How to Improve Your Air Consumption Underwater
It's never fun when your dive is interrupted because your dive buddy's air is running out. It's even less fun when you are that diving buddy. Do you want your air to last an hour or more? Read on to learn the tricks that the best divers use.
First and foremost, remember what it means to make your air last. You don't necessarily need it to last an hour, all you need is to reach your decompression limits. For example, it's only 40 minutes for a dive at 20 meters (according to PADI's RDP). It may not be possible to reach some of these limits, but it gives you a number to strive for.
Next, remember to keep track of your air consumption in your logbook. Even if you don't bring your logbook with you, it's hard to remember all your start and end numbers in your head on a day with multiple dives. Bring something to write on, as it's impossible to assess your progress without some form of written record. Dive computers make it easy today, as they keep track of your dive time.
So now you have a goal and an overview of your progress, here are some tips to improve your numbers!
Relax. Diving is fun. You should never be tense or wear yourself out during a dive.
Keep your breathing regular. It sounds obvious, but constant breathing improves your air consumption. Try to be aware if you ever breathe too quickly, and remind yourself to breathe slowly, count your breaths if necessary (in-2-3-4, out-2-3-4-5-6-...).
Regular exercise. I could list all the benefits of this, but we are interested in air consumption. Simply put, the more in shape you are, the better your body utilizes oxygen, and the more it takes to get you winded.
Quit smoking. Apart from the fact that it will most likely kill you, smoking also affects your air consumption. Smoking damages your lungs, which is bad for air consumption.
Yoga / Meditation. Diving is already compared to meditation under the sea. I have no doubt that a large part of this is due to hearing your breathing through the regulator, which makes you aware of your breathing. Having a regular yoga and/or meditation practice teaches you mindful breathing. Who knows, it could make you even more in love with diving. (as if that were possible!)
Use snorkel on the surface. Whether you are swimming to a buoy or just waiting for your diving buddy to get out of the boat, switch to the snorkel. There is no reason to use precious air when there's plenty of it above the waves.
Achieve neutral buoyancy. Proper weighting keeps your body horizontal, reduces resistance and lowers air consumption.
Use one or more of these tips that suit you, to improve your air consumption and maximize your bottom time!
Regularly go on diving trips with the Odense diving club, and your air consumption is sure to drop.