Daily exercises to increase the amount of time i can hold my breath?

[oO MR BLOBBY Oo]

when i'm in a pool i can only hold my breath for about 1:20, are there any exercises so that, eventually my times will increase?

fairly new to this whole thing.

 

[ReefTroll]

Firstly, welcome to the forums Mr Blobby. Start by checking out the "How to Start Freediving" thread at the top of the beginner freediving section.
http://forums.deeperblue.com/beginner-freediving/64959-how-start-freediving.html

 

[Randomnity]

I have the same problem.
How often should I do them?

 

[MartinTee]

If you are on about CO2 and O2 tables, I do them twice a week.

This is only because of time constraints on working two jobs and trying to keep fit outside of freediving/swimming.

Just remember, 10 minutes a day is better than 1 hour a week. You'll feel the difference within a week guaranteed and then just see how you feel about doing more or less...

 

[hogphish]

One relatively safer way to pool train is to do hypoxic drills. Warm up with an easy pace for 600 yards or so. Then work up to breathing every 7th stroke only. At the end of the work out do 25 yard/meter sprints with no breathing and slowly swim back on 1 breath. If you are new to these drills...better have someone in the pool with you

 

[Raph]

hogphish,

I have been swimming in the pool as a side activity to apnea. My goal was to be able to swim 1000m breathing every 5 stroke and to be a better swimmer.
I reached my goal and I am curious to know how effectiv is long distance swimming with breath every 7 or 9 stroke on apnea ?

So far, I have been doing 500m breath every 3 stroke, then 1000m breath every 5 stroke with poolbuyo beetween legs. Maybe I try 350m/3stroke, 350m/5 stroke and 350/7stroke and try to get to do everything in 7strok ?

Cheers !

 

[hogphish]

Great routine Raph! I do evolutions...50m breath every 3 strokes, 50 meters breath every 5 strokes, 50 meters breath every 7 strokes then try 50 meters with only 2 breaths then start the evolutions over again. At the end of 2000 or so meters I will do 25 meter sprints with no breath and 25 meters slow trying only 1 breath (most meter pools are 50 so you have to slow at 25 meters take a breath and finish to the wall). I find it helps my dynamic apnea and CWT dives ..helps tolerate lactic acid build up and hypercapnia during exertion.

 

[Raph]

Sounds good Hogphish ! I think i Will include what you suggest and alternate : one time 5 or 7 strokes between breath on 1000m and the other time your évolution cycle. Thought the sprint at the end must be super hard !!

Cheers !

 

[Izzoriffe]

Hey guys. Just wanted to mention that if you have not take a free diving class, I highly recommend it. I took a F.I.I. class and I loved it. I learned about safety, breathing techniques, what equipment to use, and basically how to free dive safely to sixty five feet. I increased my breath hold almost double, and I learned how to correctly free dive. They taught how to do static apnea safely with a buddy also. Well hope everything goes well for you guys.

 

[hogphish]

Good point Izzoriffe and well taken....I have completed the PFI intermediate course and safety'd at the world comps in Caymans. I saw blackouts everyday. Nothing will give you more respect for the importance of safety training than keeping a divers face out of the water.

 

[chris.evans]

I saw blackouts everyday.

I don't understand guys..

On one hand I want to stay down longer. I want to train and read these forums.

On the other hand, I dive for fun, to take pics, and used to spearfish. I often dive for 4 hours alone in <15m water.

Many of these forums make it sound like a very dangerous sport. Like it is *very* dangerous to just train to stay down longer.

Are all these people hyperventalating at the surface? What's the deal?

 

[trux]

Many of these forums make it sound like a very dangerous sport. Like it is *very* dangerous to just train to stay down longer.

Are all these people hyperventalating at the surface? What's the deal?

Yes, it is *very* dangerous to just train to stay down longer. And no, hyperventilation is not the only possibility leading to a unexpected blackout. But it is true it is one of the most common ones. Most freedivers or would-be freedivers hyperventilate without even realizing it. Others keep it under control, but a sudden increase of stress of fear triggers subconscious hyperventilation. However there are numerous other possibilities an accident can happen - changed blood acidity due to the diet, medication, or physical state. Sudden temperature change (temperature has similar effect on the Bohr dissociation curve as pH). Fatigue or disease. Entanglement in a fishing line, net, or vegetation. Packing. Or a lung oedema - especially at longer stays in water, when you get hypothermic, you may easily suffer a light (or even a strong) lung oedema. And it can happen without you noticing it quickly enough. In such case the efficiency of the gas exchange in lungs quickly drops, and you can blackout even at a very short breath-hold.

The list is not complete - but the risk at solo diving is considerable even at very moderate diving style, without pushing any limits. And without a buddy you have very little chance to survive in case of a problem.

 

[Andrew the fish]

I don't understand guys..

Many of these forums make it sound like a very dangerous sport. Like it is *very* dangerous to just train to stay down longer.

The deal is - you will find out only after you blackout. Sounds like you were doing some freediving for sometime and probably won't quit. Think about years and years ahead, do you really want to expose yourself to additional risk? Doing it long enough one day you will run out of luck. Do not forget you will be getting older and simply won't get away with the same stuff you accustomed yourself to.