How do I improve my air consumption?

[Dr Deco]

It is a late reply, but many people ask me if they take on less nitrogen in their tissues because they have a low air consumption. From the consumption alone, you cannot tell about nitrogen in tissues. The human body when fully saturated dissolves about one quart of nitrogen per atmosphere of pressure. The scuba tanks hold this many times over, and virtually all of the nitrogen is exhaled.

However, the low air use does indicate a low oxygen consumption and that is reflected in slower heart rates and low perfusion (= blood flow in the tissues). While air consumption has not be directly investigated, we at NASA do use oxygen consumption as a measure of tissue perfusion [and, in our cases,off gassing during oxygen prebreathe]. Thus, indirectly, low consumption would theoretically be one way to reduce DCS risk.

Michael Powell Dr Deco

 

[old_mike]

Now that would be one nice hypothesis to show via empirical evidence : )

however, i can't help but wonder if the air used by some heavy breathers is all that efficiently used. i.e. with lots of faster, shallower breaths, might that air spend relatively little time in some lungs thereby giving up correspondingly lower amounts of N?

I mention this because i remember way back when, that i was taking shorter, shallower breaths when i was in the water. Even now, if my sinuses start malfunctioning, or i think i may have a CO2 headache (not real often) i will breath deep, but comparatively rapidly.

If one were to design an experiment, one would need to use seasoned divers who are all at similar ease in the water i would think?

P.S. let me know if you need some guinea pigs. I have some buddies i have to punish for terrifying a poor innocent Moray eel ; )

 

[Dr Deco]

Quite frankly, it would be difficult to use air consumption as an accurate measure for oxygen consumption. “Skip breathing,” for example, is a learned and practiced task; air consumption would probably not truly reflect the true nitrogen loads in the body.

An accurate measure requires a device that measures the oxygen in the expired gas (and its volume) to calculate the actual amount of oxygen consumed. This would not be easy in the water.

This is probably an improvement for the somewhat distant future.

Michael Powell (“Dr Deco”)

 

[Mario S Caner]

Everyone knows, and is told during Open Water Certification courses that the more one dives, the more their air consumption improves.

What I find interesting when dealing with my students, is that when they use the type of dive computers that display air consumption.... their air consumption improves much more rapidly than those whom do not use these tools.

When they look at their computer's diplay and it shows them their consumption status in an easy to understand format, it reminds them to relax and to concentrate on their breathing rate.

Many scuba instructors whom have retail experience will most likely agree: In an equipement dependant activity such as ours, there are many different tools that can be taken advantage of to enhance the experience. When reasearched carefully, and properly used, these types of gizmo's will not only make diving safer, but more enjoyable as well.

 

[Warhammer]

Mario that's an interesting idea you have about air intergrated computers. Makes sense. I'll have to test that as soon as I get the Cobra computer.

 

[Mario S Caner]

The cobra is a great choice, I have it amongst my locker full of toys as well. I really do prefer wrist mounted integrated computers though. It promotes the diver to use it more. It's just so much easier to look at your wrist than it is to have to pick up a console especially during deco stops. The only time I don't like anything on my wrist is when I lobster dive.
Mario = ]

 

[Warhammer]

Originally posted by Mario S Caner
The cobra is a great choice, I have it amongst my locker full of toys as well. I really do prefer wrist mounted integrated computers though. It promotes the diver to use it more. It's just so much easier to look at your wrist than it is to have to pick up a console especially during deco stops. The only time I don't like anything on my wrist is when I lobster dive.
Mario = ]

Really, I was of the impression that they weren't very reliable due to possible interferences. I'll have to give them a closer look see. Now, if I can just convince my wife that I really do need some new scuba gear.

 

[Mario S Caner]

I've been using air integrated hoseless computers since I first aquired a Sherwood Escort. I took a big leap of faith with that purchase, because I paid for it before it even came out on the market. I was in the US Navy at the time, and I remeber the mixed feelings when I opened up the package (it was shipped to me). Of course it was great to get a new toy, you all know how that feels. But you see there was a big problem, we were in the middle of a Western Pacific deployment, which ment I had to wait until the next port to be able to play with it. The only good to come of it was that it gave me plenty of time to read through the manual.

Ehem, to get back on track... the computer worked flawlessly. Since then I have also purchased a US Divers Scan 5 (which is basically the same unit). And that worked flawlessly as well. I was told that it may have intermittent cuts in it's display when it was in close proximity to very large camera strobes and diver propulsion vehicles. I've logged quite a few hours doing both activities, and have no problems to report.

 

[Warhammer]

I was all set to get the Cobra, then you had to throw a kink into my plans. I'll have to research this possibility more. I can see the benefits of only having to raise my arm, which is natural anyway, to see the computer. With this setup I could also keep the analog gauges as a back up in case of computer failure, before the first dive of course.

 

[Mario S Caner]

Well that's why I'm here.... to kick what I can. In all seriousness though do your research, and please keep us all posted. I'm curious to see if there is anyone else out there with a yey or ney.

My next purchase will be a Aladin Air Z Nitrox. Is there anyone out there with good or bad experience with them? All I have to do is make some room for it. My friends often make fun of me for having more dive gear in my arsenal than I know what to do with.... and no I'm sorry I can't send you any. = /

Mario