Breathing and Buoyancy Shifts

[Taath]

Greetings!

I am still a relatively new diver, been diving for just over a year and have 158 logged dives. One of my greatest challenges has been controlling my buoyancy shifts when it comes to breathing.

It seems like every time I inhale or exhale I am getting substantial changes to my buoyancy. This, of course, is not surprising as I know that a full breath will provide several pounds of positive buoyancy. My question is: how do you compensate for the constant shifts to remain at the same level in the water column?

I finished my cavern certification a few months ago and have been practicing line skills, my biggest challenge is the regular fluctuations in my buoyancy as a result of breathing.

Thanks in advance!

 

[NAM001]

It sounds like you are breathing too slowly or holding your breath. You should be exhaling by the time you start to light. The mass of your body should hold your position while you breath.

 

[Neilwood]

The trick is all down to timing and slow relaxed breathing.

If you breathe in it takes a couple of seconds for you to start rising and the same for breathing out - it takes a couple of seconds for the downward motion to start. With a bit of practise, you can time your breaths in and out to coincide with the fall and rise therefore counteracting it.

It sounds difficult but in reality it is actually fairly easy once you get the concept right in your mind. I think I got lucky with my OW instructor and the fact I was in a 1-1 with him. We could spend as long as it needed to get the hover right. Took me quite a while but eventually it clicked.

 

[Taath]

Thanks guys. I do tend to hold my breath for a second or two, so that could be a contributing factor. I also think I am a bit over weighted, which is probably contributing as well.

 

[Neilwood]

Thanks guys. I do tend to hold my breath for a second or two, so that could be a contributing factor. I also think I am a bit over weighted, which is probably contributing as well.

Overweighting will tend to magnify any issues as you need to maintain a bigger bubble.

Try not to hold your breath and transition smoothly between inhaling and exhaling. The second or two you are holding it means that you are then working against momentum.

If you can, get a dive in in a pool and fixate on a grout line or mark on the side. As an exercise, try to keep yourself within 6-12 inches of it either way by anticipating the buoyancy swing and breathing accordingly.

 

[AJ]

Buoyancy shift is caused by lung volume change. Less volume change and the less cycles means less change in depth. Overweighting also makes it hard to keep your buoyancy. But in the end it's all about more diving. The more you dive, the more relaxed you will be and that's what really helps.

 

[NAM001]

If you think you are over weigted then that is an easy one to fix when you get to 500 psi. I just did this for a couple on a platform at 22 ft. dropped one weight at a time on the platform till he no longer dropped to the deck. took 8# of one guy and 6 off the other. Magic effect on trim it has. Once you have that fixed your breathing will change and you will have a proper situation to take on next. Your breathing concerns may now be non existant. Good Luck.... Keep us informed how things work out.

 

[Coztick]

Buoyancy shift is caused by lung volume change. Less volume change and the less cycles means less change in depth.

Less volume change also means less gas excha nge and co retention.

I like to think of my lung volume in 3 equal parts. I then breathe quite quickly through the top and bottom portion and very slowly through mid volume. This seems to allow me to breathe both deeply and slowly with minimal buoyancy change.
Gas consumption seems reasonable for a 50 yr old newbie ex smoker...
Give it a go!
Cheers

 

[AfterDark]

Like other things in life timing is everything, you got good advice here; go dive.

 

[EricTheDood]

Thanks guys. I do tend to hold my breath for a second or two, so that could be a contributing factor. I also think I am a bit over weighted, which is probably contributing as well.

Holding your breath for a second isn't going to cause a huge rise, especially if you're over weighted.

Sounds like you might be breathing too deep. Diving is a relaxed activity, so you shouldn't need to take really deep breaths.

Are you wearing a wetsuit? What thickness?