
80 cu/ft aluminum cylinder add 5 lbs
Salt Water add 5 Lbs
Total Weight 17 Lbs
Ideal Weight 14 Lbs
According to my dive log, all of my salt water dives have been at my "Ideal Weight" with no issues. However, in fresh water I decrease my weight by about 4 pounds making it an even 10. You would decrease your weight by 7 pounds if diving in fresh water.
I also think the reason you sink when you are at depth is that you need to slightly increase the air in your BCD as others have said. Is the BCD completely empty once you have reached your max depth? Once your reach your desired depth, try giving a small inflate to an empty BCD until you can hover comfortably without skulling and while controlling your breathing.
NetDoc's Top ten ways to reduce air consumption!
Ten.
Relax. Nothing consumes air faster than getting all antsy.
Relax. Nothing consumes air faster than getting all antsy.
Nine.
Don't go so deep. Air consumption increases with depth, so learn to stay above your buddies!
Don't go so deep. Air consumption increases with depth, so learn to stay above your buddies!
Eight.
Relax. You'll enjoy the dive more!
Relax. You'll enjoy the dive more!
Seven.
S-L-O-W D-O-W-N, you Scuba too fast. You aren't going to see the entire ocean in one dive, so stop trying!
S-L-O-W D-O-W-N, you Scuba too fast. You aren't going to see the entire ocean in one dive, so stop trying!
Six.
Relax. Be one with the water.
Relax. Be one with the water.
Five.
Stop playing so much with your inflater valve. Exhale and let out air from your BCD on the surface until just the top of your head is awash.
You're breathing should be able to adjust your height in the water column now. Hey, it works for me!
Stop playing so much with your inflater valve. Exhale and let out air from your BCD on the surface until just the top of your head is awash.
You're breathing should be able to adjust your height in the water column now. Hey, it works for me!
Four.
Relax. Just do it, get your body used to it!
Relax. Just do it, get your body used to it!
Three.
Reduce your weight a couple of pounds for each dive until you have a problem at your safety stop. You can manage a couple of pounds under weighting with your breathing for one dive.
Reduce your weight a couple of pounds for each dive until you have a problem at your safety stop. You can manage a couple of pounds under weighting with your breathing for one dive.
Two.
Relax. Diving should be fun and without stress. If it's not, you're doing something wrong.
Relax. Diving should be fun and without stress. If it's not, you're doing something wrong.
ONE!
Fold your hands for the entire dive.
Most people just don't realize how much energy they spend by waving at the fishies. You'll have to nail your buoyancy to do this so take a moment and get it right so you don't have to use your hands. Add air in tiny increments. Breathe at least once before you add any more. Also, deflate your BC in tiny increments and breathe before you remove any more. Oh yeah... don't forget to relax!
Fold your hands for the entire dive.
Most people just don't realize how much energy they spend by waving at the fishies. You'll have to nail your buoyancy to do this so take a moment and get it right so you don't have to use your hands. Add air in tiny increments. Breathe at least once before you add any more. Also, deflate your BC in tiny increments and breathe before you remove any more. Oh yeah... don't forget to relax!
Similar threads
