DYN to CWT

[TecDiver1990]

Hey all,

I'm planning on going down with a group to Troy Springs, FL next Saturday, and it's going to be my first time freediving to depth since I began this sport 4 months ago.

My hold times have suffered lately because my lungs are healing from 9 years of smoking, and they've just started purging all the buildup that accumulated over the years. I quit smoking the same day I started training for freediving. Freediving was actually my reason to quit.

Anyways, my question is this: would my dynamic distance be a good indicator of how deep I can expect to dive?

 

[J Campbell]

I suppose there might be some general rule about horizontal/dynamic abilities compared to depth abilities. But I don't really know much about that. For me, my depth diving is roughly the same as my dynamics - I can dive about 25 meters deep (50 meters round trip) and I can also do 50 meters underwater horizontal. But I suck at dynamics so the comparison may not generally apply.
However dynamics and depth are very different physiologically: Think of being in a 25 meter pool in your freedive gear - do a couple of efficient kicks and then glide - no more kicks. You most likely will never get to the other side. Doing dynamics is - dynamic, meaning moving. You will have to keep kicking to get to the other side - and that burns oxygen.
Now think of doing a dive in a 25 meter deep quarry. Do a decent duckdive, a couple of efficient kicks and then glide - no more kicks. You WILL reach the bottom with little or no extra movement - very efficient, little oxygen consumed. As you drop from the surface your air is compressed and you become negatively buoyant - gravity works for you. But coming up is then a bit MORE work because you are then fighting that gravity.
Also, at depth your body metabolizes oxygen differently. The lung squeeze makes oxygen more available - and can give you a false sense of well being - maybe making the inexperienced diver think he can stay down a while longer. But when he comes back up the process is reversed and the oxygen is then sucked out of his blood and back into his lungs - and can cause the legendary shallow water blackout.

How deep is your pool? My pool is 13 feet and just barely adequate for dive practice. I can do duck dives, ear clearing, and the slight squeeze of 13 feet gives a small sense of depth. When I practice in the pool I just go to the bottom and kick slowly and try to improve my relaxation and times underwater. I need a lot more weight to keep me on the bottom of the pool.
If you have a deep pool to practice in I think this will help your skills as a beginner diver more than doing dynamics. It will get you used to a small amount of pressure, ear clearing, and just learning to relax underwater.

And NEVER DIVE ALONE! You have a pool buddy?

Have fun and your dive trip and don't worry about depths or times. I saw your other thread about losing you breath hold ability.
You said you held your breath for 3 mins before - well that means you can do it, and you will get there again.

 

[Kars]

About expectations; they do not fair well with freediving
Competitors, novices, hunters, recreational divers find often how much they do pan out or are surpassed with unexpected ease.

Being good at dynamics means you know how to swim efficiently and hold your breath. Diving deep is much more complex, as you can read from Mark's post. Now complexity is ok and cool, it grant's us many cool new learning opportunities. May I suggest to you training the following techniques: Frenzel, duckdive, diaphragm stretching (Banda Udinana), ribcage and shoulder flexibility.
Things to bring; leak free mask, rubber weight belt with small weights, simple large diameter J-frame snorkel, good fitting suit, silicone swimcap if the water is cold and your forehead is exposed or too cold, 1m lanyard (detachable from both ends), good recovery food and drinks, a learning and exploring selfless attitude. The special thing about freediving is that brute force is not the way to success, it's a way to burn out. Instead allow yourself time to feel your way around obstacles, be like water my friend.

In the water, move slow but deliberate, retain your relaxation. When on the line focus on learning the techniques, not on numbers.
When you are at depth with your instructor, hold on to the line, close your eyes and relax all your body parts one-by-one, just how you would before/during a static. You'll find that once you give in to the water pressure the underwater world transforms into a magical, comfortable and beautiful abstract peaceful space. Once you'll get it, you'll notice the lack of the urge to breath at depth, it's only the rational part of your mind that says 'you should be going up soon'.
Cast away your expectations, and enjoy the learning and exploring of your mind and body and you'll have a great time and build some great memories of your first visit to the remote deep world.

Love, Courage and water,

Kars