training/tips for improving bottom times

[ZTH]

Hi, I'm pretty new to spearfishing and am looking for some tips or training advice to improve my bottom times. Currently I have a 2:15 static time, but I desperatly need to improve it. I'm not really sure what to do to improve my time. I'm in good shape physically, I just need some help with holding my breath. Any and all advice/tips would be greatly appriciated. Thank you, Zach

[Murat]

if you are fit then major performance increase will come with mental relaxation. You should be extremely relaxed both above and below the surface. When you dive down you should forget about the depth and time parameters, just concentrate the feeling of dive or the fish if you are diving,be "one" with a water, but don't ignore your body's signal too much and go back surface safely.

[Marwan]

I agree with Murat, you need to be totally relaxed, some of the things that help (in terms of technique) are like:
as you dive remove the snorkel from your mouth
as you descend keep your neck straight to maximize air flow
equipment are a plus, the right long blade fins, low volume mask, weights (you should be positive buoyant the last 10-15 feet.
Always time yourslef and aim to increase your bottom time with every go, but really the key thing is to relax and KNOW YOUR LIMITS!!! always dive with a buddy

[mike p]

Following is a technique that was taught to me when I started freediving and I still find it effective today:
1. Adjust your buoyancy so you are positively buoyant from the surface down to fifteen feet.
2. Lie face down in the water and breathe through your snorkel until relaxed.
3. Slowly inhale until your lungs are so full that taking in any more air is impossible.
4. Hold that breath for a few seconds.
5. Exhale slowly until you have completely emptied your lungs.
6. Hold that breath for a few seconds.
7. Repeat this process a few times; you are not trying to hyperventilate so keep the process slow.
8. As you inhale, drop your upper body downwards while lifting your feet and legs (their weight will drive you downward) and give two slow kicks to get below fifteen feet. Maintaining your calm, swim gently using only your feet. The amount of oxygen used for underwater sprints is not worth the time saved in reaching the surface...you have more oxygen in your system than you think but the supply is far from inexhaustible.
9. The use of good freediving fins and a good low volume mask help quite a bit.

Dive well and with care. Mike P

[cdavis]

Hi Zach,

All the above advice is excellent. Diving is always the best way to practice. One more thing you could do is practice dry statics between dive trips. You have plenty of room to improve and will gain a lot of experiance in what apnea feels like. It will help you relax, teach you about your body, and improve your co2 tolerance. All of this will help you stay down much longer and contribute to becoming a better spearo.

Have fun.

Connor

[alexanderXP]

I always ask my self. whats the difference between a low volume mask and a high volume mask???
I like the bigger ones (may be i will change), because i feel better when i "see more". (i use this cressi where you have a about a 160 ged. view because the sides a see through.

[strangelove]

Alexander

If you dive shallow, there is no difference, or I should say no problem with a big mask, but down to 10 meters or deeper (it really kicks in a 15m with a small mask) that air volume in your mask is going to be compress (to half every ~10 meters), that lowers the air pressure inside the mask sucking your eye ball out, to prevent eye damage you must blow a little air in the mask, if you have a bigger volume mask that means blow more air or waste more air (remember the air in your lungs is also compressed). If you are holding your breath air is a something you must save.
I use to dive with a big mask my self (that was the only mask I had money was an issue then) , on the way up , when the air was expanding I would try to breath the air from the mask, it kind worked.
A bigger mask can give you more visibility to the sides, but for the last 15 years I am using a low volume mask.

[octopus]

I always ask my self. whats the difference between a low volume mask and a high volume mask???

You have to put some air into the mask in order to equalise the water pressure. The more air you put in the mask, the less air is left for equalisation of your sinuses/ears. In essence, you have to equalise bigger total volume. You really want to reduce that volume to minimum, hence smaller mask or even fluid goggles. The smaller mask, the deeper you can equalise.

[portinfer]

You could try dry static tables - I do this in winter when I can't dive so much and find it helps. There is alot of info on this site on tables. Best of luck and remember to take it easy - dont be in too much of a rush to improve or else you might make mistakes... dive with a buddy and be safe.
Ed