dive log from day 1 of training

[welshmikey]

ok i may be wrong but i dont think qanyone else has a dive log on here so since i am a complete beginner i thought i would do a daily log of my trainign showing what i have learnt from my mistakes and my progress or backwards progress from time to time: that way newbies in the future can get some idea of what it will be like to train i nthe sport


Day 1:

Finally decided after doing scuba diving that i would really like to do free diving and am determined to stick to a daily training basis for it

1. shocked to find out my max breath hold was only 20-30 seconds with great discomfort compared to several minutes a few years ago

2. did the following training program [ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=64959"]http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=64959[/ame]

by end of it i could hold my breath for 50 seconds with no discomfort atall, please at progress

 

[welshmikey]

day 2:

1. did same training program as yesterday disapointed to see that i was gasping for air after just 30 seconds, a step back from the day before

2. went down to the sea to try it for real, my purpose in freediving is to explore the life under the sea and eventually aim to hold my breath for 4 minutes at 30m as my first majour mile stone

equipment: just a mask no snorkel or skin suit etc

disapointed that i could only stay under for 20 - 30 seconds again however i did do this repeatedly for one hour with 45 second breaks inbetween each dive, need to check saftey of this.

things i saw: very little life just one fish, one crab and one rather deadly looking bright red sea urchin.

review of first open water dive:

disapointing at my back track to 20-30 seconds however a few things should be noted:
i cycled 2 miles to the beach
i swam outside of the bay and around the cliffs with no snorkal or fins and stayed treading water and diving for one hour
i was swimming without fins
i was swimming against the tide
i had to dodge lots of rocks as i was surrounded by them and fishing lines

what i learnt:

if all of the above listed items were different i.e i hadnt cycled, didnt tread water etc then i think i could have stayed down longer

arms underwater are not that useful except for holding onto rocks and teasing the crabs

frog kicks work well and save alot of energy instead of just using arms

point feet towards the rocks that the current is pushing you towards

relaxing in water would be much easier with a snorkel as laying on your back meant waves crashed ontop of you and you breathed it in, it was much more relaxing to take a deep breath and breath out slowly lying on my front

check the dive site before hand, it was much shallower than expected maybe only three meters with visability of 1/3 of a meter

if dive site is accesable safely from land dont swim there

avoid fisher men

avoid rocks in shallow water where the current can still hit u on the bottom


although i wanted to breath out after thirty seconds if i defeated the urge i would get comfortabel again in a few seconds and be able to stay down longer (45-50 seconds) however i only managed this once

dont dive under someones dingy and kick them up the arserofl

i fou do dive under someones dingy and kick them up the arse, dont surface for a while:t

 

[welshmikey]

day three:

tried my max hold breath and am now better at fightign the urge to breath tho it is still a struggle, managed to do one minute again

tried new program where you breath in fast and then out slowly takign arounf 15 secodns to breath out. did this for five minutes then one deep breath and held it for 1 minute 38rofla new record for me, two days ago my max hold was 20 seconds

todays trainign not over yet will post back with more a bit later

 

[Evita]

Comment no 1: Great that you're keeping a public dive log!

Comment no 2: You're diving alone? :naughty

 

[welshmikey]

Comment no 2: You're diving alone? :naughty

atm its dive alone or dont dive atall, besides at least its a quick and pleasant death:ko
i dont know anyone else who dives but im down the beach alot so i cant resist when i see the water

 

[welshmikey]

very limited free time today but tried to put in a bit of trianing:

1) breathed up for 5 minutes (very quick deep breath in and let out over 15 sconds)
2) held for 1 minute 35 tho not very comforable struggled alot
3) breathed up for 5 minutes
4) held breath again, more comfortable this time reached 2 minutes 20 seconds with struggling proabably starting around the two minute margin but this time could not overcome struggle

 

[eckaflx]

Alright mate,
Where abouts do you dive? From your name I guess its somewhere in Wales?
I'm going to be in North Wales free/scuba diving with some mates on the Llyn Peninsula in a few weeks. If your anywhere nearby, give us a shout and you can dive with us....
Cheers,
Ed

 

[Evita]

atm its dive alone or dont dive atall

I know I know, just keep us posted every day, or we will have to organise an international rescue team

 

[welshmikey]

ecaflx i live i nsouth wales sorry other wise i would have

international search party, no point if im dead im dead:t

 

[samdive]

Mikey - do you know Matt Holt? lives in Swansea, used to fin swim and dive with SaltFree occasionally - let me know if not and I will put you in touch - you need a buddy!

 

[blumon]

Roll on Mikey...!! You've started something now and ya gotta keep going. I have a feeling about this and it's all good. First thang that croossed my mind when I stopped laughing was that it gave new meanining to that famous sport logo "Just do it!" Next thing on my mind was that you will probably do real well and be real good - and, with a little help you'll really enjoy it that much more.
Be safe
B

 

[welshmikey]

thanx blumon:t

 

[Evita]

if im dead im dead

You said it... find some good company, have fun and dive safely

 

[welshmikey]

took two days off training due to light headedness and heavy nose bleeds ( a common problem)

 

[welshmikey]

1) breathign up for 5 minutes
2) held 1 minute 37
3) bretahing up for 5 minutes
4) held for 2 minute 8


bit less than teh other day but still around the 2 minute mark so not bad

training in sea later

 

[Waterysmile]

As Jome, I think it was, said, consistency is the key, not having one amazing hold much longer than any other. You might want to try a 4 minute breath up and 3 or more holds.

 

[welshmikey]

as in breath up once and hold, then just take a ddep breath and hold again?

could try that, not right now tho not fully recovered from light headedness

 

[Waterysmile]

I've done 3-4 minutes slow deep breathing then a hold, 3-4 minutes slow deep breathing then a hold, 3-4 minutes slow deep breathing then a hold. Sorry if I wasn't clear!

 

[welshmikey]

yea i was told to do it about 5 times but instead i have just been doing it twice since i havent felt all that great all week and since im light headed before i start starving myself of oxygen i dont want to push it too much^_^, will do soon tho.

 

[Waterysmile]

Sensible not to push it - do you get enough sleep? I have been struggling the past few weeks with sleeping to the detriment of all-round fitness as well as apnea. Still it's good being in the water!