What's the best way to breathe?

[AK Diver]

I was wondering what other divers think is the best way to breathe safely and conservatively?

I take normal deep breaths while diving and maintain good buoyancy so that I don't waist air filling my dry suit. I know I can improve my SAC rate.

 

[Soggy]

Breathe in very slowly and deeply, pause slightly at the top of the inhalation (without closing the throat), exhale very slowly. As a recent graduation of air-hogs anonymous, I can understand the frustration of being a hoover, but now I keep up in my drysuit with people diving wet with larger tanks.

 

[MechDiver]

AK Diver once bubbled...
I was wondering what other divers think is the best way to breathe safely and conservatively?

I take normal deep breaths while diving and maintain good buoyancy so that I don't waist air filling my dry suit. I know I can improve my SAC rate.

From you profile photo I'd say the first thing to work on is those front teeth

You cannot breathe "conservatively". And I have no idea how you breathe "safely". Also, breathing has nothing to do with how much air you have in a drysuit.

You give no indication of your dive history, so, making a guess that you're fairly new, the SAC will get better as you get better. That may sound flip, but there is no magic to using less air other than good diving habits and being very comfortable in the water. Coldwater diving will not see the SAC you could expect in the tropics.

Try to streamline yourself and your gear as much as possible, and forget about how you're breathing, just do it.

Phil

 

[Mo2vation]

That's when I had enough dives back to back to back over several days to really notice the change.

For me, I noticed a significant drop in gas consumption and the composure that brings by changing my breathing to:

deep in -> relaxed, purposful stall (not a cheeks full hold!) -> full push out -> short stall -> deep in.

My understanding of this is that by clearing on the full out, the deep in becomes more effective, as during the stall more 02 is being extracted as the lungs are more fully able to extract due to the still gas and better contact with it. That does NOT mean holding longer is better! Its not a hold, its simply a stall (almost like a sigh...in, frown, out!)

There are a zillion people on this board that can quote you medical chapter and verse, cut and paste articles from recognized organizations with the latest news, provide detailed maps of the inner works of lung gas exchange......blah blah. Whatever. All great stuff, but until I nailed the stall and the full out, none of that other stuff mattered - for me.

I get more bottom time from my same cylinder. My log says so. it works.

K

 

[MechDiver]

Mo2vation once bubbled...
deep in -> relaxed, purposful stall (not a cheeks full hold!) -> full push out -> short stall -> deep in.

My understanding of this is that by clearing on the full out, the deep in becomes more effective, as during the stall more 02 is being extracted as the lungs are more fully able to extract due to the still gas and better contact with it. That does NOT mean holding longer is better! Its not a hold, its simply a stall (almost like a sigh...in, frown, out!)

Everytime I try to do all this textbook stuff I get a headache. Then, when I forget about it and just enjoy the dive, I do just fine. Your basic concept is fine, but if you spend the whole dive concentrating on in...relax...hold...out...short stall??...its like driving through a town you can't remember seeing.

 

[Amber]

I was told by my instructor that 5-6 seconds breathing in and 5 -6 seconds exhaling is a good rate. I practiced and practiced. I still do it even when I'm around the house. But I found out that 6 seconds of exhaling wasn't enough for me so I now breath 5 seconds in, 10 seconds out. It took some getting used to at first, but now I have an excelent bottom time....and I don't get CO2 buildup.

Amber

 

[Dee]

...is In and OUT, In and OUT, repeat often.










Sorry...couldn't help myself! ut:

 

[Mo2vation]

Sure Mech - that's why I don't golf...too much %$@* to remember.

My objective was much the same as AK's... improve SAC, increase bottome time, better control - essentially.

After all of the equipment issues are addressed (flapping hoses and dangling gear) and the locomotion issues are addressed (from going all Mark Spitz with your hands and arms to a streamline, relaxed kick) - presuming you're in decent physical shape, the next step to achieving his (and my) objective is improving your breathing technique.

Does this mean taking along a check list like some yardage-to-club calculator you've spent years developing so you can pick the right club to the right condition, yatta yatta...? NO. Of course not.

But you've been doing this long enough to have to admit that you're breathing below the surface through your reg is different that your breathing while you're in your car on the way to a movie.

It does require focus, then muscle memory takes over and it becomes standard, simple, brainless breathing. Underwater breathing, but still breathing.

Its way doen on the checklist... You don't get hung up on it, but you'd be remiss not to address it, as it is a skill that can be improved upon. Its more honining and sharpening than re-learning.

K

 

[DiverBuoy]

Remember the body's trigger to take another breath is due to a build up of carbon dioxide not a lack of oxygen. When you exhale the 2nd stage regulator combined with your body's airway contains dead air with lower oxygen and higher carbon dioxide. Therefore, rapid shallow breathing can be toxic.

As stated, the key is first being mindful of reducing workload underwater. Then using a rhythmic, slow and deep breathing method. At first you might have to work a bit harder at performing a quality exhale, but with some practice and concentrated focused on this area, you'll gain a great deal of proficiency and be on your way to improving your air consumption and diving experience.

 

[salty]

Why through a regulator of course!!


Yuk...Yuk...Yuk:shaking:



Sorry couldent resist