## When Breathing Underwater While Scuba Diving
When you’re scuba diving, you’re breathing compressed air from a tank. This air is delivered to your lungs through a regulator, which reduces the pressure of the air so that you can breathe it safely.
As you descend underwater, the pressure of the water increases. This means that the air in your tank becomes more compressed, and you need to breathe more often to get the same amount of oxygen.
At depths of more than 30 feet (9 meters), the pressure of the water becomes so great that you can’t breathe compressed air safely anymore. This is because the pressure of the air in your tank can cause your lungs to collapse.
To scuba dive at depths of more than 30 feet, you need to use a special gas mixture called nitrox. Nitrox is a blend of oxygen and nitrogen, and it has a lower percentage of oxygen than compressed air. This makes it less likely to cause your lungs to collapse.
Nitrox is more expensive than compressed air, but it allows you to dive to greater depths. If you’re planning on diving to depths of more than 30 feet, you should consider using nitrox.
## How to Breathe Underwater While Scuba Diving
Here are some tips on how to breathe underwater while scuba diving:
* **Breathe slowly and deeply.** Taking deep breaths will help to prevent you from getting out of breath.
* **Don’t hold your breath.** Holding your breath can cause your lungs to collapse.
* **Relax.** Being relaxed will help you to breathe more easily.
* **Use a snorkel when you’re on the surface.** This will help you to get used to breathing through your mouth.
* **Practice breathing underwater in a pool before you go diving in the ocean.** This will help you to get comfortable with the feeling of breathing underwater.
## What to Do If You Get Out of Breath While Scuba Diving
If you get out of breath while scuba diving, don’t panic. Here are some things you can do:
* **Stop swimming and ascend slowly to a shallower depth.** This will reduce the pressure on your lungs and make it easier to breathe.
* **Take deep breaths.** This will help to get more oxygen into your lungs.
* **Use your snorkel if you have one.** This will allow you to breathe through your mouth, which is easier than breathing through your nose.
* **Signal to your dive buddy that you’re having trouble breathing.** Your dive buddy can help you to get to the surface safely.
## Conclusion
Breathing underwater while scuba diving is a safe and enjoyable experience. By following the tips in this article, you can learn how to breathe underwater safely and comfortably.