In order to better manage my air underwater I find myself holding my breath. I do this only when I am swimming horizontally and never when I am going up or down.

I know PADI says never to hold your breath, but the reason for this is not the same as when I hold my breath, I don't think so anyways.

I hope its OK, because this technique gives me about 10 extra minutes down under.

Just in case I'm doing myself injury, I thought I'd throw this out there.

Well the #1 golden rule I was taught when scuba diving is "NEVER HOLD YOUR BREATH!"

Although I don't think you're alone. If I'm hovering very close to some coral or something and I want to hang exactly stationary. Sometimes I'll hold a half-lung of air to keep myself precisely neutrally buoyant. Having only half a lung of air means even if for some reason someone dragged me up, air expansion wouldn't instantly get the better of me.

I use my breathing to control my buoyancy when I need to go up or down a little - but I don't hold it - so for instance if I am hovering and want to go up a little, I'll inhale deeper than usual - but then I won't be holding my breath - I'll just be breathing out slower to take advantage of the extra buoyancy. I do the oppsite to drop - breath out heavier than usual and breath in slowly as a drop - both cases though, as I say I'm not holding my breath.

I think generally, both of those things are ok and I'm not doing anything overly stupid.

On holding your breath just while diving, you probably are increasing your risk of something going wrong. There shouldn't be any reason to hold your breath while you're just swimming around normally. Perhaps your reg is not giving your air easily enough? If you can get air easier, it should be easily just to breath gently.

PADI says you're meant to breath "slowly and deeply" - which isn't particularly natural - if you are breathing normally and calmly, you tend not to breathe deeply. I've heard the reason for breathing deeply is so you clear out "stale" air at the bottom of your lungs - but I don't know how true that is.

I guess as long as you're not pushing yourself until you really have to breath you're probably going to be ok. Just be careful

I'd be interested to hear other peoples' views on this.

I generally only hold my breath when taking a macro shot and have to be absolutely neutrally buoyant and stationary. Generally that's only for about 5-10 seconds, although sometimes it's taken me as long as 30 seconds to get the shot I want. I'm a very slowl breather naturally, and exhale very slowly when diving, but I never hold my breath to conserve air. I really don't need to as I'm not an "air hog".

Hell no, I don't hold my breath while diving! I don't want to die! #1 rule of diving, DO NOT hold your breath!! Please do not do this people!!

Most dive masters & guides world wide will Skip Breathe - breath in then hold breathe out then hold. A lot of Photographers will hold their breath for a shot, especially a long exposure shot.

Divers are taught not to hold their breath as there is a danger of lung overexpansion should they ascend, this is highly dangerous and life threatening. Even more dangerous in shallow water as the pressure gradient is greater.

It is much better to breathe slower, my breathing rate can decrease to 3 breaths per minute, try it on the surface, it's not easy.

If you start holding your breath you'll end up doing it automatically and eventually you may injure yourself, or even worse.

As an Instructor I stress to students to breathe slow and deep and not hold their breath. With that being said there are times where I catch myself holding my breath, watching a student, trying to get a shot, or just being amazed by what is unfolding before me. Do divers hold their breath yes, but it important for me to stress that isn't an option due to the severe damage that can be done to the lungs.

Thanks everyone for your input.

I will stop holding my breath and practice the solutions you all gave me.

Are you Kidding?!?!? Like someone else said, that was practically the first lesson drill into our heads during training, so the answer is an resounding NO!!!

Yep, holding you breath is not good may find you may ascend anyway when holding you breath as it can make you more buoyant.

I have had the same issues with my air consumption. The way I have found to help improve it was to time my breathing with leg cycles. Breath in for x cycles and out of x cycles. Then trying to improve on that. Of course this only works if you are swimming steadily, but just thinking about it seems to help me. I've managed to get an extra 15 mins out my 12l so far.

Wookie wrote:

This happens automatically when you run. Worth a try if you use too much gas.

I hadn't even thought of running and breathing... now I will have to pay more attention when I am diving... thanks...

Everyone seems to be holding their breath to conserve air. Guess I don't have that problem, as I could do 2 dives on one tank if I had to. Depends on how deep the dive is. Maybe all y'all do deeper dives than I do.

On Thursday I'm doing a dive to 42m for 30 minutes on a single 15L cylinder. According to my planner I should come up with a least 100B.

mikes351 wrote:

You breathe synchronously with your strides when you run, when running steadily you will take 2 strides per breath in and 2 per breath out. Run faster and you could breathe 1 to 1. Trying to do this with diving may work or may not.