In this first of several articles we are able to discuss air consumption; perhaps the bane of many divers and something i used to battle with.
I am sure a lot of you have regarded across in your buddy 40 minutes right into a dive and deliver the “show me your air” signal to be pretty surprised that they may be 50 or more bar within the clean than you. You might surprise how they did it; after all you dived the same profile, you both swam the same distance, maybe you’re even a whole lot more fit then they may be. Possibly you watched they are preserving their breath between inhaling or “sipping” their air.
Clearly there are quite a few strategies that could virtually help you to reduce air intake, a number of them physical, some of them intellectual, and some of them technical. In this text i need to talk about the primary elements that affect air consumption can your exhaust go underwater and ways to lessen or mitigate them to the benefit and protection of the diver.
Pre-dive… Wherein’s my kit?? Every person is getting their device collectively, locating their dive bag, assembling their bcd’s, reading gas, locating their fins; it is able to be rather bedlam, and this could increase your pressure degrees. The primary approach in decreasing air consumption is to be organized and relaxed. Make sure you did a right kit coaching the night earlier than; all of your package is within the proper region and you’re equipped to head. An notable factor to have is a wet bag and a dry box in which you could store your essentials for the dive. Area is limited on a dive boat but packing your essentials, and knowing in which they may be will make kitting up a moderately comfortable challenge. Spend a while rubbing anti-fog into your masks and rinsing it off; i take advantage of toddler shampoo because it works well and prices nothing. That is also a good time to visualize the dive and concentrate carefully to the briefing; set your wrist compass to the dive profile, if its a one way reef dive set your compass along the reef.
Make sure your kit is streamlined.
This can not be emphasised sufficient. If you have kit with plenty of extraneous cords, and fasteners and different christmas tree rubbish you’re doing something wrong. All kit should be in the confines of your body. Get used to the usage of double and unmarried ender stainless steel clips. While you need a few package unclip it, use it, and reclip it. You don’t want silly extension cords attached to your rig all of the time. Inspect dir diving configuration and research from it. That is one much less factor to reflect onconsideration on while you hit the water. Of route make certain you do a complete buddy take a look at and be aware of your gauges. Breath from both regs and make sure the needle would not flow; now you recognize your air is on well.
Hitting the water… When you roll off the boat take some time in your wet suit to paintings. If the water is bloodless you may start to breath fast, and you don’t need to begin your dive is on this nation. You could emerge as the use of quite a few air within the descent if you arent completely cozy. Its a very good time to check in with your buddies and recheck your compass to make certain you’ve got the right heading in vicinity. You might also need to do a weight check in case you are sporting any new package. I commonly spend a very good 1-2 minutes on the surface earlier than beginning the dive.
The descent… As you begin the descent this is probably the most important time to “body” the relaxation of the dive. How do you experience?, perhaps its been a while considering the fact that diving, perhaps you’re worn-out, possibly you’re anxious. This is the time you have to establish your respiratory pattern for the dive. When you descend is likely the least taxing part of the dive. Pay attention and mentally time your respiratory cycle from inhale to exhale; give attention to it. This is the baseline for the dive. You want to be taking slow and deep inhales and exhales. Watch your intensity gauge and make a consistent descent, if you want to pump a few gas into your bcd and wing, do so, however nevertheless pay attention to that fee of respiration; you should be the maximum secure at this factor.
The dive… When you hit the ocean ground take a look at your gauge. How much air did you eat to get to the lowest. This have to come up with a good concept approximately how the rest of the dive will pass. That is your second hazard to emerge as relaxed. Make certain your buddy is there and prepared, once more re-take a look at your compass and now get yourself in order. Check your streamlining and device; you shouldn’t have whatever dangling, your spg have to be clipped off to your bcd or harness, your digital camera have to be at the shortest viable cord, preferably a clip. Check your buoyancy. You must be perfectly neutrally buoyant. Modify your wing or bcd to make sure of it. Get horizontal and in trim. A horizontal role in the water will reduce the frontal region you need to push thru the water lowering your strength expenditure and therefore decreasing your air intake. Use the frog kick. This finning fashion makes use of the least quantity of muscle agencies, kicks up the least amount of silt, and is the desired finning method. After you get exact at it you may swim as speedy as anyone the usage of a flutter kick. When you begin swimming again screen your respiratory pattern. Evaluate it in your descent pattern. Are you breathing faster than before. If so drift and possibly take a rest. Perhaps the first-class way to preserve your air is to lessen you movement as an awful lot as feasible. In case your friend is taking a image, then drift next to him, do not move whatever, stay tranquil and revel in the dive.