Air consumption vs regulator ease of breathing

[Double Hose]

Just had my regulator serviced and it breathes amazingly easy. (On the tank at home---I haven't had it in the water yet.) It has always been an easy breather, but this tech adjusted it to a fine degree. I have always used very little air, especially for a big guy. I'm usually the last one back on the boat. Wondering if anyone has experienced or has any info on this: Could an exceptionally easy breathing regulator actually make a diver more likely to use MORE air (gas) than just a good regulator? Is a slight bit of breathing resistance a good thing? Maybe a crazy question. Any ideas or experience on this????

 

[steinbil]

The less you worry/fret about air consumption, the better, I think. You want to have a normal relaxed breath, but with increased demand you need more ventilation. If you have too much breathing resistance (high work of breathing) it could lead to improper ventilation and CO2 retention, which would in turn lead to higher breathing rate to try to get rid of the CO2, possibly panic and hyperventilation. That will definitely increase your air consumption. I like regs that are so easy-breathing that they almost free-flow, but I don't worry about the effect on my air consumption.

 

[lexvil]

Anyone telling you that not struggling to breath is bad is showing signs of mental illness.

 

[Gone for diving]

I could see If it's set to light, and it doesn't snap shut fast enough, that a bit of air will go out of the exhaust valve....

That probably will depend on how you breathe, but probably will be unnoticeable to measure...

I don't really like it when diving in strong currents, when a backup tends to free flow just from the current... you will lose more air like that...

 

[inquis]

when a backup tends to free flow just from the current..

Which is why an adjustment knob is useful: easy breathing *after* it's in your mouth.

 

[BoltSnap]

Could an exceptionally easy breathing regulator actually make a diver more likely to use MORE air (gas) than just a good regulator?

No, not at all as long as it doesn't leak air.

Is a slight bit of breathing resistance a good thing?

No, the second stage should be as easy to breathe as possible without air leaks (and according to specs).

 

[undrwater]

Anyone telling you that not struggling to breath is bad is showing signs of mental illness.

I'm struggling to understand this sentence.

 

[BlueTrin]

I'm struggling to understand this sentence.

It’s kind of a double negation, that’s why.

He’s saying that if someone tells you that it’s better to have a reg harder to breathe then this person is an idiot?

 

[grf88]

I'm struggling to understand this sentence.

You might need to read it a couple of times, I read it wrong on first go by. Read it as anyone telling you that struggling to breath is good is insane.

 

[lexvil]

I'm struggling to understand this sentence.

Some like to say that a crappy breathing reg is better and lowers air consumption, inversely they tell you that an easy breathing reg wastes air and increases consumption, they suffer low oxygen brain damage in my opinion.