7 Tricks To Improve Your Air Consumption While Diving

Learn how to breathe underwater like a pro. 

One of the biggest frustrations almost every diver has encountered is air consumption. Of course, we all want to stay underwater as long as possible, and air consumption is one of its most important factors. But how do you reduce air consumption during your dive? How do you maximize the time you spend underwater? In this article, we will discuss the secrets to improving your air consumption.

1. REDUCE DRAG
One of the tips to lessen the drag? Ensure your gears are securely fastened, clipped, and close to your body. Get rid of those scuba gears you don’t use and tuck in your gauges and octopus. Make your underwater profile nice and sleek so you can swim with lesser energy and lesser air consumption. 

2. MINIMIZE UNNECESSARY MOVEMENTS
The more you move around underwater, the more air you will have to consume. That’s why focusing on movements that will help you move forward is essential. Any other movement will be a waste of energy. Avoid using your arms unless you communicate; move your fins only when needed. Swimming slowly will help you stay underwater for a longer time. 

3. PRACTICE BUOYANCY CONTROL
Learning to be neutrally buoyant will take a lot of time and effort, but mastering it will not just add enjoyment to your diving but also help you stay longer underwater. If you are too light or heavy, you will constantly use your arms to swim or fins to maintain your constant depth, which means you will consume more air. 

4. TRAIN YOUR PHYSIQUE
We are all aware that water is denser than air. Therefore, going underwater is a much more adventurous activity, making you exert more energy. If the diver is physically trained, they will adapt quickly to strenuous conditions such as swimming into a strong current, meaning they will have less increase when the workload increases, so they will consume less air.

5. REDUCE LEAKS
Reducing leaks may be the simplest way to lessen air consumption, but most divers often underestimate it. Your safety should always be your top priority when it comes to diving. You should always ensure that your gears do not have any leaks. Make sure all the connection points do not have any air leaks. Check your O-rings, SPG, inflator hoses, and regulators to see if there are any leaks.

6. STAY WARM
It is important to wear the right suit for protection when you are diving. Remember, heat is energy. It needs to be replaced by metabolism, which uses oxygen to produce it. And the colder you are, the more air you will consume, as your body will need more air to maintain your core temperature. Also, do not forget to cover your head with a hood, if necessary.

7. Go With The Flow, Relax, And Enjoy
Did you know that anxiety and panic lead to more air consumption? Anxiety increases your breathing rate, so you’ll use more air. So if you would like to lessen your air consumption to stay longer underwater, go slowly, breathe slowly and deeply.  Then avoid overstressing about little things. Just go with the flow and enjoy the beauty of the ocean.