[News] Freediving Competition in Dubai 1 February 2007

[NewsBot]

A Freediving competition is going to be held in Dubai from 1-3 February. The organiser of the event has informed me that participants have to pull themselves down a rope, remain at 2-3 metres depth and hold their breath, while still holding on the rop...

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[island_sands]

Gulfnews: Dubai Shopping Festival - Sporting chance

just found more info, but it doesnt detail the rules of the diving competition.

[rbsub]

Anyway, Island_sands, go for it! A new Land Rover isn't so bad

[DeepThought]

"the organiser feels that a static apnea as done according to AIDA regulations is dangerous, and it is much safer and easier to monitor participants at depth, using scuba divers below the surface." (from the news item)

Sounds very peculiar to me. Where did you get this info? Has the orginizer detailed why this should be safer? Are there any people experienced with competitve freediving involved in this? I'm thinking it will only increase the chance of getting water into a blackoutee's lungs. Also every BO will end up being more hypoxic once the diver will be brought to surface (BO at ppO2 of 1.2-1.3, being treated at the surface with ppO2 of 1.0). You can't really force a diver to breath while his/her head is still submerged even if you shove a regulator into his/her mouth and purge (not to mention the increased chance of getting water inside).

[BennyB]

A Land Rover prize????? Dammit BA have cheap flights to Dubai this weekend, I coulda gone! (going to Lisbon instead).

Oh well..... good luck Sara!

[Adrian]

Sounds like the reporter got all his facts mixed up. I bet that once the real rules are seen it will make more sense.

[island_sands]

Well Nadim (Nesim's brother), Bruce (bmc), myself made it to the final!

The way they are doing it is a traditional way which comes from the pearl divers, however, the pearl divers did wear goggles and a weight.. today it was no mask, no nose clip, no wetsuit or any kind of neoprene, no weights, the water is 20deg, (cold for us Dubai-ers) and you pull yourself down the rope and stay there, with a scuba diver watching you (his bubbles were a bit off putting). 10 people in at a time, you entered off a floating jetty and swam over to a big red buoy, did your breath up and then went down. The calculate the time from when your whole body is under water until you surface.

I can usually do a 4 - 4,5 min breathhold (static) but today, what with being upside and my nose and sinuses flooded with salt water i could only do 1,44, Nadim 3,09 (and he was doing 4,5mins just an hour before wearing his wetsuit and mask) and Bruce at 1.47.
so we are all relaxing tonight and hopefully doing better tomorrow!

1st prize - Range Rover
2nd prize - 20000 AED
3rd prize - 15000 AED

3,65 AED = 1 USD


Deeperblue RULES

[rbsub]

In the finals with 1,44 and first price a Range Rover. Why these kind of competitions are not her in Europe .

Relax and win the Range Rover!!

[island_sands]

it was awful though - i might try nadim's techique of crouching down at the bottom of the rope with my head facing upward next time. My nose is still pouring out salt water and that was two hours ago

[Donna]

Can't you pull yourself down the rope feet first?

You go girl

[island_sands]

yeah i suppose i could try that. its not easy, its only 2m deep, you cant see for toffee and its cold - no mask and water just in your nose even Nadim battled and he is a pro in the water! I had some scuba diver with a big camera (i think it's Omani TV ) right in my face too and i got all embarrassed

[Paul Kotik]

No comment.

[Donna]

Originally Posted by island_sands

yeah i suppose i could try that. its not easy, its only 2m deep, you cant see for toffee and its cold - no mask and water just in your nose even Nadim battled and he is a pro in the water! I had some scuba diver with a big camera (i think it's Omani TV ) right in my face too and i got all embarrassed

Shut yr eyes and think of something nice

D x

[Spaniard]

Originally Posted by Donna

Shut yr eyes and think of something nice

D x

Yeah, think of me and Podge dressed as Gladiators (or nurses) feeding you wine

[Observer]

Are you allowed to hold your nose with your hand?