Improve Your Air Consumption

It has happened to all of us, cutting a dive short because your are low on air. Not only is it frustrating, but it can be embarrassing too!

Diving isn't a competitive sport, but there are times your air consumption can reflect on your "Zen" compared to your buddy. Don't worry. This is nothing more than a skill, one of breathing efficiency. Improvement will come just as your buoyancy improves with practice.

Here are some ways you can surface with more air than a buddy:

Breathe Deeply

Find your rhythm. I breath in slowly for about four to five seconds and exhale for one to two seconds longer. Your rate of breathing must be slowed down or you will move air without giving your body adequate opportunity to absorb oxygen.

To breathe efficiently by using the diaphragm effectively, think about drawing air into the bottom third of your lungs as you expand your belly like a balloon.

Move Slowly and Deliberately

Due to the density of water, you simply cannot move as often or as quickly under water without paying a substantial penalty in effort and therefore air consumption.

Keep Your Hands to Yourself

Don't use your hands to swim! Let your arms and hands float loosely at your sides, fold them lightly across your chest; tuck them in your weight belt or beneath your tank on your back, whatever it takes not to use them.

Maintain Neutral Buoyancy

Buoyancy is a major culprit of air consumption. There are two reasons why:

• Needing to use your BC to make frequent buoyancy adjustments is a sign of improper weighting. Pay attention to your ballast. Wear just enough so that you can hover at safety-stop with about 500 psi in your cylinder, with no air in your BC.
• Second, the natural position of a diver who has mastered this skill is horizontal. This reduces drag and enables a diver to move through the water with less energy.

Increase Fitness

Fitness in diving is very important. The higher your level of fitness, the better your body can utilize the oxygen in the air you breathe. Every diver should maintain a decent level of fitness. Not only will it improve your air consumption, you will be able to better handle the unexpected problems which can occur underwater. In addition you should have a well balanced diet, get plenty of exercise, avoid bad habits, particularly smoking.

Other Factors

Other factors that will help include:

• Streamline your gear and get rid of "dangles.".
• Make sure your regulator is properly maintained.
• Reduce work load.
• Cover up with exposure protection to stay warm -- even in tropical waters.
• Go dive: "Practice makes perfect."