Front room/dry dock practice!

[DafyddRees]

Hey guys,

I was just wondering if many of you guys practice holding your breath when you don't have the oppurtunity to dive? I don't have the time to go spearing at present so I decided to start practising and managed to crack 3mins sat infront of my computer for the first time about 2 minutes ago! I think I will probably try to repeat it daily and which will hopefully stand me in good stead for summer!

(I may have posted this in the wrong place /slaps wrist. Sorry if I have)

Dave

 

[Broseidon]

I try it from time to time - never got past 1:30

Looks like I'll be employing the 'shoot from the surface' method this summer

 

[Padaxes]

You guys should read the beginner free diving threads and do some o2 , co2 tables maybe ? I`ve just started doing them this week so I obviously havnt seen any improvement yet but I can only do 1.30 as well debro so am hoping to improve!

 

[Magpie]

As Padaxes says, have a browse around the freedive sections for dry training info. It can make a huge difference very quickly to your dry static times. I went from 1min30 to 4min30 in 6 months.

BUT, make sure you read up about the safety aspects of this too. Doing exercises dry is fine, but if you think that'll lead to doing the same times when you're spearing you'll get into major trouble.

As an example on the above dry static times I have never spent longer than 2mins underwater and thats really pushing it, normal for me is to surface after 1minute.

 

[Broseidon]

Does anyone have any links on how to improve your breath hold?

 

[Kajojek]

Do some research yourself. You're gifted with having a forum like this, it's all in the beginners section layed out for you. Try different tables and see what works for you. No one is going to guide you through training, you have to experiment yourself...

 

[Broseidon]

Do some research yourself. You're gifted with having a forum like this, it's all in the beginners section layed out for you. Try different tables and see what works for you. No one is going to guide you through training, you have to experiment yourself...

Wow - that was useful... :hmm

I've already done a search, not 100% sure what I'm looking for - no idea what the tables mean.

I'm not looking for someone to hold my hand, just wondering if anyone had links to articles etc.

Could you just tell me where the beginners section is? I can't find anything in the freediving beginners section...

 

[Broseidon]

I've been doing O2 / CO2 tables for a few days now - did a 2:51 today!

Considering my first breath hold attempt last week was around 45 seconds, I'm really pleased!!!!

 

[colinox]

Hi,

Regularly training co2 / o2 tables really works, no doubt whatsoever. In December '08 my best time ever was around 3:30 and I set myself a goal of achieving a 4minute static breath-hold by the end of 2009. Then I discovered the o2 / co2 tables by using the Search function here on DB, and have trained with tables regularly ever since. A couple of weeks ago I reached 6:05 without any freediving or serious pool training (it's only recently that I found buddies to train with)! Now I need some new goals for this year - but the biggest goal will be reproducing that sort of time in the water!

The best advice is - as others have said - to use the search function here on DeeperBlue. Search for o2 and co2 tables, and also try using the technical terminology; Hypoxic training, and Hypercapnic training, and any other relevant words and phrases you can think of.

If you haven't found it already, Trux has a very useful site APNEA.cz but you need to pass a test before reaching the treasure that is the Apnea Training Manager with all its tables! I struggled to answer the questions day after day and almost gave up. But I did more and more research until finally I knew enough about freediving safety to pass the test and use the tables in the Apnea Training Manager. Trux just wants to be sure the people with access to his training resource understand how to train and freedive safely. I found the learning process as helpful as the tables.

Hope that helps.

 

[Robbo66]

6.05.....:hmm

 

[Padaxes]

Well my record has gone from 1.30 to 2.15 in a week doing tables im quite pleased

 

[colinox]

6.05.....:hmm

Yes, the rate of progress has really taken me by surprise too! But it has been a steady progress with times increasing through the four- and five- minute zones before reaching that 6:05 time. Also, all the tables I now use are based on a maximum of 6:05 (for example, o2 tables with apneas rising from 3:30 to 5minutes, and co2 tables with 3:02 apneas).

So tables genuinely do produce radical improvements in static apnea times. Because I have nobody to train with most of the time I restrict myself to the Easy Phase and surface at (or preferably before) the first contraction. That used to mean I'd limit myself to one 25metre length. Now I can do 50metres as easily as I did 25metres just 4months ago, so the improvements in static performance are carried over into the water. I do not know how much improvement this training will have in open water and depth as I have not had chance to get out into open water yet, but I think there will be a considerable improvement in performance.

 

[Broseidon]

Well my record has gone from 1.30 to 2.15 in a week doing tables im quite pleased

I've gone from 45 seconds to 3:12 in a week and a bit

Seriously though, with some of the guys here pushing 6 minutes - it there a chance of brain damage?

 

[colinox]

I've gone from 45 seconds to 3:12 in a week and a bit

Seriously though, with some of the guys here pushing 6 minutes - it there a chance of brain damage?

The world record for breath-hold / apnea is 10:12 (and 17:28 on pure oxygen!!!), but most people's lungs can hold enough air for 7-8minutes, they just haven't trained to use it properly!

Just because I hold my breath for up to 6minutes does not mean my brain is starved of oxygen for 6minutes! And there are many people here on DB who can hold their breath for much longer, and have done 5-6minutes thousands of times over many years without brain damage.

When I train doing tables I wear a Pulse Oximiter which shows my heart rate and the level of oxygen in my blood. The device does not give perfect results but it's pretty accurate and if you want to learn more there are threads which investigate their use. Anyway, on mine the oxygen level stays at 99% for at least 3minutes and it is still above 90% after 4-5minutes! On my 6:05 PB it went down to 62% which is very low - but the human brain is very fussy, so if it was not getting enough oxygen it would simply take control and I would blackout and start breathing again!

I think it would be good if you use the Search function here on DeeperBlue, and Google, to learn more about the different ways the human body adapts for long breath-holds (and things like extreme pressure at great depth) because it is amazing. These things have been explained by people who know a lot more than I do, so search and learn from the experts!

By the way, that's great progress from 45seconds to 3:12 in a week. Well done, I'm sure you will soon get even better times!

 

[Jonny250]

As said above, theres lots of info and tables on the freedivingside of this site; one other consideration which is important is the mental aspect of freediving - being comfortable in the water and when you dive. I'm far from knowledgeable and am a novice myself, but have seen that being comfortable in the water makes a massive difference to your capability, relaxing muscles that you didnt know where tensed, etc. and being relaxed within your own limits are so important (and i am working on this at the mo'!).

The Pelizzari Manual of Freediving is a superb reference book isbn 192864927-0 although it will be 2010 before i have understood much of it it has tables and excercises to try.

 

[colinox]

As said above, theres lots of info and tables on the freedivingside of this site; one other consideration which is important is the mental aspect of freediving - being comfortable in the water and when you dive. I'm far from knowledgeable and am a novice myself, but have seen that being comfortable in the water makes a massive difference to your capability, relaxing muscles that you didnt know where tensed, etc. and being relaxed within your own limits are so important (and i am working on this at the mo'!).

The Pelizzari Manual of Freediving is a superb reference book isbn 192864927-0 although it will be 2010 before i have understood much of it it has tables and excercises to try.

I think this is all very good advice.

Just to add to what has been said, it's best to have someone near you who knows what you're doing when you are practising dry static tables because occasionally it's not as simple as I suggested - assistance may be needed in some cases even in dry practise. Sorry for giving the wrong impression - apnea has dangers whether you are practising wet or dry.

Of course you should never practise any apnea activity in the water without a buddy by your side. Although I do not have a freediver buddy to train with in my local pool I always go to the pool with someone else and I make sure that person sees when I go under and watches me swimming underwater just in case something happens. A few months ago I experienced a blackout and samba while apnea walking. It took me completely by surprise because I had only walked a very short distance and was still within the Easy Phase. Fortunately I was walking on soft carpet but I've been extra-careful ever since!

 

[Broseidon]

The world record for breath-hold / apnea is 10:12 (and 17:28 on pure oxygen!!!), but most people's lungs can hold enough air for 7-8minutes, they just haven't trained to use it properly!

Just because I hold my breath for up to 6minutes does not mean my brain is starved of oxygen for 6minutes! And there are many people here on DB who can hold their breath for much longer, and have done 5-6minutes thousands of times over many years without brain damage.

When I train doing tables I wear a Pulse Oximiter which shows my heart rate and the level of oxygen in my blood. The device does not give perfect results but it's pretty accurate and if you want to learn more there are threads which investigate their use. Anyway, on mine the oxygen level stays at 99% for at least 3minutes and it is still above 90% after 4-5minutes! On my 6:05 PB it went down to 62% which is very low - but the human brain is very fussy, so if it was not getting enough oxygen it would simply take control and I would blackout and start breathing again!

I think it would be good if you use the Search function here on DeeperBlue, and Google, to learn more about the different ways the human body adapts for long breath-holds (and things like extreme pressure at great depth) because it is amazing. These things have been explained by people who know a lot more than I do, so search and learn from the experts!

By the way, that's great progress from 45seconds to 3:12 in a week. Well done, I'm sure you will soon get even better times!

That is absolutely facinating! I presumed that when I needed to breath, my body would be totally out of oxygen!

Will definately use the search funtion more although to be honest, as I'm so new to all of this, I'm still very unclear as to what to search for!

Thanks for the info!

 

[colinox]

I'm still a beginner as well. I'm in the process of doing the AIDA** course, but I have done a lot of research, so all I can really do is give you some suggestions which have helped me.

The breathing reflex is caused by increasing carbon dioxide (co2), not low oxygen. When breathing normally our exhaled air still contains a lot of oxygen (about 16%)! So, one thing to search for is the Breathing Reflex.

Hyperventilation is very dangerous so do a search for that. Then you will know the symptoms and can tell if you have accidentally hyperventilated.

The co2 tables are also called Hypercapnic Tables, and o2 tables are also called Hypoxic Tables, so search for those words because understanding them will teach you a lot about apnea and what happens in the body when freediving or doing any form of apnea.

Have a look for the Mammalian Dive Reflex (usually just called the Dive Reflex or DR) because the human body has many hidden abilities which help us during apnea and freediving.

That should give you plenty to start with, but the most important word is Safety. Try to find as many different explanations as you can for each topic because although freedivers here on DB are generally keen to help, we are all human and can make mistakes.

Doing this research is good but the best advice is to take a course with an experienced, qualified freediving instructor. There is a lot which can only be taught in person.

 

[DafyddRees]

It is pretty annoying when your mate who has never done any sort of breath holding sport manages a 3 minute 30 hold in a paddling pool after no breath up and said he came up after one convulsion :vangry!!!?!??!

 

[Broseidon]

It is pretty annoying when your mate who has never done any sort of breath holding sport manages a 3 minute 30 hold in a paddling pool after no breath up and said he came up after one convulsion :vangry!!!?!??!

Wow! That's scarily impressive!!!