I chew through air help !!!!

[resq31]

Hey guys the last dive I went on I seemed to chew through my air really quickly, I was diving at a local dive spot that I have been on before and not overly excited and felt that I was breathing normally .
Can anyone help suggest some techniques that can improve my bottom time, I have heard of breath skipping breathing, but not sure how safe it is.

[kater]

Hi Resq31,
I have been a notorious skip-breather and I can confirm that it isn't that safe :) I have given myself some of the worst headaches in history and now dive with my regulator tuned almost at free-flow to make sure I don't skimp. Sometimes it was bad enough to make me want to throw-up, and I"m just lucky my regulator is good enough to take that sort of abuse!
I'm not sure why you would be using a "lot" of air, there could be a number of reasons from being cold, swimming inefficiently, an un-noticed air leak... but one thing is for sure, the more you dive, the less air you use. Prescribed Treatment; More Diving :)

[Kurt]

Hi Resq31,
Was the current quite strong on this occassion? Sometime's the extra effort required to even just maintain your position in the current, can exploit a great deal o fyour air. I find by hiding in small eddies behind boulders etc, can help to keep from the influence of the current..usually most of the fish stay in these areas for the same reason.

[Diver John]

G'Day!

I concur with Kate r's assessment of skip breathing. It is not a safe practice and should never be utilised. Fitness and comfort sometimes can come into play. If you are not comfortable; be it current or viz, you will chew through your quicker than normal. One trick I tell my students is to set the tone for your breathing when you first go down. When you get to the bottom and you are holding onto your decent line or a rock for stability take a couple of sloooow deeeep breathes. I breathe in slowing whilst I count for 5 to 7 seconds and then breathe out for 5-7 seconds. This will slow down your heart rate after the strenuous activity of getting down the line and regulate your breathing to 4 to 6 full deep breaths a minute.

Once you have done this for a minute or so you will find your breathing falls into a rhythm and you will then subconsciously continue breathing at that rate or at a much more reduced rate than when you started. Of course remember the golden rule of diving "Breathe continuously and never, never hold your breath!" Safe diving!