Being a good scuba diver is reliant on a few basic skills needed to help with your maneuverability and the amount of time you can spend in the water. Holding your breath for a long time is a beneficial skill as those who have a smaller lung capacity are more likely to experience feelings of panic during the times that they are required to hold their breath. Many things can be done to help increase the amount of time you can hold your breath for scuba diving to help you progress to become an even better scuba diver who can spend significantly longer underwater than what is normally expected.
Expanding your lung capacity seems to be a difficult task when it can be done gradually using small daily exercises that will improve your resistance to being without air. If this is something that you are very serious about doing, I would highly recommend that you speak with a professional to find the best method to expand your breath-hold ability.
Cardio Training
One of the best ways to gradually increase your ability to hold your breath would be to start increasing the number of cardio exercises you are doing daily. Cardio exercises such as running and jogging have been proven to increase overall health and fitness, affecting the amount of time you can hold your breath. Those who are not as physically fit may struggle with holding their breath as they require more oxygen when doing exercise, this is something that will take time to improve, and it is not going to get better overnight. However, with a strict exercise regime and diet plan, you should begin to see improvements in your ability to hold your breath and your overall health and fitness.
Cardio training is one of the most effective means to improve lung capacity and to prevent rapid fatigue during your dives, your training should be more than just activities to do with diving, and many divers actually overlook the need to do extra forms of exercise that can contribute to helping you in your scuba diving. If you find that you are running out of energy and struggle with holding your breath when you dive, then I would highly recommend that you start looking at ways to lead a healthier lifestyle and gradually increase the amount of exercise you are doing. Scuba diving is heavily reliant on safety. Whether it be remembering to pack your cold water scuba diving gloves or taking the steps towards increasing the time you can hold your breath for, it all contributes to making your scuba diving experiences as positive as they can be.
Specialized Courses and Breath Holding Training
For cases that need more drastic action to help with holding your breath, it may be a good idea to visit an industry professional who can look at aspects of your lifestyle that need to change to improve your lung capacity. Many scuba courses will cover breath-holding training as it is a beneficial skill to have amongst divers. However, you will use breathing apparatus throughout many of your dives. This is no reason to become complacent as there have been many situations where equipment has failed. Divers have had to resort to their own skills to save their lives. You don’t want to be in a situation where you need to hold your breath only to find that you panic and risk your life or increase the risk of injury. As this is so important, you shouldn’t be afraid of seeking professional guidance as it will definitely be worth it in the long run when you can hold your breath for a longer period of time.
As mentioned previously, it will take time to increase your capacity for holding your breath gradually, so you should look at small breathing exercises that can be implemented into your daily routine. By pushing yourself further and further each time to hold your breath for longer, you should see great improvements in your ability in as little as a few weeks. There are many online resources available for those of you that lack the time or confidence to go and consult with a professional that can be very beneficial, with many sources available detailing breathing exercise and other fitness regimes that can help with improving your lung capacity there really is no excuse not to get started straight away. You’ll be glad that you did.
Water Temperature
A factor that is often overlooked when trying to hold your breath underwater is the body’s effect that cold water temperatures can have on the body. If the water is particularly cold, it will likely shock the system when you get in. Cooler temperatures can take your breath away and cause panic for the less experienced diver, and this is why a high-quality wetsuit is essential for dicing as it can help with keeping the body’s temperature at a less shocking level. The energy used to help keep the body warm when it is submerged in cold water is also a factor in how long you can hold your breath with practice. You will find that you get used to the cold water, but in the meantime, some things can be done to combat this.
Wearing a good wetsuit adds a layer of insulation to the body that helps preserve the warmth. This also helps with what many divers experience when they initially enter the water and reduce the coldness shock. If you want to prevent losing your breath, I recommend that you get into the water at a gradual pace rather than jumping in and going into shock. Take small breaths to help you get through it, and even in the warmest ocean, you should be utilizing these techniques each time you go on a diving trip.
Breathing Equipment
Finally, one of the most effective ways to improve your ability to hold your breath underwater is to ensure that you are using the latest and the best breathing equipment you can find. No matter what your budget is, you should be able to source high-quality oxygen equipment from several sources. Ensuring that you are using the best available equipment is the best way to ensure that your breathing ability underwater is not compromised, and therefore neither is your safety.
