air consumption increase by 50%!!!

[cool79]

i had just purchase strobes and arms for my setup and my consumption increase by a lot!!!

Normal consumption was like 10-11 l/min when i was diving with my gopro... now it is like 15 to 16l/min!!!

is this normal? somemore the condition of the dive site is consider quite easy, as there isn't much strong current.

Do I need additional weight to anchor myself easier or do i need more practise with the camera setup?

 

[Nemrod]

You need to not anchor yourself at all and stay up and off the reef. Your consumption went up because your bouyancy control is defficient coupled with the additional weight and drag of the camera equipment. N

 

[cool79]

You need to not anchor yourself at all and stay up and off the reef. Your consumption went up because your bouyancy control is defficient coupled with the additional weight and drag of the camera equipment. N

i thought of anchoring myself would get better consumption. I was hovering all the time when i was shooting during last weekend. but i was surprised after 45 mins, i was low on air, as normally i will be low on air after 60 mins.

 

[Freewillow]

You do not anchor yourself in any situation. Apply proper bouyancy control before you are taking pictures or video. FYI, when I am seriously filming or when I am just diving, my air consuption is also quite different. It is produced by multitasking, I am not talking about a gopro on my head . Anyone that tells you that he has the same air consuption with or without a camera has never measured his SAC .

By the way, looking at your data, your air consumption did not increase by 50%. I let you do the math once again

 

[cool79]

I am using my wireless transmitter, so the SAC is correct. But 50% increase is a lot. Maybe I would need to get used to it.

The rig weights about 2 kg underwater, as I had to remove 2kg of weights.

---------- Post added July 24th, 2015 at 08:28 AM ----------

Will try again when I head to Bali again in 2 weeks time.

 

[jcclink]

Maybe holding & maneuvering a 2 kg camera rig for 45-60min is increasing your air consumption. Suggest trying to trim out the camera vs removing weights (or so much weight). My u/w setup is about 0.5kg neg & very easy to maneuver.

 

[Nemrod]

i thought of anchoring myself would get better consumption. I was hovering all the time when i was shooting during last weekend. but i was surprised after 45 mins, i was low on air, as normally i will be low on air after 60 mins.

Like we are all saying, if the camera is upsetting your buoyancy and trim causing you to constantly swim (bicycle, water walk, arm paddle etc.) then stop using the camera until your basic buoyancy is under control. You should be able to remain motionless with or without the camera in any position and need only use your legs/fins to maneuver as required.

Good luck, you may have taken a step too far, back up a little and start over after practicing your basic diving skills.

N

 

[abscuba]

Is your camera neg? If so trim it out, it shouldn't be loads of work to hold the camera if it is properly trimmed. So if you feel like you are lugging a brick around then it probably needs trim. As for your buoyancy you should not have to kick alot to hover, when you do your safety stop use that as a time to work on some buoyancy, there is nothing else to do while you wait. Get to where if you are motionless you can hover. When you can do that with out thinking then adding a properly trimmed camera wont upset things much.

 

[cool79]

Like we are all saying, if the camera is upsetting your buoyancy and trim causing you to constantly swim (bicycle, water walk, arm paddle etc.) then stop using the camera until your basic buoyancy is under control. You should be able to remain motionless with or without the camera in any position and need only use your legs/fins to maneuver as required.

Good luck, you may have taken a step too far, back up a little and start over after practicing your basic diving skills.

N

I am hovering. I am not bicycling!!! But it is like trying to go down to very low to shot, I would need to breath out and breath in to control. Like waste a lot of air to get the correct angle and composition.

 

[abscuba]

Sounds like its something that just needs practice and patience. I use the same techniques to wind my way through ships as well as get pictures and if you are calm slow and methodical you wont use lots more air to change position up and down.