Introduction: Expanding-Lung on the Cheap! Dive Further, Deeper, Longer on One Breath.
Exapanding-Lung is a respiratory training device that retails for $40. This is a similar tool made for less than $10. And can be easily adapted to fit specific mouth sizes and shapes.
Here's what you'll need:
A mouthpiece from an old snorkel or a replacement from a dive shop
A plastic valve that can open and close on a slide, such as a water flow regulator valve for sprinkler systems.
A zip tie or super glue.
Step 1: The Mouthpiece
If you are a freediver or spearfishing enthusiast then you will know the importance of shaping your mouthpiece to your already existing mouth shape. Working in the opposite order can be painful and timeconsuming, leaving the mouth poorly adept at completing important daily exercises, like eating or making out.
A diver should have a few left over snorkels hanging around the dive bag. Feel free to sacrifice one of these.
Or, it is prudent to visit you dive shop and pick up a replacement mouthpiece, making sure to thoroughly sample each one for that perfect fit.
I find that the LONG BITE works great for my horse face and adequately fits my bursting jowls. Be sure to choose a good mouthpiece because you will have this in your face for at least 30 minutes a day for the rest of your diving life.
I use Diver's Supply for all my online diving needs. I suggest you do the same.
Get ready to start doing impressive things like this.
Step 2: The Valve
The valve is a device that appropriates a restrictive element to a chaotic force (try not to picture a parent leashing their child to their wrist in the Jacksonville (or nearly any other) airport via Monkey-tail leash. Instead, think: dam).
In our case, the valve should be plastic. The lighter the better. And make sure one end is relatively circular. I browsed the hardware store for nearly 2 hours fitting all types of valves to the pictured mouthpiece and finally settled on the hose adapter. Its light, sturdy and cheap: about 3 bucks.
Step 3: Assembly
No words can adequately describe the intensity of the picture below. Nah, really you just mate the ends of your silicone mouthpiece to the hard plastic "business" end. A generally good rule of thumb: if it doesnt fit right away, keep jamming it in there.
Step 4: Production
You can now secure the mouthpiece with your adhesive or zip tie, and begin to put the Expanding-Lung company out of business. How they ever got to charge 40 bucks a pop for these things is beyond me, like salt lick fine art.
A helpful link.
