breathing

[rawls]

Hi everyone....I just joined the other day and I am glad to have found this site. I do have a question to ask about breathing. I usually use 100 cubic centimeter tanks on dives and I usually use the whole tank of air on a dive. I did a dive on a NC wreck site the other day to 65 feet and used up the tank before my ndl was up. I don't know why I am using so much air. I am not anxious. I am usually pretty relaxed on my dives. I feel very comfortable underwater. I don't think it's a CO2 retention problem because I have never had any signs and symptoms of CO2 buildup, such as headaches. I have never had any problems after a dive. I do know that I take deep breaths when I am diving. I don't usually overexert myself and I don't have the problem on deeper dives because I do reach my ndl before my tank runs dry. I aslo don't have the problem at shallower depths and I know that's due to less pressure at shallower depths. One interesting thing. On a recent physical exam, my Dr looked at my x-ray and said I have "big" lungs. I expect he meant I have room for a large vital capacity. So I wonder if I am doing something wrong or is it just my physiological make-up that causes me to use so much air. I have not done any calculations related to surface and depth consumption rates as of yet. I would simply like to finish a dive because of reaching my ndl than running out of air. Any input will be appreciated. Bobby

 

[Damselfish]

It's not necessarily a "problem" to run out of air before NDL - well it is if you really run out but you know what I mean. Many people do, especially when they are relatively new, as you are. Even when they're not new, it's going to depend on the profile and many other things. Practice is the thing that will help most. This has been discussed often, perhaps you can read some of these threads.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=117000
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=127
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=114351
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=113916
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=115190
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=110301
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=110497

Course if you're really using 100 cubic centimeter tanks, that could be your problem.

 

[rawls]

Damselfish...Love the name. Thanks for the reply. Actually I am new to this site, not to diving. Could you elaborate on the statement that using 100's could be my problem?

 

[markfm]

I'm confused: 100 cubic centimeters = 0.1 liter = itty bitty.
What tank are you using?

 

[mattroz]

what he means is 100 cubic centimeters is very small. i think you mean 100 cubic FEET

 

[Damselfish]

it was sort of a joke - I'm sure you meant 100 cubic foot tanks. Not cubic centimeters.

Your profile says 16-50 dives which I would consider pretty new no matter how long you have been certified.

 

[rawls]

Ok guys...Jokes on me.... Cubic feet....sorry.

 

[Manta Aria]

Yes, check out the threads Damselfish suggested ( yeah that is a pretty cool name isn't it? :14: ). It could be a number of factors contributing to air use:
-water temp ( what was the temp. at depth? What is H2O temp in NC right now? I dived wet today in 48 F. When I first got in my air consump. skyrocketted! )
-Exertion ( did you boat drop onto the wreck or did you swim a bit to it?)
-improper weighting ( makes you work harder)
-Using up air more quickly at depth ( everything compresses. we use up air more quickly at depth)
-inexperience ( Me too! My air consumption has only just recently begun to come down :icorolley .)

Or, like Damselfish said, it could be a combination of things not just one single thing.
I'll be with you on the journey to lowering our air consumption, I FEEL YOUR PAIN !!
-Manta

 

[Don Burke]

I would simply like to finish a dive because of reaching my ndl than running out of air.

You could dive bigger tanks until your gas consumption improves.

You could dive doubles until your gas consumption improves.

The real answer is to keep diving.

This is just a numbers game. When you go to Nitrox, it will be difficult to carry enough EAN36 to get to your NDL at 65 feet on the first dive anyway.

 

[rawls]

Thanks Manta...That's a cool name too. I appreciate the feedback. There were some really good suggestions on some of the subjects Damselfish pointed me toward. The water temp right now is about 68 degrees. But I'm beginning to think about weighting issues. I think I may be using too much weight. I was using a 5mm wetsuit and I was fine in the water. Out of the water was another story. It was 61 degrees. But, from what I have read, it seems I need to work on weighting some. Thanks for the response