Trying to be less of an air hog

[BVickery]

I suspect you would really benefit from some fine-tuning of your weighting and your weight distribution. The goal is to be able to hover WITHOUT having to scull with your fins or your hands, in a horizontal position. As I said in the first post, if you are in a foot-low position, every kick drives you upwards, and to avoid ascent, you have to dive negative. That's a huge waste of energy. Get truly neutral and horizontal, and you only kick as much as you have to, to get where you are going. And if you go there SLOWLY, your gas will last a much longer time.

I already talked with one of the instructors, he says he has no problems helping me get this done at the springs. I let him know I want it precise, done the way everyone suggests. Not the whole 'ok, close enough'.

 

[BVickery]

I have to agree with this advice. Novice divers tend to zoom around underwater a lot. I recommend spending a significant portion of your next dive simply hovering. There are times when I can spend 10 minutes hovering in one place to watch the aquatic critters do their thing. I don't know if your local dive sites would be amenable to this kind of diving, but it's something you should try if you get the chance.

Hover more, hoover less...see more.

I am heading to Ginnie Springs. Got a regular day dive I can do this without much trouble. I do have my night dive for AOW that night though.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Since the SB Search will not accept 3 character words, "air hog SAC help" would only result in a search for "help", it is hard to find the good threads on this subject. There was another good discussion on either buoyancy, trim or breath control this last year where I gave 2 parts of my 3 part newb lecture for better air consumption / buoyancy, but I can't find it.

Here are a few threads with nice discussions on the(se) subject(s); they are related.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/261380-correct-breathing-pattern.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ba...use-i-use-too-much-before-everybody-else.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ba...ow-do-you-breathe-under-water-any-advice.html

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Clue. Using ones thigh muscles causes one to suck air like there is no tomorrow.

​

I have seen you post this in many threads on this subject and I am very confused. When you move the fin down, on the half of a full stroke that produces the most forward propulsion, which muscles are most responsible for this motion?

I am of the opinion that the large muscles are the ones to use, because they are designed to do most of the work. The small muscles are the ones you can relax and still make decent headway, because they do not do most of the work.

 

[BVickery]

Well, got in from my pool session. Some notes:

I really need to learn better way to propel my way through the water. I want to take my time, relax, enjoy the time under water.

Thanks to all, figured out it was not me being uncomfortable in/under the water. It was breathing under the water (as a few have suggested). Going to add in some snorkel work of just breathing under the water with a snorkel w/o mask.

 

[eponym]

Since the SB Search will not accept 3 character words, "air hog SAC help" would only result in a search for "help", it is hard to find the good threads on this subject.

Use google:

air hog sac site:scubaboard.com​

And SB's search will take for example *sac* and find you any occurrence of those three letters, even within other words. But not as useful as googling.

-Bryan

 

[Ber Rabbit]

If your pool will allow you to have a tank in there you can take just tank and your regulator down and practice your breathing laying on the bottom with your eyes open. Leave your mask at home. Bring along some little washers in a bag and a piece of thin rope. String the washers on the rope while you breathe, sometimes having a task to focus on can help you relax and slow your breathing.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Go Dive, Dive and Dive some more. Working out is good, Proper weighting is good. Diving is the best this you can do.

 

[eponym]

IEnjoy at least part of the dive, you can't be perfect all at once, it takes time and experience.

Excellent adivce. I had new open water students in a local lake this weekend. On our first four dives my comsumption rate was 150% of what it was on the last dive. The difference? On the last dive, I was the buddy for a student, letting her lead and direct. Just cruising, holding depth, staying close, responding to her signals.

They say the brain chews up half the calories you expend when at rest. I believe it. The less my brain has to do, the better my consumption, that's my experience. Have never seen this in print, though, and I'd expect to hear some contrary opinions.

-Bryan

 

[firstdive2005]

Excellent adivce. I had new open water students in a local lake this weekend. On our first four dives my comsumption rate was 150% of what it was on the last dive. The difference? On the last dive, I was the buddy for a student, letting her lead and direct. Just cruising, holding depth, staying close, responding to her signals.

They say the brain chews up half the calories you expend when at rest. I believe it. The less my brain has to do, the better my consumption, that's my experience. Have never seen this in print, though, and I'd expect to hear some contrary opinions.

-Bryan

Good point, I think when we where new to diving our senses where in fight or flight mode. Our bodies where naturally in high expiration mode. We also tend to do more movements than are nescesarry when new to diving. So like written before the, ONLY thing that will for sure create better sac rate capabilities is extensive diving to give us the comfortability needed to relax. Mind you doing the maneuvres that have been recorded above will be the icing to better sac rate.