Can I train for freediving now?

[ironic lettuce]

Hi guys!

I've decided I really want to learn how to freedive - not competitively, just so I can swim around with fish without bulky equipment etc

Unfortunately, I have very little money at the minute and I'm nowhere near any training places for it (I live in Scotland) so I cant formally train for it at the minute

However, I was hoping that I could do some above water training to try and increase my potential for freediving and wondered if you could give me any tips on how to it?

I was reading about a technique called the apnea walk and just wanted to clear up what that is with you all here. Is it that you take a few deep breaths, then on the last breath you hold it, then walk as far as you can until you have to breathe? Is it something I can safely do on my own, or should I bring a friend?

Also, I cant SCUBA dive yet (in the process of learning) - does that mean I won't be allowed to freedive?

Any advice would be great guys, thanks!

 

[deep thinker]

Well lets start with a welcome to DB youll learn alot here.
So on your questions yes you can do out of water excercises to increase your breath hold etc, the apnea walk being one of them. You can also do static breath holds and o2 and co2 tables which increases your tolerance and helps you understand the concept of breath holding better. Theres a cool thread on that here, http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=67375&goto=newpost , start reading from the beginning though I think theres a test version in there somewhere.
When you do the apnea walk do it on a vield somewhere and yes breath up and walk as far as you can, rest breathe up again and walk again. A freind could be handy if you pass out but then again thats why the veild is there youll probably wake up if you fall rofl . Also work on your fitness but remember you dont want to be too bulky when it comes to muscle building, go for lean muscle excersises and cardio type workouts, bulky muscles uses too much oxygen.
On your scuba question you can freedive without a scuba license and if you want to freedive rather than scuba Id say first spend that money on some freediving kit first do the scuba certivication at a later stage.
Hope this helps but youll learn more from the threads in the forums.
Cheers for now and enjoy the site

 

[ironic lettuce]

Well lets start with a welcome to DB youll learn alot here.
So on your questions yes you can do out of water excercises to increase your breath hold etc, the apnea walk being one of them. You can also do static breath holds and o2 and co2 tables which increases your tolerance and helps you understand the concept of breath holding better. Theres a cool thread on that here, http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=67375&goto=newpost , start reading from the beginning though I think theres a test version in there somewhere.
When you do the apnea walk do it on a vield somewhere and yes breath up and walk as far as you can, rest breathe up again and walk again. A freind could be handy if you pass out but then again thats why the veild is there youll probably wake up if you fall rofl . Also work on your fitness but remember you dont want to be too bulky when it comes to muscle building, go for lean muscle excersises and cardio type workouts, bulky muscles uses too much oxygen.
On your scuba question you can freedive without a scuba license and if you want to freedive rather than scuba Id say first spend that money on some freediving kit first do the scuba certivication at a later stage.
Hope this helps but youll learn more from the threads in the forums.
Cheers for now and enjoy the site

thanks for that

I'm actually in the process of bulking myself up, because I'm really skinny and I hate it! But wasnt looking to build myself up too big (especially after what you've just told me!) I was thinking of getting myself the kind of body that you might see on, say, a footballer (soccer - not American Football!). Is that still too big?

 

[deep thinker]

I didnt mean it that way, you can bulk up thats cool, you just need to work on lean muscle and cardio too, soccer build is fine, I used to play prop (rugby), so I guess you could say Im build like a american football player in a way, just shorter rofland Im fine underwater with a allright bottom working time on 10 to 15m so its not that important, it just plays a role. I do not build big muscle anymore though, I concentrate on swimming and play u/w hockey and I also climb for excersise.
Yoga will also help your breathing technique or so they say, havent tried it myself...

 

[samdive]

where are you in Scotland? there are a few freedivers up there. I might be able to put you in touch with someone to train with

 

[ironic lettuce]

thanks for the replies guys!

I'm already pretty lean and fit because I do a lot of exercise, mainly cycling, I just want to put on some muscle, but not too much!

samdive - I live in Glasgow at the minute

 

[samdive]

sorry - don't know anyone that side of the country who is freediving, you could try the buddy forum though

 

[ironic lettuce]

sorry - don't know anyone that side of the country who is freediving, you could try the buddy forum though

thanks for the tip

can I just ask, where are the ones you do know? It doesnt take long to get to the East of Scotland from where I am

 

[ironic lettuce]

Thanks for that link deepthinker, I downloaded that brilliant program - cant wait till it's finished!

I'm just starting out obviously so my breath hold times won't be that good, but just wondered what a kind of average length of time is? And also, should I do this training every day? (the apnea walk thing)

thanks!

 

[ironic lettuce]

Okie doke! Just used that programme and my first breath hold (after 'breathing up') was 75 seconds. Is that an ok start? I put on Adagio for Strings in the background to relax me

I've found that if I swallow every now and then I can hold my breath for longer than normal, is that something that everyone does?

sorry for all these questions but its the only way I can learn just now

ETA: I also felt the abdominal contractions I was reading about but managed to ignore them for a while

 

[deep thinker]

Id say twice (or thrice if you dont dive over weekends) a week incorporated into your normal excersise routine should be good. 75 seconds is not bad, its a good start Im not sure how many does the swallowing thing, I also find it helps though but I dont do it too often, but its up to yourself and what you find works. It might be a good idea to do a intro freediving coarse if you can find one somewhere. I did one that lasted 4 days with a 1 and a 1/2 hour class every evening and my static went from 1min 50sec on the first day too 3min 10sec on the last. They also teach you some usefull tips and ways of doing things.
Cheers and good luck...
O and by the way he who doesnt ask doesnt learn...

 

[ironic lettuce]

Thanks DT

Unfortunately I cant find any courses for it in Scotland, so I'd need to wait and save a bit of money so I can go down to England and do one of the courses there

But until then, I'll practice my O2 and CO2 tables and apnea walks

And nice job on your static best! What an improvement!!

 

[ironic lettuce]

another question peeps :inlove

Am I right in saying that, when you do your static hold, you DONT take in the absolute biggest breath you can muster, because by the time your CO2 levels trigger you to breathe, your oxygen might be so low that you just pass out? (If my physiology is correct!!)

 

[deep thinker]

Well you want to be able to hold that deep breath, once you start diving youll notice a different world, your 2min static will be reduced to about 50 seconds cause your working and using oxygen. Also the deeper you go the bigger the pressure increase so that breath gets compressed pretty fast. Also the static tables are there for the exact reason, to build up your tolerance of a increase in c02 in the blood stream.

 

[fcallagy]

Hi ironic,
on the above question bear in mind everyone reacts differently some people pack their lungs forcing more air in than a normal breath others will say this is uncomfortable and inhibits the relaxation process. Others are now diving on empty or nearly empty lungs to try to stop decompression sickness happening but these are very advanced techniques and should not be attempted at the begining i find a 90% inhale comfortable others may only go 80% try to experiment to see whats suits you. Also did the SETT course here with deeperblu and highly recomend it if you are starting out or salt free in south wales. Don;t know of anyone further north but i travelled from west ireland to do these courses and wasn't disappointed.