How much harder is it to freedive in cold water?

[Fondueset]

I've only been back in this game with intensity for 3 years or so - and I can only mumble inarticulately and twitch in awe of the likes of Pete and Eric - you actually live near them!
I also am not yet an FRC mutant - though it seems to happen with many of my shallower dives. You and I are diving about the same depths - but I cheat by bringing more air with me.
I hope to get out there again sometime soon - I believe BC is my favorite place on the planet.

PS - I lost my fav snorkel the other day - I can only qualify my humiliation by saying I lost it either on the way in or out. (possibly I should dive No-Snorkel for a few months?) Of course I have two more - but they are not impulse IIs - with which I have a spiritual affinity. If some cursed retch found and made off with this sacred power object I can only wish it brings them everything they need..

 

[harbour seal]

i remembered i was asking about weight for frc diving earlier in the summer:

http://forums.deeperblue.net/freediving-equipment/72326-serial-frc-cold-water-how-much-weight.html

sorry about your snorkel, i feel for your loss fondueset. british columbia is by far my favourite place in the world as well (too many beautiful spots to mention).

sean

 

[efattah]

My experience with FRC, with a thick suit down to no suit, is that I need the same amount of weight with or without the suit, for FRC or for extreme packing dives.

Diving FRC with a 6.5/5mm config, I need to kick 2-3 times to start sinking. Without the suit, with a small neckweight, I don't need to do any kicks to start sinking. In the same configs, with full packing, I need to kick hard down to 30m to start sinking.

Attempts to add more weight while using the suit, in an attempt to sink from the surface, always resulted in worse dives.

 

[Atlantis Fire]

I have no professional training whatsoever, unless you count lifeguarding and scuba. But I have found the biggest difference temperature makes, is with how easy it is to relax. Up here in the north Pacific, it's considered warm at 12 C. Usually even wearing a full 7 mm suit and hood, you start shivering within minutes. Having my teeth clacking together really makes slow deep breathing and relaxation difficult. PB with fins for here is about 12 m, PB in Florida was more like 18 m. I'm not quite sure exactly how deep my max was.