No breathing instruction?
- Thread starter barry1961
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Barry, I agree.
As simple as it may be, breathing is actually an advanced skill that most of the world probably does inefficiently. I would say there's lots of basic skills that the world has yet to master like driving a car.
As simple as it may be, breathing is actually an advanced skill that most of the world probably does inefficiently. I would say there's lots of basic skills that the world has yet to master like driving a car.
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I'd call it more of a fundamental skill than an advanced skill. Teaching the concepts from the get-go makes learning buoyancy control much easier ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Agreed - it's fundamental.
Much like a licensed driver should be able to dicipher the meaning of colors on a stoplight. The snowbird traffic has started again in Phoenix and I'm amazed at the number of people that are just downright dangerous on the road. Why do people try to run a yellow light and then get stuck in the middle of the intersection and then none of the cars that actually have the green light can go. argh!
Much like a licensed driver should be able to dicipher the meaning of colors on a stoplight. The snowbird traffic has started again in Phoenix and I'm amazed at the number of people that are just downright dangerous on the road. Why do people try to run a yellow light and then get stuck in the middle of the intersection and then none of the cars that actually have the green light can go. argh!
dumpsterDiver
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I liked NW grateful divers' description... I used to try to drill it into my students: What's the fastest way to stop a bouyant ascent? Answer: Exhale..Hard! If people could just learn that simple idea, they would be much better off. Doing the quick and complete exhale, generally gives them a moment or two to find the deflate button and manipulate it.
Also, the idea of a sine wave pattern for breathing is probably a poor representation, because again as he described, the exhalation is probably slower.
When I taught scuba, i used to tell my students to think about how you breath when you jog, each breath is a little bigger and the inhalation is a little more complete, compared to at rest. Of course, the student is directed to NOT breath as fast and as hard as jogging, but the idea of a deeper breath is important.
Another thing that an OW student should understand is that the partial pressure of oxygen at depth is much higher than on the surface. So each inhalation at depth may have 2-3-4 or more times as much oxygen as "normal".
When conceptuallized like this, the student can be made to understand that while diving, the goal of respiration is to blow off CO2, (not really to take in oxygen)... AND blowing off CO2 means you want to more fully dump the old, stale CO2 ridden air laying at the "bottom" of their lungs (via a good exhalation).
Also, the idea of a sine wave pattern for breathing is probably a poor representation, because again as he described, the exhalation is probably slower.
When I taught scuba, i used to tell my students to think about how you breath when you jog, each breath is a little bigger and the inhalation is a little more complete, compared to at rest. Of course, the student is directed to NOT breath as fast and as hard as jogging, but the idea of a deeper breath is important.
Another thing that an OW student should understand is that the partial pressure of oxygen at depth is much higher than on the surface. So each inhalation at depth may have 2-3-4 or more times as much oxygen as "normal".
When conceptuallized like this, the student can be made to understand that while diving, the goal of respiration is to blow off CO2, (not really to take in oxygen)... AND blowing off CO2 means you want to more fully dump the old, stale CO2 ridden air laying at the "bottom" of their lungs (via a good exhalation).
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I couldn't possibly agree more with this post.
Losing CO2 (and taking in O2) is indeed the goal. The mechanics are most important.
I've stayed out of this discussion up to now as I was busy evaluating tips I got from a respected member of the board. Carefully cycling Diaphragmatic breathing around a point that I would best describe as "not uncomfortable" lung under-inflation has made a world of difference in my buoyancy control.
Jill,
You make me laugh.
I totally agree about the driving aspect. I'm really surprised there aren't more accidents really.
dumpsterDiver,
My point was not that it exactly replicates a true sine wave, but more so that the peaks flow rather than stop dead. You want natural smooth rhythm not a jerky movement (like stopping completely for extended periods of time). That's all. :cool2:
You make me laugh.
I totally agree about the driving aspect. I'm really surprised there aren't more accidents really. dumpsterDiver,
My point was not that it exactly replicates a true sine wave, but more so that the peaks flow rather than stop dead. You want natural smooth rhythm not a jerky movement (like stopping completely for extended periods of time). That's all. :cool2:
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Yes, and this simplistic advice is the root of many divers' problems. I am one of them. Started out in the NE Atlantic where perfect trim and precise buoyancy control are secondary to just being able to overcome local conditions, conduct a reasonably safe wreck dive, and get back on the boat. I'm now cycling back to pick up the finer points of trim and buoyancy. Unlearning? Not really.
I didn't pass a recent solo course primarily due to the fact that I was unable to maintain position in the water column without moving, among several other things. So what should one attend to first, trim or buoyancy? I say (from hard experience) trim first. Once that is squared away, breathing is the big one.
Breathing:
Ive done my homework. Homework being research, practice/practice/practice, and talking to notables in the field. I can offer a jump start on this one. First get Steve Lewis book The Six Skills and Other Discussions. Breathing is a big thing in his book. I know that the books focus is on technical diving, no big problem. Get the book anyway, it is easy to skip over the tech stuff. There is much basic information, clearly presented, in the book. It is most worthwhile for the inquisitive new diver.
Back to breathe normally.
Im really trying to control myself when it comes to this piece of sage advice. <scorn> Breathing is under the control of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems with many variables up and down regulating it. Breathe normally underwater. Perfectly stupid statement. If I could only remember what I was doing before I was born, I might have a shot at it...
Breathe normally when Im submerged in water. The body has an inborn response for that. The initial responses to cold-water immersion, evoked by stimulation of peripheral cold receptors, include tachycardia, a reflex inspiratory gasp and uncontrollable hyperventilation. Reference . You would be surprised what constitutes cold-water for some individuals. Nevertheless, I am counseled to breathe normally.
Non-fetal humans are not pre-programmed how to breathe normally underwater. Period.
Breathing is one of the very few bodily functions that are under the control of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Good news is that you arent going to die because you forgot to breathe. You can also change your breathing rate and breathing mechanics under voluntary control. So you have a good measure of control over this without accidentally taking yourself out. OK, now lets define normal. Most people use thoracic breathing on the surface. That would be normal breathing . Thoracic breathing is bad breathing for diving.
Steve Lewis book clearly describes proper breathing technique. Still wasnt working for me. Something missing.
Thalassamania, in a private communication, provided the key. Have you tried cycling your breathing around lung under-inflation? I hope I got his quote exact. Elegantly simple. Brilliant!
I now have a way to quickly, comfortably, and easily determine that Im over-inflating: a normal breath is a bit too much. Secondly, by cycling around a lower lung volume Im eliminating more CO2 than if I was cycling around over-inflated lungs. Third, Im limiting my possible buoyancy shifts to smaller values. Fourth, I have a comfortable overhead for the occasional CO2 clearing deep inhalation/exhalation. Most calming. Once I master this, Im moving up to normal breathing. HAH!
Be forewarned:
Some instructors teach buoyancy and trim in OW. Most dont. I have no fundamental problem with this as long as I have a choice. Bob Bailey and others see value in teaching trim and buoyancy early on. Seek them out.
Learn how to find good instructors. You can always repeat OW with a different instructor. I did. learned good stuff in each course.
Dont focus on plastic cert cards. Close your eyes in the water column and ask yourself if you are in control
Stay safe.
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