conflicting info on breathing

[x509v3]

I'm very new to this sport but one thing I found confusing was the idea of how to breath properly underwater. There seems to be conflicting information to a newbie like myself.

There are two pieces of advice I've seen given in this board and other publications (including the PADI manuals):
(1) It's important to breath slowly and deeply (to remain relaxed, clear the "dead air" spaces, etc)
(2) For best buoyancy control, don't take deep breathes; take shallower breathes (else you sink and float out of control)

So...which is it? Lemme guess: both are correct, right?

My wife is just starting her classwork and she made the same observation while going through books and her training. She doesn't normally breath very deeply anyhow so she's concerned about getting fatigued if she doesn't take nice, deep breathes to clear out the "dead air" space. And she doesn't want to waste air because she's taking too-deep of breathes. But she also doesn't want to be fighting buoyancy if she's breathing too deeply.
I realize this may be a hard question to answer, but perhaps there are some rules of thumb or visualization that might help.

Signed,
Confused in California

 

[Mario S Caner]

You are right, both are correct. When we say you should breathe deeply, we're not talking about using 100% of your tidal volume though. As you dive more frequently, you will get the hang of being able to find a healthy balance of the two. Many times it's easier to take a slightly deeper breath than normal to manuever over an obsticle while diving. This breath is designed to assist in your body movement as well. It saves energy, keeps normally easily spooked aquatic life happy and makes you look like a pro. The important thing to remember is to not hold your breath at any one time. It goes without saying that the combination of taking a deep breath of air to ascend slightly, and ascending altogether are not the prettiest of pictures. Be careful dive often, but more importantly dive safe.

If it makes you feel any better, I have a buddy in Huntington Beach whom has a 36ft custom dive boat. It's private so it won't cost you a dime. We get to dive Catalina quite frequently, in fact we did a show on the Giant Black Sea Bass a couple of weeks ago. It was aired on OCN last Tuesday at 10pm with Brent Webber. Anyway... to make a long story short, I'd like to invite you and your wife out with us. We'll talk and dive. Waddya say?

 

[LesleyDSO]

I think the best advice you can get on breathing is to forget about it. Your body has been breathing for quite some time and, I hazard a guess, knows how to do it. But more importantly, it has a "normal" breathing rate, at which it comfortably processes air, and at which you are able to think about other things than breathing. Whilever you focus on your breathing, you will not breathe normally.

The more you dive and the more relaxed you become, the more relaxed your breathing will become. Don't get caught up in how much air you use (or don't use!!). Use what your body is comfortable with, and carry what you need. You will find that you will use your breathing to influence you buoyancy, breathe out a bit more than usual to drop down a bit, breathe in a little more to drift up over a rock. And like anything else, it doesn't happen overnight, but, generally, it does happen.

Air consumption has lots to do with comfort - whether you are warm enough, whether you have efficient fins, whether you are anxious or relaxed, and whether you are under load. We find most divers' air consumption improves with experience, and in fact we give them tips on FORGETTING about their breathing - hum a song in your head, do a complicated maths calculation, focus on who's winning the race between the two nudibranchs - anything to get their minds off it - and most times it improves by itself.

 

[TexasMike]

Like the others said, decreased air consumption comes with practice and increasing diving comfort.

When I started, I went through an AL80 tank in less than 30 minutes at 45 fsw during my first dives. Now, having just logged my 40th dive, I'm able to motor out and back across the 9 acre lake at Athens Scuba Park with many side stops and hit my exit platform with a planned 400psi.

During this, I breathe normally as my body demand, with an occasional really deep breath to clear out "dead air" in the lower part of my lungs. And as Mario stated, I also use deeper breaths to ascened up and over an obstacle and then shallower breaths to descend.

One of the best ways to practice this is to dive in a quarry or lake that has a sunken wreck and swim around and over it without touching the power inflator of your BC. Using "lung power" only to control your "altitude".

Keep diving, and you will find that all of this will "click" and become second nature, just like walking and chewing gum.

 

[detroit diver]

The first few times in the pool I would whole heartedly agree with just breathing "normally" to get used to the new environment. I found that after 4 or 5 times in the pool, I could concentrate on slowing my breathing rate and exhaling deeply to void carbon dioxide. I use a 4 count on inhale, a pause, and then a 4 count on exhale. I has helped greatly in conserving air. Of course, as your skill level increases, this will help also. This gives you something to work on until you get to that level.

Whatever you do, have fun!

 

[Liquid]

I guess you'r prety good at breathing, hell you'v done it for years. Now simply do it underwater. As long as you do'nt hold your breath, you'r prety ok. Remeber that inhaling makes you lighter, while exhaling makes you heavier. keep that in mind and go diving, and experiment with it. with time, and experience, it will all become quite clear.

 

[cmay]

I agree with liquid,

Stop thinking about breathing so much and start thinking about having a good time. The rest will come with practice.

Later,

Chris

 

[wheezy]

Originally posted by LesleyDSO
I think the best advice you can get on breathing is to forget about it. Your body has been breathing for quite some time and, I hazard a guess, knows how to do it. But more importantly, it has a "normal" breathing rate, at which it comfortably processes air, and at which you are able to think about other things than breathing. Whilever you focus on your breathing, you will not breathe normally.

The more you dive and the more relaxed you become, the more relaxed your breathing will become. Don't get caught up in how much air you use (or don't use!!). Use what your body is comfortable with, and carry what you need. You will find that you will use your breathing to influence you buoyancy, breathe out a bit more than usual to drop down a bit, breathe in a little more to drift up over a rock. And like anything else, it doesn't happen overnight, but, generally, it does happen.

Air consumption has lots to do with comfort - whether you are warm enough, whether you have efficient fins, whether you are anxious or relaxed, and whether you are under load. We find most divers' air consumption improves with experience, and in fact we give them tips on FORGETTING about their breathing - hum a song in your head, do a complicated maths calculation, focus on who's winning the race between the two nudibranchs - anything to get their minds off it - and most times it improves by itself.

LOL.. well put.. Sometimes when I'm sucking air fighting a current I think my body has forgotten

 

[Jonathan]

Here, here cmay, wheezy, liquid et al - I only have one thing to add.....

Please, please, please don't get caught up with the competition to use less air on a dive than other divers - it really does not matter. I get very annoyed when I hear people talking about that on the dive boat after a dive....

The important thing is to enjoy your diving and things will imporve as you get more familiar with the underwater environment - or so they tell me. Still waiting myself but in the meantime proud to be a Gas Guzzler!!

Jonathan