How do I improve my air consumption?

[chrpai]

adjuster-jd once bubbled...
Today, I did two boat dives, one deeper - max 70 feet (according to the divemaster - and that's what I used for my profile, but I don't remember seeing anything below 60 on my gauge - my buddy said the same thing). All was well, but I got only about 32 minutes out of my tank before I was down to 700 PSI and had to go up to do the safety stop. I was the first of the group to come up.

Any suggestion

I cant help notice this is the second dive you've done where you relied on someone else to do your profiles for you. I assume you and your buddies depth guage both had a max depth dial. If you zeroed it in before the dive and it never went below 60, why are you recording 70 just because some dive master told you to?

As far as air consumption, it will come with experience.

 

[adjuster-jd]

I don't know whether this gauge had a max depth reading on it, but I don't remember noticing it. I guess that would have helped.
My buddy was using a computer and we discussed the max depth - me from my gauge observations and him from his computer, and I wouldn't dream of relying on someone else's computer for me (see flames in response to my prior posts in that regard).

Likely next time I dive I'll have my own reg, etc and will be much more confident in that.

Not wanting to be flamed, I won't mention the SPG inaccuracy on an earlier boat dive....

 

[scubafanatic]

have you considered:

1) upgrading your tank? My new PST HP 130 steel is the same height an an AL80, is only 1 inch wider--8" vs 7", only weighs 10 lbs more empty ( 42 lbs vs 32 lbs) yet contains 70% more air.

2) using a top-notch regulator and making sure it's operating @ 100% ? I usually dive a Poseidon Odin, which is world famous for massive air flow...to reduce breathing resistance. I don't want to worry about 'rationing' my air, it's great for relaxed inhalations, the air really swooshes in once you crack the valve.

3) adequate thermal protection? Water removes body heat 25 times faster than air, and you use a lot of air replacing body heat.....wear as thick a wetsuit as possible without overheating, regardless of how little the other divers may wear...include a hood, the body loses 40% of it's heat via the head area.

4) decent fins? Fin efficiency is vital to transforming air into efficient propulsion.

5) correct weighting? No need to lug excess dead weight through the water.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

When new and doing exciting dives as you've been doing you're bound to suck some extra air. All the advice here has been great. I suggest diving as much as you can. I don't let two weeks go by without a dive but when I was on maui I saw how much better I dove after I'd been diving several days in a row. I would say I added close to 10 minutes per tank.

The more relaxed you are the better off you are. Experience helps with this. I'm 57 years old and maybe 25 or so pounds overweight. On a recent dive that lasted 55 minutes for me I saw a younger fitter diver have to head up to the boat at 22 minutes. I new he'd be first out right away. He was flailing his arms around constantly and while most of us just glided over the reef he was always fighting his bouyency. Kicking to get up, kicking to stay down and always working those arms.

He also mentioned before the dive this was his first ocean dive. So for him excitement played a big part.

Dive lots, get your own gear and use it. You'll improve right away if you do.

 

[cldwdiver]

You have already received some excellent advice in previous posts. Let me add one more tidbit.

Take a dive trip where you dive several times a day for at least 3 days.

It is one thing to try and build up dives by going once a weekend. It is another to do a lot of dives in a short time frame.

This does not have to be a grand vacation somewhere. You can do this on an extended weekend of local diving with a commitment from your buddy(s) to help you fast improvement.

I have seen trips do the trick for numerous people who thought they were doomed to Air Hog status.

Have a great day!

 

[Laser]

Don't worry about air consumption. You will get better with relation to how comfortable you are underwater. 20-30 dives and you won't know why, but you will have normal consumption. You might start getting a bit of buoyancy as well.

 

[kalvyn]

cldwdiver once bubbled...
You have already received some excellent advice in previous posts. Let me add one more tidbit.

Take a dive trip where you dive several times a day for at least 3 days.
<snip>

This is very true! I recently went on a three day dive excursion to Barkley Sound here in the PNW. It was very cool to see my SAC/RMV drop on each and every dive over the three-day weekend. I got to feel what it's like to be relaxed and breathing slowly underwater and I can carry that over to diving around here on the weekends, etc.

Another sentiment I have to echo is to get your own gear. I would not have nearly the amount of dives I have if it wasn't for owning my own gear, plus I dive with the exact same setup each and every time.

Jimmie

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Laser once bubbled...
Don't worry about air consumption. You will get better with relation to how comfortable you are underwater. 20-30 dives and you won't know why, but you will have normal consumption. You might start getting a bit of buoyancy as well.

I agree the secret to doing nearly everything better in diving is to dive and dive often. And once you are comfortable in the water and all the basics come automatically, then you can begin to constantly critique what you are doing and to look for small ways to refine and perfect your technique.

I have great air consumption, superb bouyancy and my son envies me because he says I move like a fish through the water. My wife is less diplomatic and just gripes that I swim too fast to keep up with (even when doing a very slow and relaxed frog kick). All of that comes from a lot of total dives, a lot of frequent diving, and some consideration and experimentation as to how to do it just a little better on nearly every dive.

 

[WileEDiver]

Something that was recommended to me, that I think did me a lot of good, was to take some yoga classes. It really helped to learn to concentrate on my breathing (and it's good for flexibility as well). I noticed an improvement after just 2 classes.

You might be able to find a place (as I was) near where you live where you can just attend sessions on a drop-in basis as your schedule permits, and not have to sign up for a class on fixed days and times.

 

[AliKat]

I see a lot of good advice here, but I see one suggestion missing.

This is primarily for women, who tend to be smaller and have smaller lung capacities than most men...but if you are using an 80, consider a 63. Sounds like it should be the opposite I know. But it was recommended to me 10 years ago and I couldn't believe the difference. I've convinced several other female divers my size and they had the same results. Because we are using less energy pulling the big 80's around (even under water, they make a difference) we were using less air. I still use 80's for dives of 80 feet or greater, but other than that, I find I do better with the smaller tanks.