A few questions from a newbie!

[Berry89.uk]

Hi everyone, hope you're all well!

I've been interested in freediving for years but never done anything about it. I have recently moved to Dubai from the UK and have the perfect opportunity to start!

I've done quite a bit of research on the basics and this is where I'm at:

- I don't use CO2/O2 tables, I don't fully understand them yet.
- My longest dry hold is 2:30, longest hold underwater is more than that, I didn't time it but I could just tell it was closer to 3 minutes!
- I swim once a day, I breathe up for 2-3 minutes then go straight into a 25 metre swim (without fins). After that I don't really know how to recovery breathe so I continue the belly-chest breathe up for 3-4 minutes the swim 25 metres again.
- I do around 4 or 5 lengths. I have done 37.5 metres before (1 and a half lengths).
- I then use a smaller pool, about 10 metres, and swim as many lengths underwater as I can with just a few breaths in between (1 length - a few breaths, 1 length - a few breaths etc...)

And that's about it!! If anyone has any training tips I would appreciate it! Thanks chaps.

Also, if anyone lives near Downtown, Dubai and needs a buddy let me know!

Jamie

 

[jschultzdanmark]

Hi Jamie and welcome

First: as you are training alone, you have to change your routine somewhat. You can still train for freediving; but while training alone wo a buddy you must refrain from any sort of prolonged diving. This goes for diving lanes and doing breath holds.

The reason is of course that any kind of problem or blackout while training alone is life threathening.


Please don't dive alone! It's bad for you and very bad for Freediving.


As I started, you can train for freediving wo the dives. First off you should check out tables, both O2 and CO2. There are schools of thought on the usefullness of tables but most agree that they help you train how to cope with contractions - and they are an effective way to move that max breath hold way up. Therefore: study up on tables and do them dry, ie. on land (no diving alone, remember )


Then - do CO2-training. You can swim lanes with 1, 2, 3, 4 strokes between each breath. It will quickly get difficult; but not from lack of O2 but CO2 buildup. This will only make you hurt like a baby, but it won't kill you and it is terrific training for both the long and the deep dives


Also - check out 'apnea walk'. Another way to train how to handle CO2 build up and contractions. And quite safe.


Then: do stretching or yoga and core training for basic fitness. I also do quite a lot of fitness training but that is also debated


Finally: find a buddy that you can schedule diving sessions with. It does not matter if it is only once in a while - you just need to dive and check progress from time to time.

Anyways - fret not, the possibilities are almost endless. Welcome to Freediving

 

[Berry89.uk]

Hi jschultz,

Thanks for the warm welcome and advice

I'm keen on giving CO2 and O2 tables a go, just need to find a suitable one for me. I'm also going to look into apnea walking.

You seem to certainly know your stuff! Could you possibly give me a small training routine I aim to enrol on a freediving course in Dubai in the next few months, I want to be a casual but competent and 'good' freediver eventually. However, as of right now I am only training to swim as far as I can underwater (with the thought of open water dives firmly in my head). As I have said I can fairly comfortably cover 35-40 metres but my goal is 50M. I'm pretty sure my stroke and technique is fine, I am very relaxed when I dive, it's purely my breath hold that holds me back!! So a little program would be greatly appreciated! No need to go into detail just something off the top of your head; i.e. when to use CO2/O2 tables, when to dive etc.

P.S. I know diving alone is a MASSIVE no-no, but I dive in a shallow 25m pool, with lifeguards watching, my wife nearby who I've told to watch me and other people around. I also only dive to about 85% of my ability - I come up for air a good 10-15 seconds before I really need it, I never push myself too hard. After every dive I am never hugely out of breath, I can take 1 or 2 breaths and dive for another 30 seconds so I think I'm fairly safe from blackouts and LMC

 

[jschultzdanmark]

Hmmm,

'when'? As often as possible I myself am a training junkie and usually do some sort of training (stretching, tables, running, swimming or diving) 5-6 of 7 days each week. Being neurotic about training, freediving is the bomb because I can train every day wo incurring training fatigue or injuries (used to lift weights, but my age and loooooong restitution from injuries just didn't match anymore).

Tables - there are lots of free apps out there that let you train tables - take your pick. I made 'Static Trainer' last year - it has received some very nice feedback, but it costs money, so start off with one of the free ones and see where you want to go.
Do most CO2 tables, but do a O2 table and max O2 once in a while for variation (we *do* compare STAs )

A typical pool session for me would be something like this:
300 meters breast stroke/DNF: 1 stroke w. head up (normal breast stroke), 3 strokes under - repeat. Fantastic CO2 training!
8x50 m breast stroke/DNF: 1 stroke + 4 strokes under - repeat.
300 m: 25 DNF + 25 breast stroke/relax - repeat
5-10x100 crawl pyramid: 1 stroke 1 breath, 2 strokes 1 breath... ... 9 strokes 1 breath ... and down to 1/1 and up again and...

Technique - train this regularly and always. Even when doing 'normal training' take care to get the technique right!

Technique goals: Push off should get you to about mid-pool (10-12) meters wo problems. 25 m DNF in 2 strokes/kicks. Repeat upside-down (good for technique, and super for 'aquaticity').

There are lots more; but take inspiration from the above - get going and enjoy

 

[Berry89.uk]

Thanks again

Your training sounds intense! I've been doing something similar to your 300m breast stroke: 1 stroke above then 3 strokes below - but not as far! What I need more than anything at the moment is a neck weight! I have a good push off and like to do 2-3 leg strokes before an arm stroke (inspired by Natalia Molchanova) but as I slow down from my push off I just float up. It's a constant battle trying to relax, swim forwards AND swim 'downwards'!! I got 1 and 3/4 lengths today (about 40-45m), I'm sure I'll get 50m with a neck weight!

I think I'll take the AIDA 2 course with freedivingUAE in Dubai soon. Hopefully I will be able to acquire all the necessary gear through those guys.

jschultz - Can I ask some of your PBs? Static Apnea/DNF/Constant Weight?

Thanks,

Jamie

 

[jschultzdanmark]

Just check my profile

 

[Berry89.uk]

Just check my profile

Damn, nice stats!

I have found a CO2 and O2 table suitable to me and I know NOT to train both in one day. When do you suggest using them? Alternative days or maybe 1 week CO2 then 1 week O2?

 

[jschultzdanmark]

I have no specific plan for when to do tables. The deciding factor for me is motivation and opportunity. So - if the rare occasion of free time and a relaxed and mellow disposition coincide, I do a couple of tables
Like I said: do more CO2 tables as your primary goal is getting comfortable w. contractions. Do O2 tables once in a while.
(I have no problem doing both types of table in one session)

 

[xristos]

Hello,
I am reading through this http://www.deeperblue.com/freediver-safety-static-tables-part-i/ and I found this

4) Never do static on the bottom

This entails putting weights on the diver, and in my opinion, it is unsafe. Furthermore, this technique complicates the exchange of signals.

One of the most lethally dangerous things to do is static at depth, either in open or confined water.

So there is risk when I am diving at say 6 meters and grab from something in the bottom to hold some extra time ? Really weird .. Would never imagine