using up air too fast

[SNOBORDJON]

So far slipslop erveryone has offered some good advice. One more item, don't try to keep up with the youngsters. Find a good dive buddy who likes to take things slow. Usually someone with a camera will do. Then you won't have to try keeping up with the kids who are chasing fish around the ocean.

I am actually looking to implement some of these ideas myself. Although its hard to work on it when youve been diving in laguna the last 3 weeks, with poor visibility and surge like crazy. I am looking forward to the more recent calmness. But for now You should get a PST 100 or 120. At least then even if you drink air like I do, at least you will stay down longer than most people with 80's

John

 

[Web Monkey]

So far slipslop erveryone has offered some good advice. One more item, don't try to keep up with the youngsters. Find a good dive buddy who likes to take things slow. Usually someone with a camera will do. Then you won't have to try keeping up with the kids who are chasing fish around the ocean.

I'll second that one. I'm always amazed at the number of people who will take an hour boat ride out to the middle of nowhere, hit the water and then fin their *** off in some random direction, absolutely sure that whatever is just "over that way" is really cool and the place the boat just anchored is complete crap.

Unless you're heading for a known destination that the boat couldn't anchor on or near, chances are really good that if you just hang out for a while, cool things will show up nearby.

Relax, move slowly, work on your getting your weights correct (neutral at the surface with 500 PSI in the tank and an empty BC) which will improve your trim, which will improve your air consumption.

Also, being properly weighted means you won't need to constantly add and dump air from your BC, which will also help.

Relax and enjoy. The "photographer" advice was great. They tend to hang out and watch for stuff, and not move a lot, so you'll get to see cool stuff and not have to swim across the ocean to do it.

Terry

 

[jakubson]

One item only briefly mentioned is keeping your hands still. Most new divers wave their arms around, and this extra effort really affects air consumption. It is related to proper weighting, since one reason people wave their arms is to help in buoyancy control.

Once you are properly weighted, try to keep your hands clasped in front of you when you are not doing anything useful (e.g., checking your SPG) with them. I had a buddy who torn me a new **** about my air consumption when I was a new diver. She hurt my male ego, but when I tried this suggestion, my air consumption reduced by one third to one half.

By the way, I am 47, and I often outlast many of the 20 somethings on a dive boat. Diving is one sport where age AND experience can triumph over youth and vigor. Of course, it helps greatly to be in decent shape, so get some aerobic activity 2 to 3 times a week. And lose the weight if you have some to lose, as lamont said.

Oh, and by the way, practice, practice, practice.

We all went through this - you will also.

Cheers.

 

[ChrisA]

i just returned from a liveaboard dive trip to Cod hole and Osprey reef on the GBR
I had only previously done my open water qualification dives. on the trip I found that i tended to use up my air very quickly. my longest dive was 29 minutes. as a result no one wanted me as a dive partner and i ended up doing most of the dives with an instructor (when one was available.) I did however do the shark feed and cod feed dives. I am 46 years old and most of the other 15 divers were in their early 20s and I found it difficult to keep up with them. does anyone have any tips on how i could use my air more efficiently?

Looking over my logbook, I did the same thing. Most do. My first post certification dive was 23 minutes. My last logged dive was 55 minutes with 1200PSI remaining in the tank (o kit was a big tank and a shallow dive) Air consumption will improve with experiance. I'm 47 and not in great shape but not bad either. You will improve affter 20 or 50 dives. The best thing to do is dive frequently and that means in whatever water is near where you live.

Among the local divers some of the best are over 50. You don't have to be young, experiance counts more. The ones who use little air use very little energy underwater It takes time to learn and you are just beginning

As for advice. try hard to relax. try not to move your hands. Tuck thumbs in waist belt if that helps to keep them still. Relax and don't waste movment,

Your problem was that you went and did some expensive dives. If you dive at the local beach where the cost of a dive is just an air fill you will find people more willing to dive with you. Everyone was once where you are and should understand

 

[Mark Goodchild]

Hi there. All this advice seems good to me. I wrote a simple article a little while back with things people have told me in the past. See here:

http://www.zerovisibility.co.uk/AirConsumption.htm

Basically as far as I'm concerned practice makes perfect and listen to the experienced divers to improve quickly!

Hope this helps!

 

[narcT]

1. Dive More
2. Work out
3. Dive more
4. focus on taking long, slow deep breaths with long, slow exhalations
5. dive more

Also, "29 minutes" means nothing without a context of tank size and depth. Learn to calculate your SAC (Surface Air Consumption) in cubic feet/minute. This is a normalized number that will allow you to track your progress and help you with dive planning.

I found that if I breath in normally and then HOLD the air in my lungs for 2 - 3 seconds, then exhale fully I can get 50 minutes out of an AL80.

Before I was only getting 30 minutes from an AL80.

 

[pilot81]

I found that if I breath in normally and then HOLD the air in my lungs for 2 - 3 seconds, then exhale fully I can get 50 minutes out of an AL80.

Before I was only getting 30 minutes from an AL80.

Yeah, this is what I do as well. Breathe, fin x 2, exhale and repeat..nice and relaxed

 

[Scubagolf]

1. Experience = low anxiety = better air consumption

2. Don't suck air from your regulator on the surface. If you're waiting to do your descent, use your snorkel or nothing, so long as the conditions permit.

3. Decrease your need for weight. This reduces the amount of air needed in the BC to maintain neutral boyancy, and reduces drag in the water. I found that making some equipment changes helped with this, such as going to full foot fins in warm water environments instead of adjustable split fins with booties which were both positively boyant and contributed to my need for extra weight. Other tips I have received from more experienced divers for descending with less weight: (1) Cross your legs, and (2) pull the neck on your wetsuit to let some water inside the suit.

4. Breath slowly, deeply and deliberately.

5. Try to maintain a streamlined, horizontal position. Unless you are doing something productive with your hands, keep your arms crossed close to your chest.

 

[mrobinson]

Ok - some great advice... You can find more help with a Buoyancy Course. It worth it. I wish it was part of the certifying process... If you're really adventureous, try the DIRF!

 

[JMcD]

Yeah, this is what I do as well. Breathe, fin x 2, exhale and repeat..nice and relaxed

Is this not "Skip Breathing"? :06: I would worry that this practice is potentially dangerous on ascent? Being totally new to diving, (which will in itself cause me to use up a lot of air I am sure... I'll see this summer I guess) I'd like to hear other's opinions on this.

Thanks,