Fitness, body type effect on optimal freediving performance by discipline

[Kars]

In regard to body build, I think I see a trend, towards more muscular.
In a way it's logical, because more muscle means more blood, and a quicker transition into anaerobic mode. More muscle helps to propel with more efficiency because it's easier to coordinate the movement when you're well within range of your strength abilities. Maintaining balance with ease.

Example, compare swimming with a monofin that is within your strength abilities, and one that is to big and stiff for you. In the latter you and your fin will be hopelessly out of balance, reducing your efficiency and distance.

 

[azapa]

...., I noticed that putting on the suit, laying down on my back, and most of all breathing very slowly through the nose focussing on feeling...... .

Thats funny Kars, on spearing days, just getting my wetsuit out (the smell i guess) gets my DR going.

 

[Kars]

That may be just a reaction to the cold of the moist skin in the wind.
But next time take a few slow long deep breaths from the lubed suit, before the dive and see if that induces some response? - Eliminating the possible other factors to be sure.

 

[trux]

I got to a point that within 5 minutes, and later within even faster, I felt the vascular constriction in turn on while I was breathing and preparing.

I am afraid that this effect is rather negative than positive. You do not want vasoconstriction and bradycardia before you dive. That would start starving your muscles, myoglobin, and venous blood of oxygen before you even start the breath-hold. You only want it once you stop breathing. Just prior the dive, high heart rate and dilatated arteries help better charging all available stores with oxygen, and keeping the venous blood well saturated without hyperventilation.

 

[azapa]

That may be just a reaction to the cold of the moist skin in the wind.
But next time take a few slow long deep breaths from the lubed suit, before the dive and see if that induces some response? - Eliminating the possible other factors to be sure.

I am talking about an hour or more before i even put the suit on. As trux mentions, it may be a bad thing. I notice that when this happens I don't get the "ice cream headache" as my face hits the cold water for the first time (as vasoconstriction has begun already). Prior to this occurring, I would get get the ice cream pain every time. I think its more a ritual, as I dive 95% same time, same place, same sequence of events. My body just knows what is going to start happening. On a positive side, my first dives are as good as my last, no "warming up" is needed anymore.