freediving no fins - body position not straight

[ryan65]

Hi
I started practicing freediving no fins in the pool, and people who see me say that my body position is not straight , my feet are up and my head is down. I myself don't notice this when I am diving.
I was wondering why this happens , and what I should do to keep my body in a straight position. I tried working on it but find that I am consuming alot of energy just to try and adjust myself , and even then I do not have any indication when I am straight and when I am not.
Thanks.

 

[Azrael3000]

This is to 99% a weighting issue. Are you using any weights, particularly a neckweight?
If you do, it is most likely that your weighting is off. Head down usually implies that your neckweight is not heavy enough, so that you always swim down to stay under water. The key is to find a weight that allows you to push of the wall and then glide (without movement) while remaining at the same depth in a horizontal position. Make sure that you always push off at the same depth and that you take a full inhale every time. Even altering the depth by a few centimeters will change your lung volume and as such your bouyancy. It will take you some time to get it right, but believe me, it is something entirely different afterwards.
If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[ryan65]

Hi .
I am not using any weights .
I don't quite understand. wont a neck wait make my head heavier and will cause my head to be even more down then my legs.
Can you advise on any reading material about the subject
Thanks.

 

[REVAN]

Unless you are diving on exhale, you will be buoyant without any weights. You are swimming with your feet up in order to generate down lift from your body to remain submerged. If you add weight, this will not be necessary. Your drag will go way down and your distance will probably go up 75 to 100 percent. Add most if not all the weight to your neck to counteract the buoyancy of the lungs. You don't want your feet to drop when your glide slows. You should remain horizontal until you reach almost zero velocity.

 

[ryan65]

Hi
I think I understand now , and I will see what it feels like with a neck weight.
thamks.

 

[ryan65]

BTW - is a weight belt around the waste good enough ?

 

[MarcinB]

Weight belt is better than nothing but it will make your legs sink like a rock. Try to put it on your neck and find the correct amount of weights. Then make a neck weight. You will be amazed by the difference it makes in DNF.