Failed OW for Breathing Too Much; How can I fix it?

[WantToPass]

I failed my O/W dives for breathing too much. When I would lay down at 25 f for 5 min I consumed 100. However when I would swim around my air consumption increased drastically so my dives could only last 35 min, my longest being 38 on a tank filled to 2800. I was able to get down to 51 ft and do all the basic skills.

The second issue (minor) was when I would swim using my leg/fins after a few mins my ankle would feel tired.

Any advice is appreciate. I have my next round of dives in two weeks. I have been working out at the gym to increase my leg strength, cardiovasicular system hoping that does something...

My instructor basically said he was worried that if I did a much deeper dive, I just wouldn't last and need to get this issue worked on.

 

[mislav]

First I heard of someone failing OW for breathing too fast! Actually, I even knew a DM that has your SAC rate...

Hours spent in the gym will definitely help as long as you work on your stamina and not on building up more muscles. Relaxing during the dive will help as well, but this will happen without any effort from you - simply by diving more.

Also, check to see if you have too much weight on you. See if you're cold underwater, or tired - all those things help.

If you smoke, that's another huge factor, but kicking it won't matter much in next two weeks. I'm sure you'll do better the next time.

 

[Hickdive]

I failed my O/W dives for breathing too much. When I would lay down at 25 f for 5 min I consumed 100. However when I would swim around my air consumption increased drastically so my dives could only last 35 min, my longest being 38 on a tank filled to 2800. I was able to get down to 51 ft and do all the basic skills.

The second issue (minor) was when I would swim using my leg/fins after a few mins my ankle would feel tired.

Any advice is appreciate. I have my next round of dives in two weeks. I have been working out at the gym to increase my leg strength, cardiovasicular system hoping that does something...

My instructor basically said he was worried that if I did a much deeper dive, I just wouldn't last and need to get this issue worked on.

Ok, I'll bite and assume this is not a troll.

Is there an entry-level certification anywhere in the world where air consumption is a pass/fail issue? Everyone uses more air when they start diving and their consumption improves as they gain experience. It's a fact of diving - nothing to fail you on.

Your ankles got tired - so what? How is the instructor to know? If you signalled him/her that you were tired then their job is to let you recover before proceeding at a pace you can cope with or calling the dive. Again, not a failure point and more diving will improve your ankle strength.

Let's be clear about the next point. You're doing your basic skills (mask rem/rep, regulator clearing etc.) at 51 feet? On an entry-level scuba course? Have I missed something here or is your instructor some kind of nut?

Unless there's some other fitness factor you're not telling us about or you're a troll then I'd say find another instructor as the person 'teaching' you sounds positively dangerous.

 

[scubatoys]

Wow... that's the first time I head of someone ever failing a class for air consumption!!

It's one of those things that just gets better and better over time and practice. One answer to both your questions might be the fins you are using. With something that takes less effort and yet is more efficient, you may save the ankles and increase your bottom time. Have you tried Apollo Split Fins?? The new Scuba Diving magazine is coming out with the latest tests, and again, they were ranked at the top for efficiency, speed and thrust.

But really the main thing is relax... don't be in a hurry to get anywhere! And the only way that will happen is more practice, so I'd talk to the instructor and see if there was anything else that affected them not finishing the cert, as the air thing will get better in time.

 

[Hemlon]

This sounds fishy to me....

But if it's legitimate, how is your overall health? Are you a smoker? Do you have asthma/COPD? Are you morbidly obese?

Assuming that you are reasonably healthy, have the instructor explain what he/she expects. What level of gas consumption is he/she expecting in order to certify you?

What certifying org is your training with? PADI? NAUI? Etc?

 

[trigfunctions]

my longest being 38 on a tank filled to 2800. I was able to get down to 51 ft and do all the basic skills.

38 minutes on a 51 ft dive with a tank at 2800 PSI is not bad, especially for beginning divers! Something's strange here.

 

[Scubakevdm]

I failed my O/W dives for breathing too much. When I would lay down at 25 f for 5 min I consumed 100. However when I would swim around my air consumption increased drastically so my dives could only last 35 min, my longest being 38 on a tank filled to 2800. I was able to get down to 51 ft and do all the basic skills.

The second issue (minor) was when I would swim using my leg/fins after a few mins my ankle would feel tired.

Any advice is appreciate. I have my next round of dives in two weeks. I have been working out at the gym to increase my leg strength, cardiovasicular system hoping that does something...

My instructor basically said he was worried that if I did a much deeper dive, I just wouldn't last and need to get this issue worked on.

That's not abnormal. The thing that will help you with your air consumption the most is diving more.

 

[kybosh27]

I just finished up my Open Water Certification course a month ago or so. I don't have too much experience and have only dove once on my own with a dive buddy after being certified, but it sounds like your instructor is being a little too hard on you. There were different students in my class who all consumed air differently and depending on who sucked it down the fastest we all ended our dives accordingly with no worries. I think this is something with more experience you'll get better at. I don't think it's something you should have failed for. That just sounds ridiculous to me. Maybe you should try and do your check out dives with somebody else or mention it to the shop you went through. Also, as another post said, 51 feet sounds kind of deep to be doing your skills. We did most of our skills on a platform anywhere from 15-25 feet deep and the deepest we went while exploring around was 35-40. I wouldn't feel comfortable going that deep right now. I'm trying to work my way up to deeper depths and I feel ok at 40, but to have to do your skills for the first time at 51 feet seems kind of crazy if you ask me. If you could do the skills you shouldn't have failed. This person seems like either a nut or way too strict if you ask me. It's suppossed to be fun, not stressful and you'll get good I'm sure with practice. At least that's what I hope for myself. Good luck, I'm sure you'll pass. Does anyone else think this seems strange???

 

[Scubakevdm]

I just finished up my Open Water Certification course a month ago or so. I don't have too much experience and have only dove once on my own with a dive buddy after being certified, but it sounds like your instructor is being a little too hard on you. There were different students in my class who all consumed air differently and depending on who sucked it down the fastest we all ended our dives accordingly with no worries. I think this is something with more experience you'll get better at. I don't think it's something you should have failed for. That just sounds ridiculous to me. Maybe you should try and do your check out dives with somebody else or mention it to the shop you went through. Also, as another post said, 51 feet sounds kind of deep to be doing your skills. We did most of our skills on a platform anywhere from 15-25 feet deep and the deepest we went while exploring around was 35-40. I wouldn't feel comfortable going that deep right now. I'm trying to work my way up to deeper depths and I feel ok at 40, but to have to do your skills for the first time at 51 feet seems kind of crazy if you ask me. If you could do the skills you shouldn't have failed. This person seems like either a nut or way too strict if you ask me. It's suppossed to be fun, not stressful and you'll get good I'm sure with practice. At least that's what I hope for myself. Good luck, I'm sure you'll pass. Does anyone else think this seems strange???

I noticed the depth too, but I don't know the standards for all of the agencies.

 

[RikRaeder]

Seems absurd to me. Can't remember reading anything about a prescribed air consumption rate, and I'm a pretty good student. Also, 51 feet does sound a bit deep to be doing skills on initial open water certification, common sense wise. Now the big question: is your instructor going to be making any more money off of you because you didn't pass?