The skill your open water PADI scuba diving license didn’t cover.
What is the open water license?
The Open Water PADI Scuba license is the first qualification a diver must get to scuba dive, recreationally. The open water scuba diving course covers many skills and lessons such as: buoyancy, equipment familiarity, underwater skills, dive planning, navigation and much more.
Divers who go through the theory and 4 dives required, qualify as confident and competent divers in the water. However, there is one aspect of diving that a lot of newly qualified divers still struggle with.
This is an underwater skill that PADI does not teach in their open water theory and the 4 dives.
This skill is reducing air consumption with breathing techniques.
What are efficient air consumption and breathing techniques?
Efficient air consumption underwater in scuba diving refers to using breathing gas economically for longer dives.
For instance, while diving to the same depth and duration, diver 1 practices controlled breathing, conserving air by avoiding unnecessary movements.
In contrast, diver 2 breathes rapidly and shallowly, depleting air faster.
Due to diver 1’s efficient technique, they extend their dive time, enjoying marine life and ensuring safety with ample air reserves.
This skill enhances dive experiences and safety, acquired through buoyancy control, relaxation, and experience managing breathing patterns underwater.
My experience with air consumption and breathing techniques
I qualified as an open water PADI diver when I was 14 but only actually learnt to really conserve my air with a breathing technique I discovered at 16/17 and still utilise.
This is because PADI doesn’t mention a specific breathing technique to improve your air consumption. Instead they recommend to breath slowly and deeply in a controlled manner.
This is easier said than done. Believe me I tried their method for 2 years but always ended up using up my air quicker than fellow divers.
I have 65 dives under my belt currently and have dived in the UK, Thailand, Egypt, Tanzania and the Maldives.
But I only fixed my breathing when my family and I went on a live a board for a week in the red sea.
The 2 problems with breathing slowly and deeply
Problem number one
The problem with breathing slowly and deeply, staying calm and being controlled is the diver can easily forget to keep to these rules. For example; Their mind wanders as they look at a red octopus and suddenly their breathing has become quick and uncontrolled due to the excitement of the find.
The same thing happens when conditions change underwater, such as a strong current that divers have to swim against, causing rapid breathing from the excursion of the challenge.
Problem number two
It is very hard to re-establish the slow and deep controlled breaths once the diver has lost their rhythm and control. Furthermore, it also takes time to get that slow and deep pattern back.
This encourages divers to consistently concentrate on maintaining slow, deep, and controlled breaths during their dives, as they aim to avoid losing this rhythm and having to spend several minutes re-establishing it.
Which is not fun. Trust me I was this diver, I know how frustrating it is when you want to enjoy your dive but also don’t want to come up earlier than your dive team.
The breathing techniques
Before we get into the breathing techniques I need to mention 2 points. The first is that they include holding your breath for 3–5 seconds at a time.
PADI stress that the importance of not holding your breath scuba diving underwater is paramount. I agree with them.
It is extremely important to not hold your breath while ascending because as a diver ascends the air in their lungs expands as air pressure decreases. This can cause lung barotrauma, where the lung tissues can rupture or become damaged, in serious cases.
So……
When using these breathing techniques, do not use them while ascending!
The second point is that I did not come up with the first breathing technique, but my Dad did.
He has 300+ dives to his name and has used his breathing technique for almost all of them, and still beats me up every hill when we go mountain biking. He is 54 and has lungs of steel so clearly this diving technique is safe.
Breathing technique number 1
This technique involves 6 actions, 3 of which are inhaling and 3 exhaling.
You gently inhale once, hold for 3–5 seconds,
gently inhale again, hold for 3–5 seconds,
gently inhale a third and final time and hold for 3–5 seconds.
Once your lungs are full you then repeat the first half of the technique but exhaling instead of inhaling.
You gently exhale once, hold for 3–5 seconds,
gently exhale again, hold for 3–5 seconds,
gently exhale a third and final time and hold for 3–5 seconds.
Once your lungs are empty you restart the pattern by inhaling.
I tried this method for around 5 dives and it took me 2 dives to fully get used to it. At first it will feel very unnatural but your air efficiency will improve remarkably.
As I said my Dad, mum and brother all us this breathing technique and they always surface with 60 bar even if the dive was an hour or deep.
Disclaimer: Do not use this breathing technique when ascending
Breathing technique number 2
This technique involves 4 actions, 1 inhale and 3 exhales.
You start by inhaling enough to fill your lungs, but not in an uncomfortable way.
Then hold your breath for 3–5 seconds, exhale gently,
hold for 3–5 seconds, exhale gently,
hold for 3–5 seconds, exhale gently,
hold for 3–5 seconds.
Then inhale and repeat the pattern.
This is the breathing technique I discovered and will always use when scuba diving.
I believe it is better than the first because it is shorter in its actions and is more efficient. It is more efficient because while my family use the first technique and I use the second, I am surface with more air than them most dives. But this could be due to many factors.
Again, I must remind you:
Do not use this technique when ascending
Summary
Air efficiency is extremely important when scuba diving but safety is paramount. I cannot stress enough that if you do go ahead and use these 2 techniques, you must be responsible and confident enough to execute them safely.
This articles purpose is to help scuba divers who struggle with their air consumption underwater. Providing the key to unlock more freedom underwater.
I stand by these techniques I have shared and their value to scuba divers.
Comment which technique you will use!
Please do check out my blog, Start@18 for my content like this!
