@NWGratefulDiver Glad to see that post.
As you say there are so many ways of reducing air consumption other than artificially reducing your breathing rate.
In addition to the ones you mentioned, I found the biggest (for me anyway) was relaxing. By getting comfortable with being underwater and on scuba (luckily for me I have always been good in water so it feels fairly natural), my breathing rate automatically reduced.
The sentiment that @NetDoc always comes out with of "take whatever speed you are doing and slow down" also works wonders - there is a hell of a lot underwater to try to see so why stress and try to get it all in one go? You won't manage it so take it easy and enjoy it.
As you say there are so many ways of reducing air consumption other than artificially reducing your breathing rate.
In addition to the ones you mentioned, I found the biggest (for me anyway) was relaxing. By getting comfortable with being underwater and on scuba (luckily for me I have always been good in water so it feels fairly natural), my breathing rate automatically reduced.
The sentiment that @NetDoc always comes out with of "take whatever speed you are doing and slow down" also works wonders - there is a hell of a lot underwater to try to see so why stress and try to get it all in one go? You won't manage it so take it easy and enjoy it.