Suggestions to even out bottom times?

[cshel]

Hail ye experienced scuba gurus:

My SO got certified a few weeks ago. He and I have been diving non stop ever since. Ok, every chance we've had. He now has 12 dives in 3 weeks! The problem we have is that he uses his air much faster than I do. I have an AL 80 and I surface with 1000-1200 lb of air left while he is at 500-700 lbs. which calls our dive.

Doing the math, we figure if he takes 20% more down with him... we might end up closer to even. Not to mention more bottom time. We can't seem to locate a shop that rents regular air in 100's or 120's.

Do you think this will help? Should we go ahead and take the Nitrox course?
Should we just buy him a steel 120 and be done with it?


You input is requested.

Thanks,
Cshel

[Kidder]

I would suggest that your buddy needs more practice. Here's a link with some good suggestions. He probably needs better buoyancy control and steady his breathing in general.
Less air usage

Also try this one
What Divers Should Practice.

[Capt Hook]

When we started out, my wife used an AL63 and I used an AL80. After 30 or so dives i got better air consumption and we evened out. Now we both use about the same amount of air on a dive.

[finflippers]

Originally Posted by cshel

Hail ye experienced scuba gurus:

My SO got certified a few weeks ago. He and I have been diving non stop ever since. Ok, every chance we've had. He now has 12 dives in 3 weeks! The problem we have is that he uses his air much faster than I do. I have an AL 80 and I surface with 1000-1200 lb of air left while he is at 500-700 lbs. which calls our dive.

Doing the math, we figure if he takes 20% more down with him... we might end up closer to even. Not to mention more bottom time. We can't seem to locate a shop that rents regular air in 100's or 120's.

Do you think this will help? Should we go ahead and take the Nitrox course?
Should we just buy him a steel 120 and be done with it?


You input is requested.

Thanks,
Cshel

Nitrox will not help with air usage.

Next time you are diving watch his position in the water if he is not horizontal then he might need to move some weight around to help trim him out. Not being properly trimmed will cause drag which inturn will make him work harder and use more air.

Also make sure he is properly weighted. Too much weight will cause him to use more air.

As he dives more he will also use less air.

[cshel]

He's been reading and so have I, thank you.

His trim is good, stays horizontal. He's not overweighted either. We practice every dive with bouyency when he gets low, just before we come out. We are going down again next weekend. He has improved greatly in a short period of time. Doesn't use his arms, stays level, stays close by his buddy.... He'll concentrate on slower breaths. Thanks again.

[thesmoothdome]

Air consumption improves the more you dive. Of course, a bigger tank will make up for any disparities between diving too, so if money's not an issue a steel 100 would help until he builds the bottom time through relaxation.

[Theepdinker]

You didn't give a few particulars about your SO.
Everybody seems to have assumed beginner problems.

My situation is similar to yours air wise.
My DB uses an AL80 & I dive a HP 100.
Our dives end according to our dive plan.
We typically have equal percentages remaining in our tanks.
I have MUCH more experience than my DB.
Why do I use 20% more air than my DB?
I'm 6'1" male, my DB is 5'4" female.

Sometimes a person need more air than another.
Get your SO a larger tank & dive.


Theep

[Kidder]

Originally Posted by Theepdinker

You didn't give a few particulars about your SO.
Everybody seems to have assumed beginner problems.

My situation is similar to yours air wise.
My DB uses an AL80 & I dive a HP 100.
Our dives end according to our dive plan.
We typically have equal percentages remaining in our tanks.
I have MUCH more experience than my DB.
Why do I use 20% more air than my DB?
I'm 6'1" male, my DB is 5'4" female.

Sometimes a person need more air than another.
Get your SO a larger tank & dive.


Theep

My wife uses much less air than everyone. I heard that females have signifigantly less lung capacity and therefore use less air.

[cshel]

OK, my SO/DB is 6 ft male, I'm 5'6" and he does outweigh me. But we both could stand to lose 20-30 lbs.

I'm also a singer, maybe I know how to control my breathing better.

[FishFood]

Unless he leaves you to go back up, hopefully yalls bottom times ARE equall


Really though, just give him a few dives. Itll settle down to a mroe reasonable level.