When you scare your non-diving friends

[xsaul]

Here I am again.
Back from self-care after taking care of my Sweetstuff.
IF Y'ALL HAD BEEN HOLDING YOUR BREATHS--LOL!

Anyways, I've been ordered by my doctor to have strict supervision at the YMCA every time I dive. Understandable. "Seven minutes" will do ya.
So I will abide.
What about your non-diving friends? Three girlfriends are scared for my safety. That makes them GREAT FRIENDS. They care.
My Hubby trusts me in the pool. I've told him so much about Freediving. He may not understand the joy of it, but he knows if I'm doing something stupid or not.
My guy friends? One is a retired Freediver. We talk shop. The others don't understand it. They only want me not to talk WRs. But those days are over. I just do it for fun.
Active Freedive friends are hard to come by. But the lifeguards will get a whole new kinda training
How do I assuage my non-diving friends' fears? I intend to tell them about the lifeguards now guarding.
WaterRat

[wes]

Xsaul,

It may be your friends are scared for you because they don't think YOU understand the risks/dangers involved in freediving. This may sound silly though if you tell them they shouldn't worry because nothing will happen to you then I think they would be correct in wanting you to re-asses the risks you take and that you don't understand the risks involved. I would tell them that freediving can be dangerous and that certain types of freediving have proven to be much much more dangerous than others like static training in pool without a partner vs static training on the couch and no limits diving vs constant ballast in competition AIDA setting. I would go on to tell them that you are well aware of the risks and practice the safer kinds of freediving (if you do) and that freediving is what you love to do. Also from my research the risk of a white middle aged male commiting suicide is much higher than a freediver dying of freediving, so if freediving keeps you from getting depressed you can tell them it safer for you to freedive overall.

Cheers Wes

[xsaul]

Ahem. Wes.
I'M A GIRL!!! Although am 47 years old. Been at this (in memory at least) since I was 8.
I'm telling them I have strict supervision from lifeguards, and I do intensely enjoy freediving.
I have taken risks I shouldn't have, I'll admit. I'm so poor, I don't have a working stopwatch. Can you believe that? Hubby never thought I needed one. Even in the pool! The one I had drowned during a dive--LOL!!!

Anyhows, I've learned to listen carefully to my body's signals. Yes. I know. Sometimes, I'm not hurting in the least for air, (it seems) and upwards of 6 or 7 minutes have passed. I come up because, well, it's the sensible thing to do. Nobody watching and all.
I've kept my doctors apprised of all my Numbers. Got approval, (even for lone diving)--until I said "Seven minutes."
From NOW ON--I will not be Freediving without strict supervision. I usually have the pool to myself on weekends, the weather being nice. That'll change when the cold weather comes.
Those little teenage lifeguards'll have to watch carefully. Sometimes, I suspect they're at the vending machine. Or watching TV. Sometimes, I'm discussing the particulars of Freediving with them. Opening up a new world to most.
I got sick of scaring my friends. Not very Christian. But I love diving. I suggested today: "Maybe a Freedive Club?"
Who knows?
WaterRat
xsaul@kdsi.net

[trux]

Yes, freediving club or at least a reliable and knowledgeable buddy, knowing how to properly handle LMC/samba and blackouts, would be indeed much better. There are far too many freedivers who died under the "watchful" eyes of lifeguards, just because they did it exactly in the same way as you - alone (well, supervised by a lifeguard, the wife/husband, or a friend not familiar with the risks of freediving). Look for example at the followin thread (but there were many other threads on DB reporting the death of a freediver passing away under such circumstances. The Swedish freediver had static PB of 7:30: http://forums.deeperblue.net/safety/...ws-sweden.html

The supervisor simply must be directly next to you, tapping you every while to see if you respond (at static apnea), or swimming above you in close distance (dynamics). And he must be experienced enough to recognize symptoms of LMC or an approaching blackout. Without having such a buddy, you are playing a Russian roulette.

[Kars]

Well I wouldn't shoot my mouth of about all the possible dangers, only explain the bare minium when requested. Sure I'll seek contact with the staff, say hi and assist with picking up goggles, rings etc for people who've accidentally dropped them to the bottem. Furthermore I make sure my dives are and look effordless and artistic so that others understand it's not about numbers and recordbreaking but rather about grace, elegance, relaxation, freedom, feelings and beauty.
I get a real kick when people approach me and express their wondering and joy of seeing me being under water. I like to think that the better I get, the more slow and effordless I am underwater. People take notice and enjoy rather than fear or take offence of me being underwater.
In short the approach makes all the difference.

Love, peace and water!

Kars

[naiad]

Originally Posted by xsaul

Those little teenage lifeguards'll have to watch carefully. Sometimes, I suspect they're at the vending machine. Or watching TV.

That is why it is important to have a buddy for supervision.
Dive safe.

Lucia