Going below 80'; hitting 100

[anthropisces]

I've been hitting 80' once in a while during our spearing sessions each weekend. Going below that I can't equalize.

I don't want to do anything dangerous. I would like to hit 100' though.

I know there are tons of threads on the subject dealing with things like packing, exhale diving, etc.

We always buddy dive, one-up, one-down and strive to be safe and conservative. What is the safest strategy that I can employ to move past 80'?

Perhaps the best answer is "don't go past 80'!"

I don't want to get "squeezed" or cough up blood or any of it. I just want to hit 100.

 

[fcallagy]

Hi Anthro, first off dont focus too much on the number. How comfortable are you at 80 can you pull up and down the rope to 80 as well if not keep hitting 80 for a while using different techniques. See if you can have some one film you at that depth and see if your body position changes. Is your heading looking at the rope or at the bottom looking for the plate? From a safety perspective do a course if you haven't already, have a lanyard attached and while its great you have a buddy have you practised rescues from depth say from 50 or 60 feet could he come get you if you had a problem?
Eqalisation will come the more you get comfortable at that depth. Dont even consider packing or mouthfill yet as you probabaly arnt at your residual limit just yet. If you take your time and relax and dont force there should be no issue re coughing bllod etc

 

[anthropisces]

I haven't been doing it on a rope. I've been doing it to check out the water below our flashers to see if there are any fish down there.

I'll do some reading on residual limit. I've read a little about it but don't really have an understanding.

I think my head position if pretty good. I keep my chin tucked pretty tight on all my dives. I only look around once I get down there and invert.

Thanks for the advice. I'll just keep touching 80 using different techniques.

 

[vali]

what this 80' means?

 

[anthropisces]

Sorry, 80' means 80 feet

 

[Bill]

I'm curious about how you are clearing, for my own information. For the answer to your question, Feargus said it well.

 

[anthropisces]

How am I clearing? Geez, I don't know. I just clear. Equalization has always been a cinch for me (except for some spinal surgery complications which have since pretty much resolved). I grab my nose and send some air into my eustacian tubes. I can do it on land with my mouth open or closed.

 

[efattah]

100 feet on a descent line is a totally different thing from 100 feet on a spearfishing dive.

 

[anthropisces]

I don't want to spear at 100 feet. Maybe I should start using a descent line for some deeper dives.

 

[vali]

your equalization technique seem to be the valsalva technique...
for 100' or 30m, this valsalva is not so god anymore [bigger air consumption]
it can be done, but not so easely....

 

[anthropisces]

how do I know which style I'm using? (I'm sure its been asked a zillion times)

 

[anthropisces]

I think I'm doing Fresnel. My chest doesn't move when I equalize

 

[Bill]

You will feel the movement below the chest if you're still in Valsalva mode. Sit there, let out half your air, hold your nose and clear without moving or tensing your belly. Read Eric's paper on the subject for better understanding.

 

[cdavis]

Second the line idea. It is much much easier to hit 100 with a line than without. As a suggestion, stop at 75, get comfortable, then let the line slide through your fingers and concentrate on equalizing, invert if it feels right. 100 should come fairly quickly. Once comfortable with the depth, dispense with the line.

 

[Erik]

^this^
Cheers