Matt S.
Contributor
I just ran the numbers on my OW cert dives. My SAC is 1.0. My wife's is .70.
Well, I guess we have something to work towards now.
Well, I guess we have something to work towards now.
I have learned that I am an air hog
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Not unusual for new divers!
It will come down with time and experience. Nailing your buoyancy control and trim, and learning efficient kicking techniques will also help. If you want to talk about any of those things, PM me or NWGratefulDiver.
It will come down with time and experience. Nailing your buoyancy control and trim, and learning efficient kicking techniques will also help. If you want to talk about any of those things, PM me or NWGratefulDiver.
Packhorse
Contributor
1.0cf (or 28.3 Litres) isnt all that bad if its your OW dives. It will come down quite quickly.
Dont belive that all diver on SB have a SAC of .4 for an average dive. I sure dont.
Dont belive that all diver on SB have a SAC of .4 for an average dive. I sure dont.
dsteding
Contributor
It will come down, mine started out a bit below 1 when I started diving here (dive number 7 in my life). Of course, I was nearly vertical in the water, a bit uncomfortable, stressed, and generally breathing down my tanks rather quick. In August I measured it at 0.85, and it has been dropping regularly since then.
After 50+ dives over the past few months, it is down to .65 in doubles, and probably less in a single rig, although I've been in my single rig twice in my last 20 dives or so. It really started to come down only in the last 10 dives or so, my lowest was a longish dive in Sechelt (0.6) and it still seems to be coming down. I've been trying to increase my cardio workouts as well, and that seems to help.
Take TSandM up on her offer to chat about trim and buoyancy, and I'm sure Bob will chime in here at some point, they are both regular dive buddies of mine, and have been great mentors.
People say that your air consumption goes down when you stop thinking about it, and I think there is some truth to that. That dive in Sechelt was just downright relaxing, and I didn't think about how I was breathing at all. Just slow, deep, relaxed breaths.
After 50+ dives over the past few months, it is down to .65 in doubles, and probably less in a single rig, although I've been in my single rig twice in my last 20 dives or so. It really started to come down only in the last 10 dives or so, my lowest was a longish dive in Sechelt (0.6) and it still seems to be coming down. I've been trying to increase my cardio workouts as well, and that seems to help.
Take TSandM up on her offer to chat about trim and buoyancy, and I'm sure Bob will chime in here at some point, they are both regular dive buddies of mine, and have been great mentors.
People say that your air consumption goes down when you stop thinking about it, and I think there is some truth to that. That dive in Sechelt was just downright relaxing, and I didn't think about how I was breathing at all. Just slow, deep, relaxed breaths.
sbrooks
Contributor
I don't want to bring up the whole weight issue as its been discussed thoroughly on this board - but I was overweighted after my OW and dropped 4#. It made all the effort underwater a lot easier and I think that really helped bring down the consumption.
S.
S.
Matt S.:I just ran the numbers on my OW cert dives. My SAC is 1.0. My wife's is .70.
Well, I guess we have something to work towards now.
For new divers that is not a big deal, especially if those were cold water dives made at home.
The very articulation of the goal put's you ahead of the game.
Consider weighting and trim, then work to lessen or eliminate useless movements, like flapping arms. The dive, dive, dive, much of it is purely comfort and experieince coming together and there is only one way to get that.
Pete
H2Andy
Contributor
yup, like everybody else said...
with more diving, you'll be more relaxed while diving (less use of air) and you'll be able to dive with less effort (less use of air).
at the same time, you'll improve your breathing technique (in, hold without closing your airway, out) which will also improve your air consuption.
now, if you are just a guy with big lungs, you may also want to get bigger tanks to offset your NORMAL (note i stress normal
) higher air use.
also, it's not a competition, right? so long as you have fun and can complete your dives as planned, who cares how much air you're using?
with more diving, you'll be more relaxed while diving (less use of air) and you'll be able to dive with less effort (less use of air).
at the same time, you'll improve your breathing technique (in, hold without closing your airway, out) which will also improve your air consuption.
now, if you are just a guy with big lungs, you may also want to get bigger tanks to offset your NORMAL (note i stress normal
) higher air use.also, it's not a competition, right? so long as you have fun and can complete your dives as planned, who cares how much air you're using?
Buoyant1
Contributor
What's the formula for figuring it out? never checked it really....
goodeatsfan
Guest
Hiya MAttS. Glad to know I'm not the only AIR HOG left in this big blue world of ours.... I just can't get my SAC down...... I hear all the good folks giving encouragement and that it'll get better wih time, but I just don't really see it happening.... if anything mine's getting worse.... my point is, and I do have one, I don't really rmemebr it anymore though....
my point is, and I do have one, I don't really rmemebr it anymore though....
SparticleBrane
Contributor
cf/min/ata
Find out how much air you used, convert that into cubic feet, divide that by the length of your dive. Then take that and divide it by your average depth in ata.
From a previous post I made on the subject, assuming:
Al80 starting at 2900 and ending at 1200
48-minute dive
27ft average depth
Find out how much air you used, convert that into cubic feet, divide that by the length of your dive. Then take that and divide it by your average depth in ata.
From a previous post I made on the subject, assuming:
Al80 starting at 2900 and ending at 1200
48-minute dive
27ft average depth
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