Any Tips on Conserving Air?

[Bubbletrubble]

(Keep in mind that this was a working dive; working on skills and drill. It came out to a RMV of 6.2 cf/min over the course of an hour)

I also know someone who's RMV starts with a 3 no matter what she does. Any tank she takes as a single I take as doubles - problem solved.

@Lobzilla: Are you sure that you're calculating RMV correctly
Is it possible that you have a "wandering" decimal point?
FWIW, 6.2 cuft/min is more than an order of magnitude higher than my average RMV.

 

[Lobzilla]

@Lobzilla: Are you sure that you're calculating RMV correctly
Is it possible that you have a "wandering" decimal point?
FWIW, 6.2 cuft/min is more than an order of magnitude higher than my average RMV.

Edited above while you were posting.

(I often just type, post and then read and edit. That has to do with the limited space and format of this box I am typing in right now ;-)

 

[The Chairman]

I need to relax more.

I was thinking of pointing that out.

 

[Dive Hawk]

So relaxation is important then? I'm so confused! :cool2:

 

[Bob DBF]

My philosophy on air use is that you use what you need. Over time diving your sac will decrease to a normal level for what you do, but it does that for everyone and is no guarantee you can match an other individuals rate.

When I swim out on the surface 500-1000 yards and dive covering a lot of ground I use a lot of air. Hovering over a shallow reef watching critters I decrease usage 30-40% without trying.

Both my regular buddies use less air on the same dives. I dive a bigger tank than they use when we dive, otherwise we both know who will end the dive. Just have another set of tanks back at the vehicle and do another dive and everyone is happy.

Bob
---------------------------------
I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.

 

[ff1diver]

Utilize yoga breathing techniques...

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

I've put together a piece on "How to be good on air". You can find it at How to be good on air

 

[pmenear]

I see one or all of 3 things missing from the majority of divers that when mastered will improve air consumption.

Stay horizontal in the water if moving forward, people think they are but most are head up until shown a video of themselves.

Stay neutrally buoyant so when you can stop finning you don't sink, if you sink you haven't mastered it yet.

Kick and glide, scissor or frog kick, if you are truly horizontal you won't disturb the bottom sediment much with either, you will be finning about a quarter of most others divers. You need a stiff fin to make this work best.

 

[notivago]

I see people advising on making pauses in between breathing cycles, but isn't it a rule that you should never hold your breath, no matter how shortly when diving? What does it matter a slightly better buoyancy or a slightly better air consumption if it does ripple your lung open and cripples you or kills you?

Better to call a dive a little earlier than call life a lot earlier and miss a lot of opportunities to dive.

 

[Lobzilla]

I see people advising on making pauses in between breathing cycles, but isn't it a rule that you should never hold your breath, no matter how shortly when diving? What does it matter a slightly better buoyancy or a slightly better air consumption if it does ripple your lung open and cripples you or kills you?

Better to call a dive a little earlier than call life a lot earlier and miss a lot of opportunities to dive.

There is a huge difference between 'holding' and 'pausing' your breath.

Inhaling, 'holding' your breath by closing the epiglottis, and then ascending only 4' can tear your lung tissue and expose you to the risk of an arterial gas embolism (AGE).

Pausing the movement of chest and/or diaphragm while keeping the airway open does not expose you to the risk of an expansion injury or AGE.