The Secrets of Better Air Consumption While Scuba Diving

[@CircleHScuba]

Every Diver Should Use Air Integration ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3iTeItrhKied9k Why You Need Your Advanced Open Water Certification ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWaciWt_ZrOgqNU How to Frog Kick ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/bF7Hg42edpuCi8U Improve Your Buoyancy ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/rInYq52Ca7mil7M Tricks for Proper Trim ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaDGe4ZtnpukiLM

[@laminar0886]

I agree 100% that being relaxed during a dive is essential. I’ve come to really focus on my SAC rate on my computer (displayed as PSI/min), and I make more of an effort to relax and slow my breathing rate accordingly. You also brought up an excellent point that a lot of divers may not be totally honest on their PSI. The peer pressure not to be the first back to the surface is real… and potentially dangerous. Lastly, I love to hear about a diver in their 80’s! There’s great hope for us all then!

[@CircleHScuba]

Haha, the guy in his 80s was insanely smooth underwater, it was so cool watching him! Focusing on SAC during the WHOLE dive may take the fun of diving out of it, so have fun too, but it's nice to check in occasionally! I was just doing that on my dive trip, got down to 12 PSI/Min while watching a shark cleaning station and filming, it was awesome!

[@SummersideDiver]

Another awesome video. Thanks for sharing! And because you brought up the idea of tracking SAC rate, how about a video for that? I know there are quite a few out there already, but this could be a great way to expand your series on improving air consumption, buoyancy, etc. Again, thank you

[@CircleHScuba]

Do you have access to my project board for future videos!? You're sharing my secrets! Haha. Plan is to do some more content leading up to SAC rate and such too. Planning to cover some more finning technique type of things, then get into computers some, which leads to air integration, and then SAC rate too. Probably will deviate into some NDL/theory talks some time in the future as well. 1 video a week and A LOT of topics to cover makes it a bit tough to pick which goes first, but I can tell you SAC rate is in the backlog of ideas and I'm hoping it can come by this summer :P Thanks for the suggestions! Always open to hearing more so please never feel shy about giving them.

[@SummersideDiver]

@@CircleHScuba Lol. No access to your project board; but thanks for the “peek”. I definitely appreciate all the videos, and am glad my suggestion was on point.

[@CircleHScuba]

So much to do so little time! It’ll come, haha. Thanks for the support!

[@udinsalam4751]

Hi Thomas, this is a great video, thanks. I suggest in your future videos like this, please breakdown the video timeline for each different topic. It's easier for us to track down the key topics, especially when we revisit the video. Thanks

[@CircleHScuba]

Hey! I'll be doing this! I had these scheduled before I left on a trip for 10 days and didn't get a chance to pin comments, do subtitles and translate them, or put chapters in. Sorry about that! Thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoy chapters and I'll be mindful of that, especially on the longer videos!

[@yonasngaturi8805]

Yes! Actually the planning a dive trip video could use some in-video signposting so we could follow better :)

[@Baudesign]

Dive more! Exactly! Thanks for the useful info.

[@CircleHScuba]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@freedomwanderer]

Great advice. The most bottom time we can get is what every diver wants. Air consumption is the key. Great video.

[@CircleHScuba]

Thank you!

[@yonasngaturi8805]

Another great and timely video! It’s inspiring to hear how you used to struggle with your breathing and improved it to where it is today as an instructor Here’s my journey/struggle with breathing. Oddly enough during my OW, there was no issue. When I went on my first dive trip, that’s when it started and i’m thinking getting stung by a jellyfish could have affected me subconsciously. The subsequent dives I end with around 50 bar. I knew I had to improve so I took another two dive trips on my own. The former was in low vis (2-3m) and it being my first low vis dive I was moving around a lot just to scan and look around. The latter one had ups and downs. I was weighed more and one dive I even felt my tank was getting floaty towards the end so i’m not gonna say what was my ending pressure 🫣 But the DMs did give tips like not using your lungs as the buoyancy compensator/controller, add some air in your BCD instead and breathe slower, less deep as your lungs have a big capacity and taking all that air in uses up your tank more quickly. I also started to frog kick and not move my hands around which was great. I have also heard tips like breathing in and out for 6 seconds each, totally up to 5 breaths per min which i’m keen to try but I wonder how it affects your buoyancy.

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it and yeah, always happy to share personal anectdotes and plan on trying to do a bit more of that and other stories along the way in videos, I think it's more engaging than just straight "how to" without much around it and I'm hoping others do too, haha. Your story sounds similar to a lot of divers, so don't feel bad about it or anything! It's normal and something we all go through, and with time you'll keep getting better. The breathing for x seconds is a bit too much mental work for me and I end up just in a natural rhythm, but for those that do it I've head it helps. As for buoyancy and breathing like that, if you stay around a normal breath full when you're done counting, it should be about right. If you think like, "okay I exhaled to around 10%, let me inhale to around 60%, then exhale again" you're never like "fully depleted" and you're also never going to do the "okay big huge breath in!!!" unless you really wanna go down or up. Normal rhythm of breathing means you're usually staying fairly "flat" in terms of your up or down motion. Don't overcomplicate it though, just breathe normally, easily, and relaxed.

[@yonasngaturi8805]

Yeah sharing your personal story/origin does establish some pathos and inspiration to strive to where you are today! Thanks for assuring that every diver goes through this. I think the breathing in and out for x seconds is just to give new divers a base to start on. Eventually everyone feels meditative while diving. Actually, at the last 1-2 dives of my recent trip, I did feel more comfortable and observing my surroundings more! Though my perfectionistic (and maybe divemaster ambitious) self wants to be at 100-120 bar 35 mins into a dive hahaha Sounds interesting, i’ll be looking forward to work on breathing and buoyancy on my next dive!

[@CircleHScuba]

@yonasngaturi8805 you’ll get there. Heck I’m a bigger guy and by conventional wisdom use more air because of it, but I was just doing 90 foot dives for 10 days and coming up with 750-1000 PSI after 45-60 mins with about 80-90% of the dive on the bottom (pending NDL, haha).

[@CircleHScuba]

@yonasngaturi8805 but people around me did better than that too, and some did worse. We all metabolize slightly differently too haha

[@yonasngaturi8805]

True! I am slim but I metabolise quick - one DM even said I have a dragon’s breath 😂 I think 750-1000 psi after 45-60 mins at 90 ft sounds pretty good to this beginner OW diver! Can’t wait to get back in the water to practise Re buoyancy and breathing, I think it was in the girls talk scuba podcast that they mention dive pros don’t think too much for executing manoeuvres like how on land you don’t think too much about breathing or turning/changing lanes, you just go through the process and motion of it. Sort of how I felt at the end of my last dives being more observant of the surroundings and just being in the moment of where I am, where I need to go. Ah the next dive couldn’t be sooner Cheers

[@Bigntactical1]

Awesome video!! Question do you have the RK-3 regular or HD’s?

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks so much! I dive the RK3 regular, not HDs, large fit me for normal diving and I need supers for my dry suit. I am considering the HDs for the drysuit since I get a bit floaty with my feet, but heard the RK4s may be coming sometime this year (REALLY hoping to see what they are like!) so I've held off on buying anything.

[@Bigntactical1]

@@CircleHScuba awesome I been looking at the RK-3 and the Dive Rites but I am holding too! I want to see what the year comes with. I have learned a lot from your videos. Thanks for everything you do! I live in FL hopefully one day we can dive together! God bless.

[@CircleHScuba]

I need to get down there for some dives for sure. I’ll be in Gainesville end of March teaching with my LDS on a little “drive and dive” but I need to make my own trip down too

[@CircleHScuba]

If you go dive rite, let me know what you think!

[@michaelmccrorey4973]

Great video. I think you miss spoke about steel and Aluminum tanks. Yes steel has a higher pressure tanks. However 80cu ft is 80 cu ft. No matter what the tank pressure starts at.

[@RAVINGMUNSTER]

That's not quite correct - an AL80 contains 80 cubic feet of air when filled to its rated pressure of 3000psi (approx 200 bar).

[@peterneubauer9712]

I agree a high pressure tank has a higher working pressure. At 3440 psi a 100 cu ft tank is 100 cu ft. A low pressure 95 cu ft tank is 95 cu ft at its working pressure which is 2450 psi. The working pressure of an aluminum 80 is 3000psi.

[@trentsheath7324]

This is why measuring tanks in litres is superior in every way and using pressure in bar because actual amount of air left in tank is approx litres x pressure in bar. Example a 10litre tank at 200bar contains 2000litres of air. Using your sac rate in litres/min you can calculate easily how much time you have left on a tank.

[@brianc5212]

The pressure of the compressed gas is important. A standard 80 cu ft tank at 2400 psi has 64 cu ft of gas in it and the same tank filled to 3300 (10% overfill) has 88 cu ft of gas in it. If a HP 80 is filled to 3000 psi the volume of the gas in the tank is only 70 cu ft.

[@CircleHScuba]

Great info everyone! To Michael, I did mean the Steel 100s (same size, roughly, as an AL80) in that specific bit you're mentioning as I was meaning you can get steel tanks or get a 100 cu. ft. tanks and get more gas when working on your SAC rate still.

[@davedonati206]

Hi Thomas, all great tips! I always relax on the surface for 5 minutes before every dive.

[@CircleHScuba]

Hey Dave! Thanks! That’s a nice routine. I’m usually excited to get in but I agree that helps!

[@davedonati206]

You’re welcome. Especially challenging on those Caribbean dive trips! 😀

[@CircleHScuba]

@davedonati206 haha challenging Caribbean? 😜

[@martinkoumal5771]

Great video as always! 👌👌🤿🤿

[@CircleHScuba]

Really appreciate it! Come back every week for more or check out the back catalog 😉🤙

[@josephdracula7487]

👍🤿🇵🇭😎! Very well said! Excellent advice!

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks Joseph!!!!

[@ingridperilla9692]

Great video! I actually feel a lot of anxiety because my open water (ocean part and last part) test is in a few days. I’m trying not to freak out but your video makes me have hope. Thank you! I can do this 😊

[@CircleHScuba]

You got this!!!

[@eyalmuchtar3390]

Greate video!!!

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed!

[@nfthach]

I’m trying to solve my weighting issues - I struggle with my descents and use up air. But, my last dive, I worked on not using my hands less underwater and kept my arms close to my chest and frog kick. My buddy saw that and she also worked on frog kick too. Also used an HP100, and at the end of a 40 minute dive(and seeing my buddy’s buoyancy issues), I ended up with 700psi. 32psi SAC, not bad for someone who started diving in August with 15 dives under their belt.

[@CircleHScuba]

Not bad at all and HUGE kudos to you for being so aware! That's not something a lot of newer divers catch because unless someone points it out, the don't really notice it's not the most efficient way to move. Great job! Keep at it, it'll get better and better.

[@nfthach]

I dove this weekend armed with a rental Shearwater Teric(way overkill for me) and a air transmitter - giving me real-time stats on my air use - my SAC is 33psi/minute. For someone starting out and my worse was 60psi/min I’m proud of myself.

[@CircleHScuba]

That’ll come down with time for sure. I’ll be doing something on air transmitters in the coming months, and I agree it’s great to know your SAC without having to calculate it yourself

[@TJ-Dives]

Hi, is it safe to dive with IPF. Warm water, minimal exertion. 80ft max?

[@CircleHScuba]

You’ll want to consult your medical provider for that. I can’t answer that for you unfortunately. You can also check DAN’s website but they’ll also say to consult your physician.

[@jeffconley6366]

Another good video. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@CircleHScuba]

Thank you so much 😀

[@jamiemorris7688]

Only Ever used 15L cylinders for singles since training, even after improving my SAC rate I just took the opportunity to enjoy longer dives.

[@CircleHScuba]

They’re nice, always good to have the extra gas imo. I use steel 100 cu ft / 15l as well pretty regularly haha

[@hoddong2]

Big lesson! Simply “dive more”

[@CircleHScuba]

It's one of the best ways to improve for sure!

[@crack_ignaz]

41minute dive at 18m max. - with a 15L steel tank here 😅 But also only my 7th dive overall & 1st fun dive after completing my OWDC 2 days ago!

[@CircleHScuba]

Your air consumption will get better with time! Most of us start off using way more and as we get more comfortable you use less and less. Stay at it!

[@crack_ignaz]

@@CircleHScuba Yeah I have already seen some progress from my 3rd OWDC dive which was ~ 36 minutes at 18m max. Being neutrally bouyant is such an amazing feeling and your videos helped me a lot with that & thanks for the encouraging words! Next step is improving my finning and having more fun underwater!

[@j4s0nst4th4m]

I can dive till 95 minutes with one full tank. I’m a freediver, my co2 receptor higher than normal people. So when scuba diving, my respiratory rate only 4-6x/minute (i never realize till my buddies told me so). But when deco stop or safe stop, I push my respiratory rate to 12-16x/minute to slowly exhale the nitrogen.

[@CircleHScuba]

That's awesome! I'd like to try freediving some time but I also don't know if it's for me. Thanks for sharing though!

[@DarkSideDiving]

Thanks for the video. Nice one. Greetings from Munich. 80cuft are 11,1 L. You were close though :-)

[@CircleHScuba]

Moin moin! This is where my rough math/translations fail me, haha. Thank you!

[@DarkSideDiving]

@@CircleHScuba haha. Where did Moin Moin come from :-) its a very northern german expression. But you should include that in your next video. Makes for a great opening line :-)

[@CircleHScuba]

@kibomuc ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch. Ich war in Flensburg seit ein Monat“ I haven’t spoken German for 3 or 4 years now but I taught myself to a basic (not perfect but basic) conversation level and went to Flensburg a few times, then all up and down the A7 haha. Moin is just one of the greetings I picked up while there 😂

[@arunrao3506]

visualisation activity is a great tip. i am the air hog. lol. i only have 16 dives. I am in indonesia now. diving daily for my divemaster certification. I really battle with using too much air. there are currents and that is new for me. i do scull with hands at times. breathing too deep seems to be my issue. i am a 3XL (US) guy so pretty big. really deep chest to hog air. i am diving with people who are XS size. 40-45kg and i weigh 3 times that. so embarrassing to say out of air.. really makes me sad too cuz i love to be down there.

[@CircleHScuba]

16 dives is very new still. Take these tips in and just take time getting experience. It’ll work out with time! You’ll still not beat the majority of the smaller folks but you’ll be way better. I’m a bigger guy and can hold my own now! Haha

[@TJ-zl3tx]

This video nailed it. I prefer warm water diving, so Caribbean diving has been my preferred location. Usually one but sometimes two dive vacations a year is all i can afford. Yes, I've tried the wetsuit & limited visibility & have always returned to the warmer climates. Liked & subscribed.

[@CircleHScuba]

I also prefer warm waters and Caribbean diving haha. Nothing wrong with that! Thanks for the subscribe!

[@moatazabdelsamad4306]

Keep in mind when doing a bigger tank the weight situation I tried it before and my air consumption was even worth because I forgot to remove some of the weight and used the same amount of weight I used with smaller tank 😅😅😅

[@CircleHScuba]

Good point! Anytime you change gear configuration or it’s been awhile since you dove a configuration, you should do a weight check

[@alexanderantoninsommerkamp4714]

Interesting, I have made the experience that bigger people (more body fat) actually consume much less air than me (a slim guy).

[@CircleHScuba]

Ah interesting! That's very rare! Do they have way more air than you? Are you a newer diver?

[@DivineOneness95]

Waw

[@DivineOneness95]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJ2Zg6aHhtKCla8si=2qiEPYsW5BekrhVe

[@a9653192]

Wait wait! Did you just say there’s more gas on a Steel HP with the same volume as per se one that isn’t HP? That’s just incorrect out right. Like if you tell me my twinset steel HP 80s have more gas than a twinset AL 80s… I’d say you’re out of your mind. Yes the steel HP is rated to 3442, it still holds 80 cubic ft at that pressure and AL 80 rated at 3,000 will still hold 80 cubic feet. They have the same exact volume of gas! I will even go as far as saying LPs are even better than HP. Like say if I have a twinset LP 85s rated at 2640, and a twinset HP 80s rated at 3442. It is significantly easier to fill the 2640 than it is to fill 3442. With the added benefit of the LPs being able to handle 3,000 PSI which is a normal fill, and in this case you’ll have 100 cubic feet of air instead. Whereas some scuba shops have problems filling to 3442 and therefore you get less than 80 cubic ft, ok end of rant

[@CircleHScuba]

Yeah there was another comment thread on this too, and I said I misspoke and meant steel 100s vs the Al 80s. It happens, thanks for keeping me straight👍

[@a9653192]

@@CircleHScuba ooooooo I got it now! My bad. My buddy dives twinset steel 100s… idk how long his back can handle it. I’m already tired with just my steel 80 twinset, plus deco bottles

[@CircleHScuba]

No worries haha, I misspoke so it’s my bad. Yeah twin steel 100s sounds rough!

[@dtt3426]

i have over 350 dives and am an air hog. solution 100cu/15l tanks it's not a "crutch" it's a reality. at first you said being an air hog is not an issue and then spend time saying you have a problem. i try and avoid people with cameras they spend 5 minutes looking at the same thing. depth seems to be my issue the deeper i go the more i consume air. last month i did a shallow dive on an 80 and went 75 minutes. the next dive was at 65' and went thru a tank in 45 minutes. unfortunately a number of dive shops only have 80cu/12l tanks.

[@CircleHScuba]

At 350 dives, you know depth increases air consumption for everyone, though, right? That’s taught in open water. Just wanted to make sure as it seemed like you implied that may just be you. I said it may be considered a “crutch” and you should still work on improving consumption. I’ve seen people use cameras and use way MORE gas because they move a bunch, or people that use less because they are more relaxed taking shots with minimal and slow movements. Definitely didn’t mean to offend with the crutch statement, I said it’s an option for people while they’re working on air consumption still. I stand by that. I know a guy that’s 6’5” and over 300 lbs and went from air hog to pretty manageable. You can improve to a certain level regardless of your body composition using things I talked about, and I’ve not looked negatively at anyone using larger tank sizes. But there’s things you can do to make the AL80 last much longer for yourself. That’s all I’m saying :)

[@lameg80]

Nach 55 min hab ich meist keine Lust mehr und ich hasse Tauchgängen mit über 70 min 🤮

[@CircleHScuba]

I can understand that depending on the dive site. Some places I want to stay forever 😂

[@lameg80]

@@CircleHScuba I freeze so quickly😂😂😂

[@jipduursema9170]

Using a bigger tank because your SAC rate is bad doesn’t make any sense to me. Because it’s a technical solution for a skill problem.

[@CircleHScuba]

Idk how to even reply to this. People can improve SAC up to a point but larger cylinders do still mean more gas volume regardless. If you get 100 miles per gallon on your car, you can have a 3 gallon tank. If you get 3 miles per gallon, you may want a 33 gallon tank. Same range, you use the right tool to enable the range based on performance. Over time you can improve SAC, but it only improves so much before you may need more gas to extend your range/time underwater. So the point stands regardless of skill.