Question Air Hog

[blueeyes_austin]

First answer, absolutely not.

My longer answer would be to really look at why you're breathing do much. Get someone to video you, for example, and really see how you move in the water. Get dialed in on trim. Learn to frog kick.

Another thing you can do is always dive a little bit above her--keep maybe 3-4 meters higher than her in the water column and that will have a measurable effect on air consumption over the course of a dive.

 

[Open Ocean Diver]

A DC that can display your actual air consumption rate while you dive will immediately tell you if you’re breathing too fast. Then you can make a conscious effort to slow your breathing and physical exertion to some target rate. I find it invaluable.

I have one I just haven’t commissioned it yet, thanks.

 

[scrane]

So you’re saying use my BC for what it is intended for, and in order to use more of my BC and less of my lungs I should add some weights In order to achieve neutral buoyancy? to archive say hovering in place.

No, not exactly. The only place where you can easily determine your weighting accurately is at the end of your dive under the conditions that I outlined above. You can compensate for being overweighted by putting extra air in your BC, but it is a bad idea to do so. The more air you have in your BC the greater the effect of volume changes and thus buoyancy due to changes in depth. It also enlarges your profile which can be a problem in current or tight environments.

You should have enough weight to have an effortless initial descent.
When you are at your target depth be aware of what your hands and feet are doing. If you find yourself continuously kicking from the bottom you are too heavy and need to add air to your BC.
If you are waving your hands and arms towards the surface you are too light and need to let air out of your BC.
You might be doing these subconsciously, so be aware. The key is to be motionless and stable in the water column.
Quick spurts of air in and out are best. Multiple quick spurts are generally better than one long one which might over-compensate for your situation.
Don't be afraid to utilize your BC. Make an effort to develop muscle memory so you know what button puts air in and what takes it out. Practice manual oral inflation occasionally. Remember that a BC that you think is empty might not be. Wiggle around and make sure the exhaust is at the highest point on your BC.
Buoyancy control is the key to easy, pleasurable and controlled diving. Once you have licked buoyancy control everything else follows. Including your breathing rate.

 

[johndiver999]

Another thing you can do is always dive a little bit above her--keep maybe 3-4 meters higher than her in the water column and that will have a measurable effect on air consumption over the course of a dive.

That is an absolutely terrible way to dive with a buddy,, positioned above and behind them

 

[blueeyes_austin]

That is an absolutely terrible way to dive with a buddy,, positioned above and behind them

When did I say behind them? Being a bit higher in the water column is absolutely fine.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

That is an absolutely terrible way to dive with a buddy,, positioned above and behind them

I don't get this statement at all..... I believe that if a diver wants to remain shallower than a buddy or a group............ then just above and behind the buddy or group is the perfect position.

 

[johndiver999]

I don't get this statement at all..... I believe that if a diver wants to remain shallower than a buddy or a group............ then just above and behind the buddy or group is the perfect position.

Perfect for whom?

This is buddy diving 101. You want someone following you from above and behind? If they are your buddy you want to check on their position every 20 seconds or so. So what do you do?

If they are next to you, then you glance over or possibly look at a light beam.

If they are above and behind what do you do? Stop turn around, look up into the sunlight, destroying your dive vision and also getting that last bit of water in your mask to roll into your nose and across your eyes. Incredibly maddening when someone does that. Nobody will do that to me for more than one dive.
Either they dive with me or they can dive alone.

 

[Boarderguy]

Perfect for whom?

This is buddy diving 101. You want someone following you from above and behind? If they are your buddy you want to check on their position every 20 seconds or so. So what do you do?

If they are next to you, then you glance over or possibly look at a light beam.

If they are above and behind what do you do? Stop turn around, look up into the sunlight, destroying your dive vision and also getting that last bit of water in your mask to roll into your nose and across your eyes. Incredibly maddening when someone does that. Nobody will do that to me for more than one dive.
Either they dive with me or they can dive alone.

Above and behind allows both buddies to keep tabs on eachother. The lower diver can easily look up and behind vs straight up. The upper buddy always has eyes on them.

This of course only applies if you want split level buddies.

 

[blueeyes_austin]

Yeah, I prefer to be a bit lower and behind especially if my buddy is less experienced than me. Helps balance out air consumption and generally keeps the dive moving slower.

 

[johndiver999]

When did I say behind them? Being a bit higher in the water column is absolutely fine.

OK so let me get this, the guy who is 12 ft above the other is actually leading the dive? If the diver is directly above the lower diver, then the lower diver has to do a barrel roll every 20 seconds and look for the guy above? Staying directly above another diver certainly precludes efficient and continuous swimming.

Is this seriously how you dive? Perhaps it could be tolerable if it was dark and both divers had powerful lights to easily signal, but otherwise that is unworkable in my opinion.