Breathing

[DivemasterDennis]

Buoyancy control through breathing is a skill that takes time to master. I practice it on every dive at the safety stop(s). I do bob a little, but you shouldn't bob much, not more than a foot if you are under control. I am just back from a week of diving in Mexico, and the speed of consumption for some new divers, due to moving a lot, being excited and jazzed by the dive itself, and lack of practice, was about twice that of the experienced people. However, even the new people experienced improvement each day. Some thing just take time and practice. We were all new divers once, with the same questions and same issues.
DivemasterDennis

 

[jdg]

That exercise we all did. on bottom shallow water and fins on bottom? Up and down we go? Do that then go to keeping about a foot off the bottom in 5-6 feet of water, do a few tank fulls. Great way to make you cool your breathing. But in shallow water only. Very hard to start.

 

[RJP]

Would doing some cardio help me?

On about three different fronts.

:d

Two years ago I started an active cycling/swimming regimen. My SAC rate improved dramatically... plus I lost a bunch of weight, my cholesterol and glucose numbers all moved in the right direction, I look better, and feel better all the way around.

I did need to buy new clothes, however.

 

[rockystock1]

How old are u rjp?


Mike

 

[PfcAJ]

Just breath like normal. Don't try and get cute and do something special. Just breath.

 

[jdg]

Did I explain that wrong?

 

[RJP]

How old are u rjp?


Mike

Early to mid middle age.

:d

 

[rockystock1]

Did I explain that wrong?

No mate, I understood, fin pivot in shallow water then swim around using boyency


Mike

 

[TSandM]

Breathing and buoyancy are intimately related. The advice to "breathe slowly and deeply" can really wreak havoc with the buoyancy of a man with a large lung volume.

The one virtue of the old "fin pivot" exercise, was that, as the student practiced, he would notice there was a certain rhythm to things -- inhale, and as you notice you are rising, exhale, and as you notice you are sinking, inhale again. With practice and careful observation, one can cultivate a rhythm that results in almost no net displacement in the water column -- just maybe a couple of inches. This also tends to be a very efficient breathing pattern, which is slow enough to maximize air time, but fast enough to get rid of C02.

 

[Hickdive]

I've tried various combinations but in, out, in, out works best and in, in, in, out is just plain uncomfortable.