Did you know that the way you breathe can have a direct impact on your creativity? It’s true. And it’s not just how much air you take in, but also how you take it in. Most people breathe from the top of their lungs, using only about 20% of their total lung capacity. But if you want to be more creative, you need to learn how to breathe from your diaphragm. This type of breathing allows you to take in more oxygen, which has all sorts of benefits for the brain, including increased alertness and improved cognitive function.
So what is surface air consumption? It’s a measure of how much oxygen you use when you breathe. And it’s not just the amount of air you take in, but also the rate at which you consume it. The higher your surface air consumption, the more oxygen your body needs to function properly.
The benefits of surface air consumption
The benefits of surface air consumption are well-documented. Oxygen is essential for the body and the brain, and increased oxygen intake has been shown to improve cognitive function, increase alertness, and even improve the quality of your sleep.

What is a good surface air consumption rate?
The surface air consumption rate is key to understanding and determining when your body needs more oxygen. This measurement of air intake is directly impacted by the type of breathing technique you use. As a general guide, adults not active should consume less than 18 liters per minute, adults in light activity will consume 18-21 liters per minute and those engaged in moderate activity will consume 21-32 liters per minute.
How do you calculate surface air consumption?
There are a number of factors that can impact your surface air consumption, including your age, weight, and activity level. But one of the most important is your breathing technique. If you want to improve your surface air consumption, the first step is to learn how to breathe from your diaphragm.
The surface air consumption rate is calculated by taking the total volume of air breathed in (in liters) and dividing it by the number of minutes over which the breath was taken. For example, if you breathed in 2 liters of air over the course of 1 minute, your surface air consumption would be 2 liters per minute.
3 Ways to Improve Surface Air Consumption
1. Breathe from your diaphragm: Most people breathe from the top of their lungs, using only about 20% of their total lung capacity. But if you want to be more creative, you need to learn how to breathe from your diaphragm. This type of breathing allows you to take in more oxygen, which has all sorts of benefits for the brain, including increased alertness and improved cognitive function.
2. Use a variety of breathing exercises: There are a number of different breathing exercises you can do to help improve your surface air consumption. One popular exercise is the 4-7-8 breathing exercise, which helps to improve overall lung function.
3. Get active: Exercise is one of the best ways to improve your surface air consumption. When you exercise, your body requires more oxygen to fuel your muscles. This increased demand for oxygen forces your body to take in more air, which ultimately improves your surface air consumption.
Scuba SAC rates (surface air consumption) are key to understanding and determining when your body needs more oxygen. This measurement of air intake is directly impacted by the type of breathing technique you use. As a general guide, adults not active should consume less than 18 liters per minute, adults in light activity will consume 18-21 liters per minute and those engaged in moderate activity will consume 21-32 liters per minute. Good Scuba SAC rates help keep you safe while diving and also extend your bottom time.