whats it like freediving in cold water?

[Fondueset]

LOL - that's 3mil suit territory for us.

[ApneaBlue]

Honestly I must be the biggest puss of a freediver...I hate cold water with a passion...If it's not 82F I'm shaking uncontrolably....

I literally stay awake at night before the "big dives" all worried about the cold water....If I could have the support back home to dive deep back home I'd completely be in my element.

[fleedermouse]

You're missing out on alot of cool water to dive in if you don't do cold water. I use an 8-7-6 xcel and it keeps me toasty. I've dove in 8 degree C water for 4 plus hours and come out feeling hot. I've dove in 3-4 degree C water for 30 minutes without feeling cold. Haven't tried the face mask but I will have to get one now that I am moving back to the world of winter ice.

[naiad]

Originally Posted by ApneaBlue

Honestly I must be the biggest puss of a freediver...I hate cold water with a passion...If it's not 82F I'm shaking uncontrolably....

I'm the same. I can be in a 80F pool with a 5mm open cell suit, and if I don't move around, I start shivering.

I have found it impossible to get used to cold water. Everything else has got easier, but cold water feels just as bad now as it did when I first started.

The only way I can acclimatise to the cold is to get cold every day. This is only possible if I have an outdoor job. Then I get used to it and it isn't bad at all.

[Fondueset]

I love cold water diving! I was thinking the other day that I don't really need my 3 mil suit - my 5mil is great year-round - then the water suddenly warmed up. YECH! I had to spend as much time as possible down near the bottom just to stay comfortable. I was good to go for up to two hours all winter - though most of my dives were around 1 hour and, at the end of two I'd often be shaking.

There are alot of factors that influence your capacity to tolerate cold however - I don't think it's all just will or 'toughness'.

[jome]

David, you just need some bioprene From the looks of it, quite a bit actually.

Ok, but half seriously, body fat makes a huge difference in cold tolerance, especially in the low end of the spectrum.

[Fondueset]

6'1" - 158lbs - I don't got that!

Just talked to a coworker here who's alergic to neoprene!! I'm surprised he can be in the same room with me.

[Apnea_Addict]

How much is the performance reduced by diving in cold water ?

I find it much harder to relax especially in the beginning - after a while the body seems to adapt a bit (even with a wetsuit).

[fleedermouse]

Apnea addict,

That is definitely true for me. I dive really well in the cold once I've been in for about 45 minutes or so.

[Amphibious]

Originally Posted by Apnea_Addict

How much is the performance reduced by diving in cold water ?

I find it much harder to relax especially in the beginning - after a while the body seems to adapt a bit (even with a wetsuit).

I go from a (Arabian Gulf, board shorts) 120ish foot diver to a (Canada, 6.5mm suit) 60ft diver.

still working on that......


Laminar? what's going on with all that shin aching and stuff?? wow, that's COASTAL WATER, like a bathtub

[naiad]

Originally Posted by Fondueset

There are alot of factors that influence your capacity to tolerate cold however - I don't think it's all just will or 'toughness'.

That's true. My willpower is greater than my physical ability to tolerate the cold, therefore I have to be careful. Many times I have wanted to stay in the pool longer, but I had to admit that I was shivering violently and unable to do any more swimming or diving.

[laminar]

Laminar? what's going on with all that shin aching and stuff?? wow, that's COASTAL WATER, like a bathtub

Amphibious,

That's coastal water in WINTER.

Still, I've yet to try the no suit thing with ice in the water. Now that would be a rush.

Did I ever tell you about the time I was in Beijing in Janurary in -25C weather and witnessed a man in a speedo swimming laps in a lane cut through the ice on one of the city ponds?

The most amazing thing was that he didn't die of bacterial infection. Those ponds are disgusting.

He finished his laps (about 10 minutes worth) and then stood in the -25C (not counting wind chill) and dried himself off and talked to passers by.

I got nothing on this guy!

[Amphibious]

blah, winter water in Van = summer water up here

i'm still jealous :P

(although you'd need to put a gun to my head to get me to Live in Van )

[jimqpublic]

When I was 15 years old I would swim about for 5 or 10 minutes in lakes that had ice over half. Now that I'm 41 years if the pool is under 80F I think it's cold. The ocean hasn't changed temperature but where I was happy on my body board all day at 12 years, now I'm cold in 5mm wetsuit when the water is 60F.

[laminar]

Amphibious,

I'd gladly move to the Island. Got any jobs for me?