Diving alone

[Ricochet]

Hiho everybody.

Sadly enough this summer wasn't the sunniest, and even worse is the fact that I had almost always no dive buddy.

Though, I couldn't resist to spend the sunny days at the local quarry.

To be on the save side I limit my dives to a maximum of 1:30 with atleast 2-3 mins of rest. These times arn't really challanging and dives end without any strugle.

I know there are other people on this forum who are in a similar situation.
What are you doing to ensure a save dive? How did you learn to listen to signs of warning of your body? What are these signs and when do you know it is time to surface?

I don't want a guarantee. Just share your experiance of diving alone.


Don't mistake me. Short dives can be fun aswell!


Sascha

 

[JasonWelbourne]

My intro to freediving was largely a solo experience. I didn't have a wet suit at that time, so my dives were environmentaly regulated. Where I dive there is a thermocline @ 10m where the temp drops from whatever comfy temp it is at the surface to somewhere in the low 60's depending on where abouts you are in relation to the spring. Therefore dives to < 10m are always pretty comfortable. Below 10m, my panic instinct automatically sets in because of the sudden temp transition. Now I overcome that by spending time getting used to the cold, but when I first started that was not within my grasp. Somehow in all of this, my body developed a keen sense of what is a minute and 10 seconds. Later when I started diving with buddies and started logging my dives I found that every dive, regardless of target depth and regardless of psychological perception of time/performance, I always surfaced @ roughly the same time. It took specifically training depth statics to break this trend.

I know I could black out at 20 seconds into a dive for no apparant reason, but I feel pretty comfortable diving alone below a certain depth. What that depth is depends on the day, how I feel, water temp etc. I don't find myself ever saying while diving alone "I know I ought to be able to make this depth" so as to override my actual instantaneous feeling about a situation. If I am unhappy, I surface.

 

[neekoh]

Hi,

This might generate an interesting conversation given the variety of backgrounds.

I didn't really have an introduction to freediving. After a scuba course and a traffic injury, I was rehabilitating at the pool with my diving club and got invited to a spearfishing bunch that was forming at the time. Before I knew it, I was practicing freediving at the pool a couple of times a week. There was always quite a lot of folk, and we were watching each others' backs, while we were pushing it. On fishing trips we went out in pairs or groups often, but there's really no careful watching of what others are doing. While not really worried about the fact, all of us seemed to realize it still. It's quite an interesting contrast, at pool being very cautious and observant and at sea going solo. So I have grown used to diving solo from the start, but have never felt like pushing it when alone. Something could still happen, but getting too worried would ruin the sport for me. The more I have spent reading what the community here has to say about safety, the more aware of it I have become. This has also in my case resulted in keeping something of a maximum dive time and minimum surface time while fishing. Reading signs is sometimes difficult as I seem to get mild contractions often after half a minute laying still. If I move under water, I may not notice them and keeping track of time is more difficult anyway. (The awareness has also resulted in a slight astonishment in the spearfishing competition regulations. Instead of having someone wath you, there's a minimum distance you need to keep to fellow competitors instead at least here in the relatively shallow waters.) I don't know what other precautions to take. I like to look around every now and then for buddies' snorkels, but if I don't see any I know they're under water or "behind that rock" and it doesn't really worry me.
So, when I'm in the water alone, I usually have a speargun or a camera with me and I'm not going for times or depth. Just need to take it easy enough, and never cross too deep to the discomfort zone.

 

[Ricochet]

Well, I neither let the worry to drown nor the limited dive time ruin the fun.
Though I'm aware of the dangers that come along with this sport. Thats why I asked for signs of warnings.

For me, I think, the best alert system is my bad(?) CO2 tollerance. Contractions come fast when doing dynamic stuff in general. On the other hand it doesn't work well for me if the CO2 increases slowly. E.g. in dry statics or effortless dives. Then, during a dive the contactions might be so subtle that I don't even notice them, while the seconds pass by.

Some time ago Eric Fattah posted something about his 8-contractions-rule-of thumb, but I can't seem to find the thread again. Albeit this might be useful for competitive freediving, we recreational freedivers might profit from a similar aproach as well.


Cheers, Sascha




BTW: Jason, haven't seen you on ICQ for a while! Nice to see you're still around

 

[Roan]

To be on the save side I limit my dives to a maximum of 1:30 with atleast 2-3 mins of rest.

This sounds like a pretty safe pattern.

 

[immerlustig]

hi,

"What are you doing to ensure a save dive?"

in my opinion the main factors are regular diving, consistent preperation and good awareness. basically all freedivers i know who ever bo´d find the reason for their bo afterwards when they start thinking about what happened and why. if it is possible to realise this after the incident it should also be possible to realise risk factors before. awareness training is part of my freediving training and i think it´s generally quite underrated.

an 8 contraction rule can´t possibly be used as a rule of thumb for everybody, only for the person who developed that under certain circumstances. as soon as i use a rule of thumb i disregard how i feel. if one dives very consistently it becomes easier, though, as contractions , for example, start within a predictable and very short time window. still, in my opinion, the key aspect is to listen to my own body and feelings and i use rules of thumb as secondary markers only.

cheers,

roland

 

[octopus]

basically all freedivers i know who ever bo´d find the reason for their bo afterwards when they start thinking about what happened and why.

Perhaps we could gather some statistics on this in one thread?

 

[Aquagenic]

Although I don't claim any expertise, this is how I fly solo:

I ALWAYS at least spend twice as long up as down, usually more.
I NEVER spend more than a fourth of my pb static time under while moving.
I NEVER spend more than a third of my pb static time under moving slightly.
I NEVER spend more than a half of my pb static time under while still.

This usually works out to between 1:00 to 2:20 under and 2:00 to 5:00 up, depending on the dive.

Of course the most important factor is how I feel. If I am not feeling the dive, I come up. If I don't feel ready to dive, I don't go down. Regardless of time, with no questions asked.

I would love any comments on how safe you guy's think this is, or the way other people do it. Anybody?

~James

 

[gianpaoloc]

Is this idea of dedicating long time to recover really useful to improve safety, or could it be the opposite. Let me explain better: the more you stay up the more your o2 stores recover (which is good to stay in the safe zone). But, at the same time, the more you stay up the more your co2 lowers (up to your standard level). This is even more true if you tend to overbreath while up (even slightly), thus furtherly reducing your co2 levels. And we all know that starting a dive with a relatively high level of co2 is good to keep us aware of our limits.

While fishing I tend to keep a very intense rhythm, staying down around 50% of the total fishing time (i.e., recover time=down time). This, in my own experience, results in anticipating the "signals" that force me to end the apnea, thus helping me to remain in the safe zone. Conversely, when I practice CW (with a buddy, in this case), I spend a lot of time recovering. In this situation, I much more easily tend to reach my limits, even if I use the same "signals" to turn toward the surface.

Probably, it would be interesting to know if it is the co2 or the o2 that desaturates (resp. saturates) more quickly. What I mean is that if in, say, 2 minutes, you totally recover your o2 stores, while it needs more time to eliminate co2, then for security reasons it would be better to reduce up time (to 2 minutes). Conversely, if it is the o2 that needs more time to saturate than the co2 to be eliminated, then it would be better to stay up longer. Anyone has the answer?

Bye
G.

 

[immerlustig]

hi,

during a recovery your body also gets rid of metabolic waste in muscles. o2 is used in the process. a short recovery means you start the next dive with some degree of muscle fatigue.

one important aspect of safe solo freediving (as i see it, that is) is gaining experience to learn about your body´s signs. keeping as many variables as possible constant is an important aspect. consistency is the key here. i don´t think that the dive to recovery ratio is as important as simply diving in the same state of readiness. i personally would definitely prefer to be well rested before every single dive. the issue of co2 levels at the beginning can easily be dealt with by breathing up properly. also, when doing full recoveries but easy, aerobic dives (no contractions) a 1:1 ratio of dive to recovery is easily achievable.

but i don´t spearfish, so i don´t have any idea about the demands there.

roland

 

[Fondueset]

I also often dive alone - sometimes quite far from shore. The only compulsion that keeps me down into contractions is taking pictures.
Generally speaking I'm diving in fairly shallow water - rarely more than 10m - though for me a 10 meter dive feels more comfortable than a 3 meter dive - and I tend to stay longer with at least 5 or 6 meters of water over me - comfort zone really seems to kick in at about 7 or 8. For some reason there is a comfort factor with depth that helps me relax. In Lake Michigan I sometimes swim out half-a-mile or so just to get into 40 feet of water - so lack depth is definitely a built-in saftey factor for most of my dives.


I dive with a suit now, but up until this year thermalclines were also an aide to relaxation. I'd hit that layer of ice and have to consciously relax another notch.

My general rule is no contractions. I break this occassionally when I encounter fish I want to photograph that are unlikely to return after I spook them by surfacing. Rest between dives depends on two things - something cool showing up and that nice feeling that tells me I'm ready. Allmost allways it's the second one. I've also realized I am suspicious of effortless dives and tend to end them before I even feel any significant discomfort. I'm working on that

Head posture on the way up helps too - I try to do my boat scan before surfacing - so much of the time when you are spearfishing or taking pictures your head is up - back arched slightly. This seems to create pressure in the upper-chest and head similar to what you can get with packing. Keeping the head level alleviates this.

 

[naiad]

basically all freedivers i know who ever bo´d find the reason for their bo afterwards when they start thinking about what happened and why.

I think this is mostly true, but sometimes it is only possible to work out the reason afterwards, as there was no obvious risk factor.

Having said that, I do sometimes train alone in the pool, when there is nobody to spot me. When this happens I am as careful as possible.

Lucia

 

[desertbake]

I don't do anything specific to stay safer, I just am safer solo.

This applies to anything even remotely dangerous including mountainbiking, backpacking, diving, etc...when done alone I just tend to be more of a wuss and much less of a risk taker.

That being said, I still practice wet static apneas by myself, and most of my worst injuries have happened when I am alone.

 

[immerlustig]

hi naiad,

quote: I think this is mostly true, but sometimes it is only possible to work out the reason afterwards, as there was no obvious risk factor.

this is exactly what i find strange. if there is an "obvious" risk factor it´s there whether it´s before or after the dive. having not slept well, having had a below average warm-up, a headache, being stressed, etc are all risk factors and i don´t know why they cannot be realised beforehand. being focused on the dive and having a goal in mind obviously clouds judgement and is in itself a major contributor to an unpleasant episode.


@ desertbake,

quote:
...alone I just tend to be [...] and much less of a risk taker.

quote:
...and most of my worst injuries have happened when I am alone.

:rcard

a benefit of solo-freediving is the generally much higher state of awareness and focus on oneself. if there is a spotter around very often people just go for it (ignoring "obvious" risk factors), assuming that their spotter will take care of them (which is a very stupid thing to do anyway!).

still, nothing is as good as freediving with a competent buddy. diving solo (relatively) safely must be done with caution and sensibility.

i personally make every effort to have a buddy with me at all times and then i still dive with a solo-attitude. progress is slow but steady. i don´t mind that.

be safe,

roland

 

[tylerz]

I mainly solo freedive and do a lot of it. I do not train or do PBs as such. I believe whether you are solo or buddy freediving under loose recreational conditions you should always dive as though you are solo freediving. Practically speaking there are certain things that you will choose to stretch or not adhere to if a buddy is present, but then you should put extra emphasis on making your buddy aware of your deviations from the solo freediving guidelines and have an agreed comprehension of how your buddy will take action to compensate for that.

My suggestions for a safer dive with emphasis on the solo freediver are:
- just prior to surfacing always lean back and then proceed to lay on your back at the surface. Idea is that if you do BO or LMC there is a better chance your airway will remain out of the water and you can maintain floating at the surface safely.
- ensure your snorkel is not in your mouth throughout the whole dive especially upon surfacing.
- practice and make routine a solid recovery sequence with focus on breathing and minimal exertion.
- based upon an aggressive dynamic and your breathup sequence for such a dive, ventilate significantly less, thus inducing nasty CO2 feeling earlier and it encouraging/forcing yourself to surface early. To have a longer dive, you have to be more efficient in your technique and dive style.
- be well hydrated long before the dive.
- reflect on how much activity you participated in for the past two days prior to the dive and if significant exhaustion occurred overall or specifically in the legs/torso, limit your dive depth well above an aggressive recreational dive depth for yourself. This applies as well if you have recently been sick.
- limit your dive time significantly in reference to your PB dynamic or aggressive recreational dive. Limit further if you have recently been sick, exhausted, or dehydrated. Also limit dive time if you begin shivering.
- attempt to be consistent with regards to your breathup, recovery, exertion vs. time, pre-dive preparation (ie. diet, body temperature, hydration, flexibility, metabolic state, etc.).
- do not let yourself overheat. Flush your suit to maintain temperature.
- take a break, limit dive time and depth, and put extra emphasis on a solid breathup and relaxation if you undergo a stressful dive due to circumstances such as panic, narcosis, unforeseen exertion, etc.
- be aware of differences from the normal in your body and adjust your approach to play it safe.
- always surface with your hands over your head or look up to ensure you are not going to smash your head into an object.
- always focus on relaxing even if you find concern about your circumstances. Anxiety will only work against you.
- do not swim underneath things.

Many of the above suggestions can only be practiced when you learn about your specific body characteristics. This usually requires either pushing your limits aggressively with extra safety under a controlled environment or taking your current known most aggressive practices and treating those as your limits.

Cheers and safe diving,

Tyler

 

[tylerz]

I think the most important things to keep in mind in receiving advice about safe diving is that without specific consideration of an individuals variables:
- there are no general signs one can suggest for divers to know when to end a dive that can be claimed safe and at the same time certain not to impractically limit a dive.
- there are no general guidelines that can be suggested for a proper warmup while promoting a safe dive and at the same time certain not to impractically limit the dive.

Practically speaking I will elaborate on the implications of the above applied to various suggestions.

 

[tylerz]

Contractions:

Utilizing a number of contractions suggested by another person as your sign when to surface will have no practical meaning upon your dive without an intimate comprehension of contractions as they relate to your specific body.
Contractions are useful as a tool in safety only if you can interpret them. Interpreting them comes from gathering lots of experience with them as they occur within your body specifically. Others can inform you of things to look for and to try but only after testing these things on yourself specifically, will you gather useful data.
- contractions without other considerations do not provide an accurate sign of how much O2 is available. The number of contractions experienced before O2 stores are depleted is extremely varied and Dependant upon the specific sequence and variables utilized by the individual prior to their dive and the activity during their dive.
- the first occurrence of contractions, the rate of contractions, and the sensation of contractions can all vary greatly if one does not have a strictly consistent pre-dive session preparation and dive pattern (breath up sequence/surface exertion, dive time/dive exertion, recovery sequence/recovery exertion). In recreational diving many of us will inadvertently have little consistency in all these variables, sometimes due to uncontrollable circumstances.
- depth and activity can stop contractions altogether. Some people can not notice or no longer have contractions when at depth or when they actively move their body.

So, if you use a # of contractions, whether it be 1 or 100, suggested by somebody else, you will still possibly be having an unsafe dive or a dive that is severely limited in time when compared to a practical safe dive for your body.

 

[tylerz]

Dive Time:

Utilizing an absolute or relative dive time suggested by another person as your sign when to surface will have no practical meaning other than the generality of what an average practiced person can achieve. But what if you are not average or practiced in this regard? Then your dive time may not be safe or you may have tons left in your dive but instead end it way to early.

Absolute dive times are generally stated for 1:30. Although maybe most of us can do this after a while of practicing and becoming proficient and consistent in general at our dives, it can easily be too long of a dive depending upon your specific circumstances. Other than all the obvious variables during and leading up to the dive that can affect the performance of individual dives, there is the variance in each of our metabolic abilities/states. That is some of us will have higher metabolism causing more consumption of oxygen, some will have a dramatic decrease in metabolism during a dive whereas others won't. Metabolism will be affected by exertion, technique, apnea reflex, diving reflex, personal fitness, relaxation, etc... Therefore there is no absolute time that is safe or generous enough.

Relative dive times which are adjusted from your PB constant weight dive or especially your PB static are also very susceptible to unfair ratings. The technique and functionings of one's body during a static can be utterly different than during a recreational dive, and the ratio between the two can be completely different depending on the individual.

Let's say a person's metabolism is decreased due to a high degree of relaxation and blood shunting during a static apnea, there is a good possibility that this person will not have either of those occurring during a recreational dive, but there are those who would. For the necessary propulsion underwater, one person may use 30% of their max power, whereas another may use 70%, implying there will be differences in efficiency, yet during a static they both utilize 0% and instead just feed their tissues at their relaxation metabolic rate, or at a blood shunted rate, demonstrating that the relative oxygen consumption will be different. The point is that there are many variables that come into play, all potentially being employed to different degrees in different disciplines Dependant upon the person. In order to have a relative time, one should use an aggressive successful dive of the same discipline or something extremely related. In the case of loose recreational diving, I would say a dynamic is much more related than a static or even a constant weight line dive.

This suggests, and can be seen to be true in practice, that as one progresses through their abilities at statics, there is not a direct correlation to progress in dive times. Sometimes you can even witness an improved static with a decrease in dive ability, or the opposite an increase in dive ability decreasing one's static.

 

[tylerz]

Listening to One's Body:

The suggestion to "listen to your body" is quite ambiguous and a misnomer to some when they hear this suggestion. Some may come away with the feeling that they can dive as long as they feel "OK" and that the body will warn them when they need to return. This is not so and you should not listen to your body as a tell-tale for how long you can proceed, unless it is to limit yourself to a shorter dive. This is because we have the ability to easily trick our body into feeling fine until the last seconds, when we really have gone too long. I have had LMC's even when I felt fine and confident that I was pulling up early (not on solo dives that is). Everything is related to what you learn about your body and diving ability. So, if you feel good, you still only dive as long and deep as what you set for yourself based upon what you have learned about your body's abilities during peak performance.

I think the suggestion of listening to one's body during a dive should be employed to ensure you catch anomalies, things you didn't expect, and use these to resurface early, change your approach as far as technique, or limit the dives to come. If you don't feel right in a certain area of your body, or you find a stress somewhere during the dive, then abort the dive or ensure to limit your dive accordingly. As well listening to your body can gather information, retained to be pondered after the dive and learn about your body under the various diving conditions.

 

[m2b]

- just prior to surfacing always lean back and then proceed to lay on your back at the surface. Idea is that if you do BO or LMC there is a better chance your airway will remain out of the water and you can maintain floating at the surface safely.

Something I just tried tonight goes with this idea quite well, at least in my opinion. I decided to try something different and to my untrained mind, rather unaggressive/aggressive. Over the past several days in the water I have noticed that my downtime hasn't been worth a crap. Then again, I've also noticed that while on the surface I'm fighting myself to keep from sinking.

Today I decided to drop from the 10 pounds I had been using to 5 pounds, the next amount of weight that I had available. I have just been using barbell weights that I stick in a fanny pack and wear around my waist, yes I'm a poor diver. Before I took the first dive I was already noticing that when I exhaled I wasn't doing much sinking/fighting to keep the snorkel above the water. On the first dive I was down probably about the longest that I had been down to that point. I ended up with a couple of 45 second dynamic dives in course of the 20 minutes or so that I was in the water.

I would add to your idea, which I'll have to try tomorrow or the next day, to not only come up on your back but also to limit how much weight you have on so that when you exhale you won't sink back under the water. By being on your back and forcing yourself, even with BO or LMC to stay afloat should dramatically increase the safety. It may not make the dives as long but it should help to increase the safety margin. For me it actually helped big time to increase my downtime, before I was only managing 20-30 seconds typically and I know right now I could very easily stay down much longer, even dynamic without trying. I haven't had a contraction yet while in the water, I don't let myself stay under that long.

- do not let yourself overheat. Flush your suit to maintain temperature.
Now if I could just figure out how to stay warm, DRATS!!!!! Water temp 68 and dropping, if I had a full suit and not a farmer john I would be fine for an hour easy, but the farmer john is hitting me hard at 20-30 minutes.

Ryan