Using too much air?

[ecsports]

Hello all,

Tried searching but no answers jumped out at me but here goes.

I have been certified since I was 14. Worked on dive charter boats from 15-19 until I developed a reverse block and had to quit. I just had septoplasti (sp?) and can dive again. I did my first dive in 12 years on friday. Did a short 15 ft dive then went on out and did a 60 ft dive since the 15ft dive went ok. Had a good time but I was using an 80cf 3000 PSI tank. I decided not to push it and start coming up at 1000 psi. Did a short deco stop at 15ft (just for safety sake). I managed 8 minutes of bottom time on 2000 psi of an 80cf tank. Seems alot shorter than I used to dive. Any Ideas.

Ecsports

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Just relax 53 cu/ft at 3 atm in 8 minutes = surface air consumption of approx 2.2 cuft a min (some one correct my math I did this quickly). Dive some more and relax and you will get back into it.

 

[jaybombs25]

That is an accomplishment by itself

 

[Garrobo]

Damn. And I thought my air consumption rate was bad at 45 minutes bottom time on an 80. Now I feel better.

 

[Tim_Barker]

I find it depends on the temp. 55 minutes in warm southern waters with an 80 and 30 - 40 minutes up north (temps in high 30's low 40's)

 

[TSandM]

For gas consumption to be that high, something has to be pretty out of whack. Either you had a leak (did you have to keep adding air to your BC?), or you were very wrongly weighted or balanced (were you struggling the whole time?), or you were swimming like a madman or into strong current, or you were very anxious.

People who are new to diving (and you sort of fall into that category, having not done it in a long time) all use more gas than experienced divers. It's in part nerves and in part a lack of efficiency in the water. Getting properly weighted, trimmed out horizontal, attaining good buoyancy control, avoiding unnecessary motion, and swimming slowly will all contribute to decreasing your gas consumption.

 

[RonFrank]

I agree with TSandM, that sounds like some very high gas use, for anyone, even a new diver.

Maybe it would help if you described how your breath, and where in your profile did you use so much gas if that is known. I would think that an equipment malfunction that resulted in that much gas loss would be obvious.

For a suggestion, different folks believe in different breathing techniques, but in general most suggest long slow inhales, and exhales. I tend to do quicker inhales, and longer exhales.

 

[Oscar73]

It seems like overall physical health would play a role in it as well.

I know in general mine has changed alot in the last 12 years.

Just posing the question, I would love to here more commentary.

Oscar

 

[The Kraken]

How much gas did you use on your first dive? From the way you state the dives I assume you did both dives on the same tank.

Chances are you didn't have exactly 3000 psi to begin with.

You need to factor that gas usage in before you start trying to calculate your SAC rate.

the K

 

[underwasser bolt]

I took some time off from diving (a few years);

went the 1st time to a training platform, sac was .9 averaged over several dives

two weeks later my average sac was .65

this last weekend my average sac was .45

In those few weekends I made about 15 dives.

give it time, slow down, relax.