[efattah]

More info:
- I hadn't done any deep dives since my no-suit dive at Nationals last June (74.5m 2'45")
- In fact I hadn't dove at all, except for once a weekend for three weekends, recreational diving to a max of 38m (with wetsuit)
- I hadn't done any dry land training except 20 consecutive days of intensive pranayama and chi-gong (2-3hrs a day)
- After this intensive yoga/chi-gong streak, I attempted my first dry static, and made 7'22" on the first attempt
- I did a 'squat test' to check the stored energy in my legs and got 21, more than enough for a deep dive
- I figured I was ready for some deep dives so I registered for the local regional competition, which meant I had to practice
- I got into the inflatable boat, and my girlfriend paddled us out to the line
- I did one dry static to 2'30" in the boat, doing a little bit of packing to stretch during the static
- Then I got into the water and connected my lanyard
- In 15C water I cannot relax; in 8C water I can relax because my body goes 'numb'; in 19C+ I can also relax because it is warmer; in 11-17C I can't relax
- I tried to relax for 1 minute, no success
- Then Pete started my 2 minute countdown (no warmup dives)
- To make the dive MUCH safer, I deliberately over-ventilated at the surface, to get rid of all the CO2, which almost eliminates the narcosis; this increases the risk of a samba/BO at the end of the dive, but makes the deep part much safer when diving with only a lanyard and safety freedivers
- The plan is to change the breathe-up to a much less aggressive breathe-up during the competition when there is deep water safety
- I felt a slight tingle in my fingers, which I would NEVER want in a competition; I knew with a tingle in my fingers before the dive, I was DRASTICALLY increasing my risk of a samba/BO, but it would reduce the narcosis; this is especially important when diving without a suit in cold water, since the extreme vasoconstriction drastically reduces the body's ability to store and buffer CO2; as a result, failure to breathe sufficiently before a no-suit dive in cold water can result in a blackout at the bottom from CO2 toxicity; all the more reason to hyperventilate before the dive

- At top time, I packed and started the dive
- I hit the first thermocline at about 3-4m
- I tried to sink at 17m but I was only moving at 0.5m/s according to the F1
- So I did some small kicks until 30m and then sank from 30m
- The last time I looked at the F1 was at 28m just before my mouthfill at 30m
- Once I had entered the 8C zone I became extremely relaxed because of my numb skin, and the descent was very fun and pleasant, although it was the longest descent ever 1'50" (previously it took me 1'35" to reach 88m in 2001)
- I was actually aiming for 70m but we screwed up the markers on the line
- It seemed to take a very long time to reach the light at the bottom; I'd say my terminal velocity was around 0.70 - 0.75 m/s
- On the ascent, I expected 57-60 strokes to get up from 70m
- I had very little narcosis due to the aggressive breathe-up
- I reached my first safety freediver at 30m and I was almost at 60 strokes
- Soon after, I counted 60 strokes, but the surface was still far and my legs were finally getting tired; I couldn't understand why it was taking so many strokes to get up from 70m
- Then I reached my 2nd safety freediver and by then I lost count of the strokes
- I could tell in the last 30m that I was super hypocapnic due to the deliberate aggressive breathe-up, and I expected a shake on the surface
- I got to the surface with a short shake (also my brain does not have tolerance to low oxygen due to the lack of apnea training)

I checked the F1 and saw 80.5m, ten more meters than we had planned. However, I think it would have been a much better/easier dive with less breathing before hand. Regardless, I was only going to announce 72m for the competition.

Anyway, considering I hadn't done any dive-specific training or any deep dives since last summer I was pretty happy.

I was using a mask and weight belt to simulate the competition, because the new AIDA rules are not yet in effect.

Last summer (August/September) I was doing so much apnea hiking that my recreational dives were over 3'00" (around 20m, while actively swimming). Since then I have lost that 'apnea-exercise' fitness. In the last 3 weeks my recreational dives have only been max 2'00" (also at 20m while swimming). This shows I am in crappy apnea shape compared to last summer/fall.