Diving against time or air limits normally?
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Codiak
Contributor
Best advice I was given when I started diving
"If you get a buddy that wants to compare consumption, or complains about you being an air-hog, get another buddy. After all you can always surface and get another tank."
With experience consumption will reduce and if that's not enough you can always switch into rebreathers at a later date... that way your always one of the last to the surface ;-)
"If you get a buddy that wants to compare consumption, or complains about you being an air-hog, get another buddy. After all you can always surface and get another tank."
With experience consumption will reduce and if that's not enough you can always switch into rebreathers at a later date... that way your always one of the last to the surface ;-)
cocoajoe
Contributor
Here in Florida, 1 hr is pretty much (boats) the limit. It will take you a while before your air last that long. BTW, the biggest drain on air is stress and it ssems like you're already stressed. You need to devote your attention to what you're taught and not worry about stuff like that now.
Make sure your instructor does a proper weight check. Get comfortable (minimum stress) in the water. Get a handle on your buoyancy. Work on your (may need to shift weights) trim.
Get these things done and you're halfway there.
Make sure your instructor does a proper weight check. Get comfortable (minimum stress) in the water. Get a handle on your buoyancy. Work on your (may need to shift weights) trim.
Get these things done and you're halfway there.
Many dive boats set a time desired or time limit on dives -- they'll say, "We want you back on the boat in 60 minutes," for example. Dive ops who set short limits are generally unpopular 
For new divers, gas will almost almost end the dive before time does -- as you gain experience, that will reverse, and decompression limits may start to play a role, as well.
For shore diving, time is rarely an issue (unless you have a later appointment) so gas, decompression, or cold will usually limit the dive. Most of the time, you'll know going in what the controlling parameter is going to be.
For new divers, gas will almost almost end the dive before time does -- as you gain experience, that will reverse, and decompression limits may start to play a role, as well.For shore diving, time is rarely an issue (unless you have a later appointment) so gas, decompression, or cold will usually limit the dive. Most of the time, you'll know going in what the controlling parameter is going to be.
oddible
Contributor
Also, depending on where you're diving and how many dive masters are around, they shop will likely separate you into groups based on your dive experience. The more experienced divers will go on an hour dive, the less experienced will huff through their air in 45min and all will be good.
On my first vacation dive outside of the frigid waters of BC, I dove in Belize and one of the more experienced divers mentioned sipping at my air like it was the finest wine. I got a REALLY LONG dive out of that tank! But it isn't just the sipping, it is everything else you're doing down there too - if you're doing a lot of maneuvering around to see stuff you're going to burn more air than if you're drifting past and just peeking around corners.
On my first vacation dive outside of the frigid waters of BC, I dove in Belize and one of the more experienced divers mentioned sipping at my air like it was the finest wine. I got a REALLY LONG dive out of that tank! But it isn't just the sipping, it is everything else you're doing down there too - if you're doing a lot of maneuvering around to see stuff you're going to burn more air than if you're drifting past and just peeking around corners.
To be able to dive time, everybody must be well aware of their SAC/RMV and it needs to be taken into consideration as one of the factors during planning. Normally, SAC/RMV is either an unknown/obscur concept for somebody just starting or at best highly inaccurate as it takes some time for new diver to learn to relax and perfect somewhat their buoyancy and so forth.
As other have said, initially air will probably be the limiting factor at first and as you get more experienced, time will probably take over either due to either NDL consideration or the amount of gas you are carrying if you are planning deco dives.
As other have said, initially air will probably be the limiting factor at first and as you get more experienced, time will probably take over either due to either NDL consideration or the amount of gas you are carrying if you are planning deco dives.
It's a given that somebody is going to be the first to need to surface and somebody will have considerable capacity left. that's just the way it works and I'm sure you realize that.
In a led group dive situation you want to make sure that you get briefed on how it will be handled and this will vary with location and operator. You may go up with your buddy to be picked up , you may return to surface at the boat or the whole group may turn the dive. Whatever the practice is follow it. However under no circumstances should you let a reluctant dive master of buddy keep you down when you know you should be heading up.
Everyone new at this will generally use more air, and we were all new at some point. Some divers for whatever reason remain power breathers. The odds of you needing to be the first to turn while everyone has lots of air are low, it will be a mix, Divers with low consumption know they will surface with extra going in.
As a new diver you may be more comfortable diving in a 1:1 buddy situation from shore or from boat. That way you are not confronted with the mob dynamics.
Beyond that the limiting factor of your dives will be all over the board depending on the profile and your personal consumption. TS&M summarized it well a few posts back.
Dive safe & have fun,
Pete
In summary, your gas consumption as a new diver will be whatever it is; don't worry about it. As others observed, someone has to be the first to go low, and most of us have been that person at one time or another for various reasons
For most people, gas consumption is one of those things that the more you think about it, the worse it gets - and vice versa
If you do find that you're going through it faster than everyone else, no big deal - but you can try staying a little shallower than the group you're diving with, and trying to fin/move as little as possible. This will reduce your usage, all other things being equal
For most people, gas consumption is one of those things that the more you think about it, the worse it gets - and vice versa
If you do find that you're going through it faster than everyone else, no big deal - but you can try staying a little shallower than the group you're diving with, and trying to fin/move as little as possible. This will reduce your usage, all other things being equal
cloudflint
Contributor
Ive found with the guys I dive with shallower than about 20 meters on the cylinders we use (generally a 12 or 15 litre 232 bar) our air will run out before our no stop time. Deeper than 20 meters we generally hit our no stop time before we run out of air.
Our gas/ time planning tends to be: Aim to be back at stop-depth within the no-stop time of whatever depth we end up at or be at the surface when one of us reaches 50 bars, which ever comes first.
Our gas/ time planning tends to be: Aim to be back at stop-depth within the no-stop time of whatever depth we end up at or be at the surface when one of us reaches 50 bars, which ever comes first.
I´m still a new diver with only 62 dives logged.
I´m using a PDC (Dive computer). Up to now the limiting factor has been remaining gas in my buddies' tanks.
The very last dive (Miami South Beach Emerald Reef) last saturday, the limiting factor was time to be back on-board. Being a shallow dive after 61 minutes diving, I surfaced with 1000 psi.
I´m using a PDC (Dive computer). Up to now the limiting factor has been remaining gas in my buddies' tanks.
The very last dive (Miami South Beach Emerald Reef) last saturday, the limiting factor was time to be back on-board. Being a shallow dive after 61 minutes diving, I surfaced with 1000 psi.
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