How small is your SAC?

[Captain12Pk]

I'm usually between a .58 and a .62 scfm. Which I thought was fairly respectible. Then I got a new dive buddy; a fairly petite female who is a .32 scfm. Ugh! I'm curious to see if using a dedicated inflation bottle for my drysuit make any noticeable difference.

 

[don Francisco]

What next? See who can pee the farthest?

While knowing SAC rate is useful and comparing it over time helps track imrpovement for newer divers, comparing it person to person is a totally useless endeavor.

After acheiving all possible efficiencies in breathing technique, SAC rates will still vary greatly person to person, based on size, weight, metabolism, dive style and regional differences in dive conditions.

Who has the lowest SAC rate? Some 110 pound, even tempered, type B personality woman, who drift dives in mild current in the tropics.

Don't judge this by the tone, it's just that I don't get it. I think SAC rate is another one of those things not worth bragging about or comparing.

BTW- betcha mine's lower than yours

 

[texdiveguy]

Dang....ole Don's a party pooper........... :mooner:

 

[LowVizWiz]

I have a huge sac!


No really I have a huge sac rate difference When I'm alone or with a very familiar buddy I'm in the .54 range, when I'm with students it shoots up to .7s - .8s and I usually settle by the second dive in the .6 range.

Wiz

 

[mksmith713]

If the water is COLD, my SAC gets really small and wrinkled, but usually, if the water is just right my boys are hanging.

 

[nereas]

With a DPV your RMV normally falls to its most efficient low level. For me that is 0.5 cu ft / min. And your travelling speed underwater becomes a whopping 50 yards(metres) per minute.

Without a DPV it all depends on the ocean conditions, current, etc. And in 1 min you barely move forward at all.

The solution is obvious.

Stop diving without a DPV.

 

[Rhone Man]

What next? See who can pee the farthest?

I thought next week we could do: who has the biggest sausage (SMB of course)?

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

What next? See who can pee the farthest?

While knowing SAC rate is useful and comparing it over time helps track imrpovement for newer divers, comparing it person to person is a totally useless endeavor.

After acheiving all possible efficiencies in breathing technique, SAC rates will still vary greatly person to person, based on size, weight, metabolism, dive style and regional differences in dive conditions.

Who has the lowest SAC rate? Some 110 pound, even tempered, type B personality woman, who drift dives in mild current in the tropics.

Don't judge this by the tone, it's just that I don't get it. I think SAC rate is another one of those things not worth bragging about or comparing.

BTW- betcha mine's lower than yours

I doubt it.
Of course I am *almost* one of those divers you profiled with the low SAC rate. I am female, a bit over 110, under age 50, even tempered, who thinks drift diving can be streneous.. can you say very slow underwater??

 

[nereas]

I doubt it.
Of course I am *almost* one of those divers you profiled with the low SAC rate. I am female, a bit over 110, under age 50, even tempered, who thinks drift diving can be streneous.. can you say very slow underwater??

He is right, though.

Simply put, females of all species on the planet are designed by Nature for efficiency. They are the more efficient creatures in everything they do.

Males are instead designed for strength and combat. And this is inefficent, although a necessary evil, if Nature be any guide.

 

[Tigerman]

My SAC varies a lot. Usually first dives at new locations/areas is noticeably higher than the following dives. It also varies with waters. What matters most to me is that I have a good dive..

Without checking my log I know that Ive had dives in the .60s as well as the .90s probably averaging in the .70s assuming my maths been done right. If it havent its the same error on all the dives which means I can still use my log as a pointer as to how my sac changes..