Would a large lung capacity contribute to hogging air?

[Zenshift]

This is one of those things that will improve with your experience level. How do I know? After sucking air my first 6 dives, I realized the pace of breathing is important as well. I was sooooo focused on "in, out, in, out, DON'T STOP BREATHING OR YOUR LUNGS WILL EXPLODE!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

Only after I spoke with experienced divers did I realize your inhalation should be around 3-5 seconds while your exhalation can be 5-7 seconds. Picture your last few breaths before you go to sleep. Also, the depth of breathing does not have to be huge (as already mentioned above).

With a large lung capacity this easy pace will also make your buoyancy control easier. When I was focused on in/out I would rise and sink 2 - 3 feet at a time (even more when within 25 ft of surface .. you'll learn why you bounce more when you're shallower). With the easier pace, you're not so much a cork.

I tell you these things as someone who just recently learned a few "insights" that more experienced divers may have internalized already as automatic.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

I'm getting better, but I have a high metabolism and a large lung capacity, and even though I'm in great shape, I blow through my air like mad. Now, at 32 dives, (and I'm still diving with 100 cu/ft tanks), I'm starting to see my air beginning to last me a good deal longer. My last dive in Cozumel last month, we had a max depth of 55fsw. With a 100, I started and finished the 40-minute dive with everyone, and got back on the boat with 960 psi left. I was doing a victory dance during the safety stop. LOL

 

[Web Monkey]

Hello!
Before I got started with my pool sessions I had myself checked out by a lung specialist who did a pulmonary function test. He said that I had an "exceptional" lung capacity. (I didn't get the actual numbers) What surprised me a bit was that I seemed to burn through air really quickly during my pool sessions. (even the last few where I felt really at ease and practiced my breathing)

Don't worry about it, it's not a competition.

As you dive more, you'll start using less air. For now, you can just dive with bigger tanks to get you about the same bottom time as your buddies.

Terry

 

[Ironhed]

for me I have gotten more and more comfortable as I do more diving. I started spearfishing and my first spearing dive was to 120 feet. I dove a 120 cf tank nitrox mix. I was only on the bottom for about 20 minutes and had consumed all but 500 psi on that dive. the added depth and the speargun excitement I really hogged up the air not to mention the 700 lb jewfish i saw come after my buddies fish. now I can do the same dive same size tank same depth and come up with about 1700 psi left. it has alot with how relaxed you can become while down there. you being a new diver are going to be very excited naturally and thus will breathe more. in time with practice and conciously conserving your air you will gain more tank time. just remember to monitor your consumption.

 

[Kaamoss]

I fixed my air consumption problems by breathing in for 4 seconds, then slowly breathing out for 10. I don't pause between breaths. Once I started doing this, my air consumption rate was almost half what it was before.

You might consider just noticing how long you breath in and out for, and how deeply you breath in. Just try new things and see what works for you

 

[Nomad]

breathing in for 4 seconds, then slowly breathing out for 10. I don't pause between breaths.

This is also an excellent method. The bottom line is to allow more time for the O2/CO2 exchange to take place within the lungs. (and don't hold your breath.)

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Don't worry about it, it's not a competition.

As you dive more, you'll start using less air. For now, you can just dive with bigger tanks to get you about the same bottom time as your buddies.

Terry

Exactly. When you stop worring about air consumption it will probably go down. Also, large fit people CAN use a ton of air if their work load or stress level is high.

 

[Brian.Bergh]

hmmm I'm just started to snorkling / freedive.... been diving 10 times the last month. i can already hold my breath 2 minutes even when swimming in a thick wetsuit with hood and boots and all (Denmark got cold waters).

When i started i could only do 1 minute. thinks it about training and how your body uses to O2....i Mountain bike alot and lift weights also....dont know if that does something for me when holding my breath.

 

[Charlie59]

Although fitness, size, and breath rate can affect air use a couple of things to remember

1. The slow breathing can backfire because the CO2 will increase and you can get to the surface with a nice headache.

2. Some people tolerate higher CO2 levels better than others as a function of genetics and this may limit your ability to change your minute volume (the amount of air one breaths) by open glottis breath holding. Minute volume is the rate of breaths times the volume of the breath (and not the volume of your lungs).

3. A larger breath is more efficient because you don't have to put air in the non-functioning lung units (non-air sacs) as frequently. That is if you get to your minute volume with larger breaths at a lower rate you have less or each breath go to "dead-space ventilation".

How's that for a physiology lesson?

 

[Buoyant1]

Hmmm let's see. I have less than 20 dives, I'm appx 300+ lbs but in good physical shape (if you discount the spare tire around my waist, thank you to the excellent lager's and ale's I comsume)

I'm built rather large ("I'm not fat, I'm big boned" $1. to Cartman) but spend at least 4 nights at the gym each week.

I did two dives in Key Largo this past January, One at 40 fsw for 42 minutes, and one at 49 fsw for 47 minutes. It's getting MUCH better!

Since I was using a new digital camera for the first time, I wasn't thinking about breathing breathing breathing, and just did it naturally, and had the best air consumption I've ever had. In fact, I think on the second dive, our group surfaced because the other guy that was diving with us was in the red (I still had about 700-800 psi left at that point)


So, I'm convinced that it's a "comfort level" thing and it gets better with experience, I used to balk at the people that said "It'll happen". I guess they were right.