Using Techniques to Conserve Air When on Scuba
Using Scuba Diving Techniques Prevent Wasting Air From Scuba Tank
Aug 29, 2009
There are a number of ways a scuba diver can use techniques to conserve air when underwater on a scuba dive.
Use Buoyancy to Conserve Scuba Tank Air
A scuba diver with good buoyancy control will conserve air consumption in two main ways.
- A diver with good buoyancy will spend less energy fighting incorrect buoyancy. That is, they will not be continually floating towards the surface. Or fighting to keep off the bottom.
- Less air will be used in controlling buoyancy by having to use less in the buoyancy compensator.
Streamline the Body to Conserve Scuba Tank Air
When swimming underwater on scuba, the diver’s body should be streamlined. This creates less drag through the water, and therefore less energy is required. It seems strange, but it does happen that some divers try to move through the water in a vertical position. This is extremely inefficient.
The optimum position is head first in the direction of travel; nice and streamlined like a torpedo. Arms should be by the side and all equipment tucked away to reduce drag through the water.
Experienced divers can be seen gently finning, maybe with their hands tucked into their weightbelt like an old time gunslinger.
Use the Snorkel on the Surface to Conserve Scuba Tank Air
It is common at the start of a dive, especially a boat dive, for a scuba diver to spend a certain amount of time on the surface. This might be for a short swim to the anchor line to start the descent. Or maybe waiting on the surface for the buddy or remainder of the divers to enter the water.
In these situations, the snorkel should be used. Using air from the tank to breath is simply a waste. However, in some situations it may be safer to use the air from the tank with the regulator in the mouth. This may be when waves are slamming into the diver’s face and filling the snorkel or knocking it from the diver’s mouth.
To Conserve Air, Don’t Surface Unnecessarily During a Scuba Dive
Sometimes during a scuba dive there may be a temptation to duck up to the surface to check bearings. This is a waste of energy and consequently air.
To avoid this, a scuba diver should learn underwater navigation and trust in their ability to navigate underwater.
To Conserve Scuba Air Keep as Shallow as Possible During Scuba Dive
All scuba divers would have learnt during their basic scuba course that more air is consumed the deeper a diver goes. Therefore, to conserve air, a diver should try to stay at a shallower depth.
For example, when diving on a coral reef, there may be a small drop-off of ten or so feet to a sandy floor. There might not be anything to see down there, so a diver may decide to remain just above the coral shelf and conserve a bit more air.
To Conserve Scuba Air When Underwater, Use the Buoyancy Compensator Power Inflator
Using air from the tank via the power inflator to inflate the buoyancy compensator is actually more efficient than using breath from the lungs.
The diver doesn’t have to stop and take deep breaths; and controlled amounts of air can be injected into the buoyancy compensator with the power inflator.
To Conserve Scuba Air on the Surface, Use the Buoyancy Compensator Mouthpiece
On the surface,use the mouthpiece to top up the buoyancy compensator.
However, like using the snorkel, the proviso is to only do this if safe. With those annoying, choppy little waves slapping into the face and threatening the diver with a mouthful of salt water, it might be wise to waste a bit of tank air in the buoyancy compensator.
Unless of course it is the end of the scuba dive and the conservation of air is no longer an issue.
Using scuba diving techniques to conserve air in the tank is a great way to get that little bit more time underwater on scuba. And being underwater is what scuba diving is all about.
Other areas to look at in decreasing air consumption while scuba diving are the human factor and equipment issues.
 |
