Buoyancy control

[Snoweman]

I have no problem with "basic" buoyancy, but I get amazed at some videos demonstrating things like kicking techniques. I feel like I have a difference of three feet in depth between depths. It may not bee that much, but I know I have had about two feet on difference based upon drift diving in COZ and holding my inhale to get over some obstacles. When I watch the videos, the person is not changing elevation by two or three inches between breaths. I just don't understand how this is possible and being air efficient at the same time. Maybe my deep breaths are not air efficient. Thoughts?

 

[The Chairman]

I just don't understand how this is possible and being air efficient at the same time.

Many people prolong exhalation and inhalation. Don't. Quick out, quick in and pause. Don't hold your breath by occluding your epiglottis, just pause using your chest muscles and diaphragm.

 

[Snoweman]

Many people prolong exhalation and inhalation. Don't. Quick out, quick in and pause. Don't hold your breath by occluding your epiglottis, just pause using your chest muscles and diaphragm.

Wow... I will have to find someone to demonstrate that technique. I wouldn't know how to occlude my epiglottis, or if I was even doing it.

 

[Coztick]

The difference is the feeling between a breath hold and trying to continuously let out the tiniest bit of air instead.

Just don't shut the valve, just sloooow the breathing. It's easy after moderate inhale.

 

[Snoweman]

The difference is the feeling between a breath hold and trying to continuously let out the tiniest bit of air instead.

Just don't shut the valve, just sloooow the breathing. It's easy after moderate inhale.

Wait..., the Chairman said not to prolong, but you're telling me to slow down. This is my confusion...

 

[mi000ke]

I am a long time sax player and have practiced/used diaphragmatic breathing for years. I do very long, slow inhaling and exhaling while diving - around an 8 to 10 count in, then the same out - almost in a zen state - and I am able to hover or swim along with little change in depth with no problem (also have had a pretty low SAC rate since beginning diving). So I'm thinking it's also about proper weighting and amount of air in your BDC (I dive with the least weight that will still get me down and very little air in my BCD at depth). If I want to go up or down, I just breath in or out a little longer or shorter and my change in depth is pretty responsive to that. I'm also able to hold depth during my safety stop with generally the same breathing pattern (and always no air in my BDC). I'm no expert diver but (for me anyway) it seems to be more than just good breath control or just taking short breaths. Maybe I'm confused as well.

 

[northernone]

Wait..., the Chairman said not to prolong, but you're telling me to slow down. This is my confusion...

Here's another angle.

They are meaning the same thing.

1. Inhale. 2. Hold/trickling exhale 3. Exhale 4. Inhale again immediately.

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Here's how I dive when buoyancy matters.... -+ 6 inches in a cave for example.

The majority of the time my lungs are comfortably full of air, a prompt exhale followed by inhale again immediately to refresh the supply.

In one minute of breathing. I'm 20 seconds inhaling. 10 seconds exhaling and 30 seconds pause (light trickle of bubbles or light breath hold)

Big regular breathes of lungs slowly filling, lungs slowly emptying will result in a sawtooth pattern of constantly bobbing and falling. If that's how you want to breath you can reduce the effect by finning up slighly on the exhales. Or just enjoying the rhythm and ride the fluctuations.

Helpful?

 

[ermaclob]

Assuming you are properly weighted and balance and have the right amount of air in your bcd to be neutral. then as mentioned before its all a matter of breathing. not to deep not to shallow. just pretty much breath normal breaths as you would if you where on land. in you think about how your breathing right now, your barely taking in air compared a consciously thought out breath like when on SCUBA

 

[wKkaY]

When I watch the videos, the person is not changing elevation by two or three inches between breaths. I just don't understand how this is possible and being air efficient at the same time.

I'm more air efficient when I don't need to hold my depth to a few inches +- especially in the shallows, because then I can get away with longer and larger breathing rhythms.

Here's a list of similar threads in the past you can look into: inhale inertia site:scubaboard.com - Google Search

 

[Insta-Gator]

Just dive more.

Spend more time in the shallows using proper weighting.

It will come.