Trying to be less of an air hog

[Scubagolf]

Backing down the second stage adjustment a bit and drawing in the gas somewhat along with a 4-1-4 second breathing cadence helped me reduce my SAC rate beyond all that which has already been covered...

I worked on mine with a 6-1-6 breathing cadence, but your 4-1-4 may be slower than my 6-1-6. Anyway, focus on breathing in slowly and fully, and then out slowly.

 

[BVickery]

Again, right now diving every weekend is not very feasible, money wise. Got all the time in the world to dive but just can't.

It seams that one of my questions has yet to really be answered: Renting a tank for a day or so and just breathing through that to get used to breathing through a regulator, is it a viable way to help improve my SAC? I have seen that I breath harder when on a regulator than not.

 

[Scott L]

Again, right now diving every weekend is not very feasible, money wise. Got all the time in the world to dive but just can't.

It seams that one of my questions has yet to really be answered: Renting a tank for a day or so and just breathing through that to get used to breathing through a regulator, is it a viable way to help improve my SAC? I have seen that I breath harder when on a regulator than not.

It sounds like your regulator may not be up to par...

 

[lavachickie]

To answer that question... No. The issue is your comfort in the water. So the answer is more time diving in the water to increase your comfort level and ease.

 

[eponym]

I will be so bold as to add to TS&M's excellent advice as follows:

Use an efficient finning technique.​

I've just returned from the first day of open water dives for some new OWD candidates. During our post-dive debriefs, one student was kind enough to point out to another one that she was kicking at the water with bent knees. That's inefficient. If you're going to use the flutter kick, be the barbie. Don't care whether you're a guy or gal, just embrace your inner barbie:

Long straight legs, pointed feet. Your (forgive me) butt muscles should hurt after a hard day's diving, not your leg muscles. Lee Taylor's advice is spot on.

-Bryan

 

[RJP]

Renting a tank for a day or so and just breathing through that to get used to breathing through a regulator, is it a viable way to help improve my SAC?

No, it's not. Unless you're diving while you're doing so.

I have seen that I breath harder when on a regulator than not.

Yes, it is. Especially if you're diving while doing so.

 

[BVickery]

It sounds like your regulator may not be up to par...

Last I checked the Atomic Z2x is a pretty good regulator.

 

[BVickery]

To answer that question... No. The issue is your comfort in the water. So the answer is more time diving in the water to increase your comfort level and ease.

Ok, I will conceed some, but to say I'm uncomfortable in the water is an assumption I wouldn't make without knowing me fully. I think it has to be regulator in the water = discomfort. W/O I am fine (even holding my breath and swimming under the water in the pool).

 

[BVickery]

I will be so bold as to add to TS&M's excellent advice as follows:

Use an efficient finning technique.​

I've just returned from the first day of open water dives for some new OWD candidates. During our post-dive debriefs, one student was kind enough to point out to another one that she was kicking at the water with bent knees. That's inefficient. If you're going to use the flutter kick, be the barbie. Don't care whether you're a guy or gal, just embrace your inner barbie:

Long straight legs, pointed feet. Your (forgive me) butt muscles should hurt after a hard day's diving, not your leg muscles. Lee Taylor's advice is spot on.

-Bryan

thanks for this tip, will try and remember it during my dive.

 

[Scott L]

Last I checked the Atomic Z2x is a pretty good regulator.

I agree. I missed that. The possibility does exist that it is not in good working order but this is unlikely...