[wes]

From my experience of many varying trials in static doing tables and dynamic doing repetitive sets (continuous 2x25m on 90 sec intervals) doing what I call "mouth breathing" provides direct psychological and physiological benefits thru delayed and reduced contractions and more efficient use of air in lungs due to better mixing. When I mouth breath I exhale all the air into my mouth and puff out my cheeks, then when the urge to breathe comes I inhale this air back into my lungs then on the exhale, exhale it back into my cheeks. While doing this I visualize doing full "real" inhales and exhales. Also on static and dynamics I delay mouthbreathing untill just befor the start of normal contractions as this allows the dive response to kick in really well first. Mouth breathing from the start of a static hold would delay the dive response so be detrimental in that respect.

Cheers wes