How do I train to swim longer distances underwater?

[LightningGShep]

Is there a table I can follow to help me get started

 

[hteas]

Not that I know of.
What you really need for extending underwaqter distance is a good buddy who will pay sufficient attention as you train

 

[J Campbell]

If you have never learned to do long relaxed breath holds then yes, doing tables will train you to get used to breath holding. But for distance swimming underwater you need to learn finning and proper form and you can only learn that in the water

 

[LightningGShep]

If you have never learned to do long relaxed breath holds then yes, doing tables will train you to get used to breath holding. But for distance swimming underwater you need to learn finning and proper form and you can only learn that in the water

I can hold my breath for 3 mins and 36 secs underwater

 

[LightningGShep]

If you have never learned to do long relaxed breath holds then yes, doing tables will train you to get used to breath holding. But for distance swimming underwater you need to learn finning and proper form and you can only learn that in the water

I can hold my breath for 3 mins and 36 secs underwater. Hoping to extend it since my way of training works for me

 

[LightningGShep]

I can hold my breath for 3 mins and 36 secs underwater. Hoping to extend it since my way of training works for me

Or be able to use that to help me swim at least 50 meters underwater

 

[dcvf]

Hi LightningGShep

Kicking like on the video knees not bended and head aligned with the body.



But she should improve her buoyancy to stay horizontal
A weight belt on the hips and a neck weight to be in neutral buoyancy

And a very good summarize

 

[J Campbell]

If you can hold your breath that long then you should be able to learn to swim 50 meters underwater. But first, you MUST have a spotter - you can pass out in seconds with little or no warning when doing dynamics. It's a bit different than with statics where you can tell when the end is coming (tunnel vission ringing in ears). This not an area you want to take chances with.
To do dynamics efficiently you need to be neutrally buoyant so a weight belt will help. Being streamlined also helps, either a wetsuit or tight swimwear (no baggy board shorts). And finally you need good stroke technique which comes from watching videos and practice - use a gopro to check your progress.

 

[dcvf]

Hi LightningGShep

Please look at my #4 from https://forums.deeperblue.com/threads/the-safety-of-short-dives-in-shallow-water.117055/

DYN 50m it’s done in less that 1min without forcing.

Learn to turn slowly to avoid wasting energy … and oxygen

J Campbell said ‘Use a go pro’… Sony is not bad also

Here below what I filmed ( not with my last Sony, in the 50m swim pool of the European club) to show to the colleagues.
CEAP February2016


And a buddy who can recognize, LMC and BO and knows the way to rescue and deliver Oxygen is must.

 

[LightningGShep]

Will doing apnea walks help since I can't access a pool at the moment

 

[hteas]

It should help.

 

[7BDiver]

DNF is my favorite way to train and helps find my strengths, weaknesses, what works and doesn't in a very controlled and repeatable environment. This helps a lot getting in the zone for comfort and dialing in an efficient technique. For me, I have very strong CO2 contractions which make it far to uncomfortable to keep going before I run low on O2. I also notice acid buildup in the legs happens around the same time as O2 is getting low. You may find zero progress for months and have to experiment to find what works. Tables and trying to increase distances got me no where, practicing doing 25m with short recovery has been working great and got me to 50m recently without struggling. Switching from full breath to half breath holds was very interesting in how it affected relaxation, CO2 reaction and less buoyancy made gliding a sinch.

 

[LightningGShep]

It should help.

The longest I held my breath while walking is 1:15

 

[LightningGShep]

DNF is my favorite way to train and helps find my strengths, weaknesses, what works and doesn't in a very controlled and repeatable environment. This helps a lot getting in the zone for comfort and dialing in an efficient technique. For me, I have very strong CO2 contractions which make it far to uncomfortable to keep going before I run low on O2. I also notice acid buildup in the legs happens around the same time as O2 is getting low. You may find zero progress for months and have to experiment to find what works. Tables and trying to increase distances got me no where, practicing doing 25m with short recovery has been working great and got me to 50m recently without struggling. Switching from full breath to half breath holds was very interesting in how it affected relaxation, CO2 reaction and less buoyancy made gliding a sinch.

What's DNF?

 

[J Campbell]

DNF = dynamic no fins, swimming underwater without fins

 

[LightningGShep]

DNF = dynamic no fins, swimming underwater without fins

Ohhhh

 

[LightningGShep]

It should help.

I can now walk for 1min 40secs without breathing on land.

 

[7BDiver]

That is correct, you should definitely try both. I switched to DNF to switch things up and get a more full body movement in the water. For me, fins can sometimes make it feel like I am just motoring down the lane but relaxation is really easy. Fins or not isn't going to make you hold you breath longer, but both techniques will help improve different areas be it relaxation or automating your form/technique. Notice in some videos the fins are high to drive the buoyant body down, try doing half breath, weight or both. I do this to improve my relaxation and reaction to CO2 while maintaining moderate comfort instead getting high CO2 ~ 50m down the pool where my heart rate is getting high and stress hits hard and fast. If you do not have strong diaphragm contractions I am envious as it is my main weakness.

 

[LightningGShep]

That is correct, you should definitely try both. I switched to DNF to switch things up and get a more full body movement in the water. For me, fins can sometimes make it feel like I am just motoring down the lane but relaxation is really easy. Fins or not isn't going to make you hold you breath longer, but both techniques will help improve different areas be it relaxation or automating your form/technique. Notice in some videos the fins are high to drive the buoyant body down, try doing half breath, weight or both. I do this to improve my relaxation and reaction to CO2 while maintaining moderate comfort instead getting high CO2 ~ 50m down the pool where my heart rate is getting high and stress hits hard and fast. If you do not have strong diaphragm contractions I am envious as it is my main weakness.

I just never had a chance to do pool training yet so I had doing a lot of training on land to increase my breath hold underwater

 

[LightningGShep]

That is correct, you should definitely try both. I switched to DNF to switch things up and get a more full body movement in the water. For me, fins can sometimes make it feel like I am just motoring down the lane but relaxation is really easy. Fins or not isn't going to make you hold you breath longer, but both techniques will help improve different areas be it relaxation or automating your form/technique. Notice in some videos the fins are high to drive the buoyant body down, try doing half breath, weight or both. I do this to improve my relaxation and reaction to CO2 while maintaining moderate comfort instead getting high CO2 ~ 50m down the pool where my heart rate is getting high and stress hits hard and fast. If you do not have strong diaphragm contractions I am envious as it is my main weakness.

I am not used to the CO2 buildup to get contractions underwater so I am doing underwater training at home to get myself used to it