fast oxygen use

[neilybin]

Hi,

I have a question regarding my oxygen use, everytime I return to the surface after a dive I usually have around 50% of the amount of air that my buddy has. The problem with this is that the dive is well within the no decompression limits, so I always feel like I've done my buddy out of dive time, as well as not wanting to surface myself. Is there any breathing exercises I can do whilst diving or before to try and reduce my oxygen use?

I haven't been diving very long (I have only 13 logged dives) so I'm sure it will improve with experience but its a problem I would like to address early.

 

[devolution365]

If you feel like you're exhurting yourself while diving you can either slow down or do cardio exercises (run, bike, stairs) to help, but most say that it improves with practice. As you gain more experience you'll start to relax more and your breathing will naturally slow down.

In the meantime just make sure you're as efficient as possible. Streamlined, weighted properly, have thermal protection (if you're cold, you'll suck air), etc.

My fiance's a hoover. I probably am too when compared to most divers, but he uses his air twice as fast as me. We're working out 3 times a week, and hoping to get out and dive more next summer to improve on our air efficiency.

Good luck!

 

[skybird]

My air consumption has been a major concern for me. I now have 20 dives logged and finally am noticing some improvement. My last dive I concentrated the whole dive on breathing slower and exhalling longer. I was able to be down 45 minutes and came up with 800 psi, better than usual . ( was down about 50 or 55 ft a good bit of that time with water temp about 54 or 56). They keep assuring me it gets better the more comfortable I get in the water.

SkyBird

 

[Rick Murchison]

1. Worry = increased gas consumption. Quit worrying about it.
2. Go diving. It'll take care of itself.
Rick

 

[devolution365]

I think my fiance was getting 30min at 30 feet. :11:

 

[String]

You won't reduce "oxygen" use either. Most of what you breathe in for oxygen you breathe back out without metabolising.

What you need to reduce is total gas/air usage.

As others have said, do more diving, get more comfortable and that will happen. A big thing for new divers is weight - most are overweighted and air consumption is poor as a result due to lugging around excess lead.
Get comfortable with your kit.

Looking at your location id wonder if cold is a factor. The colder you are the faster you burn through air to keep warm. Are you in a wet suit or a dry suit?

Are you physically fit about the water (in particular aerobically?) If not, try improving that by jogging and so on.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Make sure you're neutral and only using your fins when you want to move. Other than improving basic dive skills, being comfortable and relaxed and staying in shape, some people are just going to use more than others. It's not a contest (well it could be I guess). If you need more for the dives you want to do just bring more with you.

 

[WileEDiver]

When I was just starting out and wanting to get better on air, I found that taking a few yoga classes helped me by working on my breathing.

 

[DandyDon]

BTW, please say "air" rather than "oxygen," as the latter is a specific use gas in scuba. If you dive Nitrox or other mixed gases, it's good to be specific there in discussions.

 

[TorontoDive]

One thing to also mention here is if you think you have a faster air consumption rate DO NOT feel peer pressure to stay down. You may look at your SPG and see that you've got less than half your buddy's air and feel that you should stay down for max time so you don't cut his/her dive short. Don't do it. When the time comes and you're dive is done signal it, I'm sure your buddy won't mind. I once dove with someone on a wreck at 80ft and when I signalled "how much air left?" I was shocked to get back 700psi when we weren't at the anchor line or even headed in that direction. We made the ascent safely but on the surface I asked him why he didn't tell me he had reached his turn around pressure and he told me that he didn't want to cut my dive short. I told him next time not to worry about it and signal me when he had 1000psi, I would rather miss 5 minutes of bottom time than have a possible bad situation.