FIM Training

[JennyWren]

Hi guys. I recently upped my PB in FIM from 42m to 50m, but I feel as though I can go a lot further. So far, what's holding me back is mostly equalising, but I've made a lot of steps forward in that respect and I think with daily diaphragm stretches and flexibility exercises I should be able to get deeper.

Besides the obvious stretching and static training, what exercises would be best for improving my FIM? I don't have a heck of a lot of upper body strength but I'm not sure what the best approach is - build more muscles in my back/arms, or focus more on getting a good stretch, etc.

Suggestions? What has worked for you guys? I'm focusing on FIM at the moment as I find it very relaxing and fun, and it's a good way for me to work on getting deeper without having to think about kick-cycles and monofin technique.

 

[efattah]

Free Immersion is fun down to about 65m. Deeper than that and it becomes totally awful in my opinion, mostly because the drastically worse narcosis compared to constant weight. And that there is no way to speed to the surface even if you want to...

 

[Kars]

Free Immersion is fun down to about 65m. Deeper than that and it becomes totally awful in my opinion, mostly because the drastically worse narcosis compared to constant weight. And that there is no way to speed to the surface even if you want to...

LOL, I enjoyed picturing this funny and colourful image

Maybe when equalisation works better, you could go FRC?

 

[Bill]

'drastically worse narcosis compared to constant weight. '

Why is that Eric?

 

[efattah]

'drastically worse narcosis compared to constant weight. '

Why is that Eric?

The general consensus is because
1. Dive lasts longer -- more time spent absorbing nitrogen
and more importantly
2. Arms generate CO2 that flows directly to the brain, amplifying narcosis (compared to legs/core muscles where the CO2 laden blood takes longer to reach the brain)

 

[JennyWren]

Hm hadn't thought of that....I've yet to be narked and strangely I'm kinda looking forward to it....we'll see!

I'll definitely be doing some FRC training to simulate depth.

 

[Mullins]

I'd only bother with strength training if you think muscular endurance is actually going to be a problem for you, or if you think that lack of strength is stuffing up your technique.

 

[efattah]

Fellow Canadian Tyler Zetterstrom recently did some deep free immersion dives at the mini-comp in Dahab. Doing FIM dives in the 80-91m range, he reported particularly severe narcosis. While Will T. has reported visual hallucinations (seeing things even with eyes closed), Tyler reported exactly the opposite-- blindness. Unable to see anything, even with eyes open (using a mask). This would happen early in the ascent.

The narcosis induced blindness would fade as he passed around 55m on the ascent.

 

[Kars]

I tried the 2' - 1 breath static CO2 schedule and the CO2 apparently is giving me a blurred vision, though I feel confident and in control. - Not having been drunk before I suspect that it might be a similar experience.

Just as an idea, why not do only the first 10m in FIM, then some legs only kicking, with arms over head until the glide?

 

[azapa]

Jenny, I am with you and there too. was your 50M new PB heads down all the way? On my old PB (51m) I 'cheated' by flipping feet down at about 43M, with the one extra EQ I made it fine. This year I managed 52M head down all the way: only 1M more than last year .. but a much better dive.

Tons of negative (ish) dives trying to sort out EQ is going to be my way deeper. Certainly in that depth range the problems Eric mentioned were not there, to be honest I don't even have contractions in FIM so far, they feel very easy hypoxia wise.

 

[Aber]

A strong focus on relaxation has been very helpful to me both in terms of eq and 02 conservation.

If you don't care for comps at present or doing FIM in comps, I can strongly recommend FIM descent and CW ascent. It's a very nice way of diving. The contractions are much more manageable kicking your way up. Using arms going down make you more relaxed, you can focus on that and eq, and you conserve more oxygen, and thus can go deeper more easily.

 

[efattah]

This brings me to an old idea-- a new category called 'unlimited constant weight'. The idea is that fins are allowed, and pulling on the line is also allowed. A combination of free immersion and constant weight. Kind of like the ascent in variable weight.

Realistically, the depth would not be much different, if you consider that the constant record is 124m and the FIM record is 121m, then the 'unlimited constant weight' would be in the same range. It would also make judging way easier.

 

[Aber]

Oh, that would definitely be my favorite discipline :inlove Please put it on the AIDA comp program! It would definitely add some meters to my PB. However, like Mr. Fattah points out, it probably won't make a big difference for the deepest divers.

 

[Simos]

We usually have this as a category (freestyle) in our club competitions for those not bothered about sticking to the 'official' rules. It's really good for beginners as it allows to go down/up using whatever feels more comfortable, using the rope as much as they want while wearing fins etc I always enter this category

Another interesting category we have is the 'double dip' - going to the plate twice basically (ie can't breathe when you come to the surface the first time). It's an excellent way of working on equalisation...

This brings me to an old idea-- a new category called 'unlimited constant weight'. The idea is that fins are allowed, and pulling on the line is also allowed. A combination of free immersion and constant weight. Kind of like the ascent in variable weight.

Realistically, the depth would not be much different, if you consider that the constant record is 124m and the FIM record is 121m, then the 'unlimited constant weight' would be in the same range. It would also make judging way easier.

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[Simos]

Don't you guys think that such a category would result in deeper dives? (assuming the limit is not EQ). It should be significantly less tiring being able to use both arms and legs...
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[JennyWren]

Jenny, I am with you and there too. was your 50M new PB heads down all the way? On my old PB (51m) I 'cheated' by flipping feet down at about 43M, with the one extra EQ I made it fine. This year I managed 52M head down all the way: only 1M more than last year .. but a much better dive.

Head down, I have pretty well-behaved ears, so I don't usually have too much trouble unless I go to fast, get nervous, or peek at the plate =0)

I'm going to try out FRC for the first time tomorrow. Will be mostly a mental challenge I think, it's very counter-intuitive to my nature - my brain will be saying "TAKE A BIG BREATH!!!" but we'll see.

 

[picasso]

Fellow Canadian Tyler Zetterstrom recently did some deep free immersion dives at the mini-comp in Dahab. Doing FIM dives in the 80-91m range, he reported particularly severe narcosis. While Will T. has reported visual hallucinations (seeing things even with eyes closed), Tyler reported exactly the opposite-- blindness. Unable to see anything, even with eyes open (using a mask). This would happen early in the ascent.

The narcosis induced blindness would fade as he passed around 55m on the ascent.

I experienced something simillar. I see some lights after each contraction on the way up in dark water (from 55m). Is it kind of narcosis?