How to improve my sea dive time?

[xbuster]

Hello everyone!

I'm new in freediving (6 month) and in the forum. This forum is great! I'm learning a lot from many threads in this forum!
Currently I'm working hard to improve my dive time. Here is how I train (not alone!):

1. 3 times a week I'm training in the pool for 30-40 minutes. I'm swimming with fins for about 500 meters then do 100 meter switching above and under every 20 meters, then 10 x 25 meter underwater laps on 50 seconds intervals. In the end I do once or twice 50 meter underwater regular/relaxed (55 sec / 1 min 20 sec)

2. Twice a week I go to the gym - 1 hour training all muscle groups.

3. 3 times a week I do static tables O2 and CO2. My current tables are:
O2 - start 60 sec, step 10 sec more each round, rest 2.5 minutes (total 8 rounds, last round - hold 130 sec)
CO2 - hold 80 sec, rest 120 and reduce 10 sec each round. (total 8 rounds)

4. Twice a week (sometimes less depending on weather) I dive in the sea. Currently I use 5 mm open cell wetsuit.

My personal best in statics is 2.5 minutes (as measured a month ago in a pool and dry statics)
My personal best dynamic pool with fins 1 min 20 sec - 50 meter.
In the sea my best result is 35 sec dive to 11 meters.

I'm generally a very fit person.

I've a number of questions:

1. Is my training as I've describes sound correct to you? How can I improve it?
2. Is my dive time in sea ok and consistent with dynamic in the pool? (I fill it's not)
3. How to improve my training?
4. Any other comments and suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks you!

 

[esom]

Hey Xbuster,

Why not drop co2 tables for 3 weeks and stick to the "rested start bellyfloating breathholds". Plus, use your watch only to time your breaks (roughly!!) and do the holds without seconds counting on you.

Put them in the beginning of your session and do a fix number. this will be about "understanding" rather than "progression". though note, that understanding is the only way to make jumps in anything.

If you miss definite "progression" watch being aside, put progression into your other exercises: plan a clear progression e.g. for your interval 100 m with breathing every 20m, again for 3 weeks.
(e.g. ad 20m to your split 100m every second session - you know best and if not you will find out. training exercises have to be worked out!)
If you can not follow your plan there, soften the progression first and if this doesn't work out change to a completely different exercise.

PS: Internet input like the above is often bullshit , regards

 

[xbuster]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Can you give me an example of what you suggest.

 

[esom]

i propose you quit co2 tables for some time and keep only o2 tables in. o2 tables that aren't o2 and no real tables: no timing of breatholds just timing breaks roughly. ... maybe this is not the place. please read again and ask specifically

 

[xbuster]

Thank you for your suggestion. I'll try it. I'd appreciate other comments and answers. Thanks!

 

[cdavis]

Looking at your open water dive, it looks like you could benefit greatly from better technique and more relaxation. Practice things that get you down with the minimum of effort, better surface dive, correct weighting, good streamlining and finning technique. There is a lot to be gained there. Relax, think about relaxing all your muscles as you descend. Once you are on the bottom, relax even more. If you have to move, do it with the least exertion, pull yourself along, for example. Do some of this in the pool, it will get you ready for open water. Those things alone should get you well past a minute.

For some of our diving, we use a weighted line, pulling down the line is far less exertion than swimming down.

 

[xbuster]

Thank you cdavis!
I do fill that I struggle on my way down and almost immediately I fill like I'm out of air. This just happens to me at the sea. I don't fill afraid or worried. It fills very different to me when I'm in the sea vs. in the pool.

I'll definitely try all the things that you've mention. How can I practice relaxation in the sea? Are there any specific drills that I can do to be more relaxed?

 

[xbuster]

Hi esom. What you mean when you say "rested start bellyfloating breathholds"?

 

[cdavis]

Get your weighting right is key. Once that is done, stop moving and tell all the muscles in your head to relax, next go to your neck, same message. Keep going down to your toes. Then repeat. You will be amazed at how much tension that you (a)get rid of and (b) that comes back. You can do this exercise on the surface or down. Keep practicing that and slowly you will come to be relaxed to start with.

 

[xbuster]

Thank you cdavis. I'll do it!
What can you say about other training I'm doing? Is it good?

 

[esom]

"rested start bellyfloating breathholds" is a different way to say static o2 table. I think a different naming is well deserved for the exercise i proposed, because "static" in it's clear use refers to a competitve dicipline. Further "Tables" produce a context where you easily "get the thing done" without paying attention, because the exercise does the job for you (which is often true). I think "competition" as well as specialised exercises like prescribled tables should not be THE standard for somebody learning to freedive. More important is to see how things can be done better... Connor has great input i guess.
- one thing maybe: do the exercises that are fun, they teach you the most, no doubt. Also you are the only expert in these regards...

 

[xbuster]

esom thank you for the explanation.

 

[xbuster]

Guys, can anyone share their thoughts about my physical training, apnea times (static, dynamic and sea diving). Thanks!