Alright I have a simple question: What can I do to decrease the amount of air I use? Are their any techniques for managing air consumption?
I have noticed (anecdotal evidence) that people with sporting backgrounds... seem to have better SAC's (air consumption rates) even early in diving. This is only what I have noticed over the years and not based on any scientific research. These are people who have developed an efficient way of breathing to be effective in their sport. It does not appear that they always have to stay super fit for this benefit to last.
The best way to have a good breathing rate is to not focus on it too much! The more you worry about it the worse it seems to be.
Breathing is both a voluntary and involuntary activity. If you think about your breathing.. it changes. That is why medical professionals will often try to keep you from noticing when they check your breathing rate.
In the scuba course they talk about... NEVER HOLD YOUR BREATH! NEVER ASCEND WITHOUT BREATHING OUT! They talk about it so much that some people are virtually hyperventilating during the entire dive.
I think more attention could be paid to explaining the mechanics of breathing. Co2 levels in the system trigger a response to exhale... immediately after exhaling... we inhale then pause.. when Co2 levels tell us... exhale and keep that up. Normal breathing does not mean you are inhaling or exhaling at all times... there is a natural pause while your airway is relaxed. This is different from HOLDING YOUR BREATH! It is just a matter of keeping your airway relaxed and allowing a bit of air to escape if you ascend a little... or breathe out as you ascend more.
The best thing you can do really ... is listen to your body and under no circumstances try too hard to use less air. Your body needs what it needs .. based on efficiency and lung size. It is dangerous to deny your body what it needs (skip breathe) and especially underwater.
We come in all shapes and sizes and our respiratory are the same. Scuba cylinders come the same... If you are concerned.... well... just buy or rent a larger cylinder... problem solved
The only "trick" I would suggest is to use your expired air to inflate your BC in stead of using the power inflate. If you breathe the air you normally exhale into the water into your BCD you are not wasting tank air. Always manually inflate before entry. At the end of the dive on the surface I am sometimes lazy and use tank air... but not unless there is a lot of wave action or something.
Keep blowing bubbles and stay safe!:blinking: