How to Avoid Being an Air Hog

By Robin Battley Since this is the new millennium, it's time to make a few resolutions. Instead of promising to work out more often or promising to eat healthier, let's look at a real commitment for the year 2000. Every diver out there who spends an average bottom time of 20 minutes, or less, per dive raise your hand and repeat after me, "I promise not to be an air hog." Why'd they do that? Why make this promise in the first place and how is a diver supposed to keep such a promise?

You've seen, or been, the diver who needs to end their foray into the underwater world early. A scuba tank just holds so much air, right? You have a larger frame, a higher metabolism, ummm,your buddy must have taken some of your air from your alternate air source. OK, not likely but it could happen! As a result, you missed the octopus everyone else played with near the end of the dive.

You do not remember seeing the multitude or variety of marine life your colleagues discuss after a dive at the same site. You may even find it difficult to secure a dive buddy. How can you spend more time underwater to experience more? How can you stretch that tank of air? How can you lose your designation of "air hog"? To find out, pick up the February issue of DIVER Magazine.