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Cold water acclimitization for SEALS

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gonavy

New Member
Sep 28, 2007
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Brand new to this site. Some experience w/ scuba and freediving. I'm going to be heading to BUD/S (SEAL boot camp) and am looking for practical advice on getting accustomed to cold water. Basically I'm looking for any good books/articles/references that I could use to train up on before I go freeze my ass off at BUD/S. I want to make sure I don't drop myself from the program simply b/c I wasn't prepared enough for the cold water immersion that the SEALS are famous for.
 
goanvy,
Welcome to DB.
Here is a link to a thread that deals with cold water:
http://forums.deeperblue.net/general-freediving/52821-how-can-i-increase-resistance-cold.html

If you do some global searches of DB Forums, you will come up with a few more threads.


Good luck in BUD/S and take care.



Brand new to this site. Some experience w/ scuba and freediving. I'm going to be heading to BUD/S (SEAL boot camp) and am looking for practical advice on getting accustomed to cold water. Basically I'm looking for any good books/articles/references that I could use to train up on before I go freeze my ass off at BUD/S. I want to make sure I don't drop myself from the program simply b/c I wasn't prepared enough for the cold water immersion that the SEALS are famous for.
 
The basics for cold water resistance:

1. Enter fat burning mode (read Rob Faigin's book Natural Hormonal Enhancement; basically, <20g carbs for 7 straight days, then a maintenance program)

2. Take lots of flax oil (50ml+) every night for several nights

3. Take about 30ml of Medium Chain Triglyceride oil an hour or two before, preferably mixed with some sort of orange juice

4. Exposure yourself to cold, shivering for at least 30 minutes, 3 times per week

5. Just prior to exposure to cold, increase your core temperature as much as possible, preferably to profuse sweating

I have dived in 4C water without a suit, and spent 12 minutes in 6C, and 18 minutes in 8C.
 
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There will be NO flax oil or Tryglceride oils around...Your body WILL always be in fat burning mode (for six months)...You WILL be shivering EVERYDAY and for MORE than just 30 minutes...When you are not shivering you will be sweating...When you are not shivering or sweating you will be nervous, sore and tired.

Just be the most stubborn mule in the pack...Do not even LOOK at that damn' bell. Tell yourself you will DIE before you quit and JUST DO IT! No...They will not let you die...however you will wish you could at times. You WILL NOT become acclimated to the cold water..I guarantee you that.

When you go for your pre-dawn runs in the sand...Try to follow in someone elses tracks if you can. Thats when alot of guys get injured or blow out thier knees or ankles. Stress fractures will also take you out. If the Corpsman says you should go to sick bay...GO...Don't try to RAMBO it out. Graduating a few weeks after your original class is better that not making it at all. Most guys who get hurt and try to keep going end up in the fleet. Your buddies will help you get through the really bad days...And you will do the same for them. Prepare yourself now for the most challenging 6 months of your life. You CAN do it.

Once you "ring out" you WON'T get to go home... You get sent to the fleet where you can wear a nice blue shirt, dungarees and your spit shined boondockers. There you will become a DC man, a BT,or maybe even a BM!!!! Most "ringers" don't end up with the gravy jobs.

Try to have fun and stay healthy! The DEMO pits at Camp Elliot ARE fun! As well as SOME other things.

And remember this: THE ONLY EASY DAY...WAS YESTERDAY!
 
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