Inconsistency

[appyguy]

Hi Everyone,

My problem os inconsistency, started freediving 2 years ago after 20 years of scuba.

On a good day I can dive to 30 metres and hunt alittle bit. Next day might stuggle to do 14 metres. Just no consistency. I have done a basic couse based on performance freediving. Go to Eygpt in May to do the apenea Academy Instructors course.

I have been unable to identify a best case scenario for breath up, any suggestions.

Steve Bunton

 

[naiad]

Almost all freedivers can't perform their best every day. Some inconsistency is normal.

If you are doing the same breath-up and getting very different results, what else is different? How recently have you eaten before diving, and how much? Have you done something else tiring, like fitness training or manual work? Have you had enough sleep? Are you more stressed on some days than others?

Just a few ideas.

Lucia

 

[SanderP]

Just curious, how much does eating influence your breath holds? For how long should you not eat, before doing your breath holds/diving?
And what's the medical explanation for that?

 

[DeepThought]

How much? can't tell, you'll have to try it yourself.
For me:
I am not as comfertable.
I'm more likely to suffer heartburn if diving.
Imagine dozens of contractions on full stomach, need I say more?

The "scientific" reason is that more blood goes for digestion (thuss more O2), so the longer your breathold is the more O2 you'll lose for digestion.

As for how long one should wait, experiment. Most say 4 hours are enough, others like 6. Some eat something small 2 hours before, some take fruits and snacks on their floats (but those are likely to stay in water for hours).

 

[Sergiu]

I would add that inconsistency may well be caused by mental factors rather than phisical (though i would not underestimate what was said earlier like eating, drinking, night out, etc before the dive). If i cannot concentrate properly my dives nowhere near to the usual, be it static, dynamic or deep diving.

If the inconsistancy in your performance bothers you, i'd say it's best to keep track of a few elements within the day before going down the better side of this world.

serge

 

[appyguy]

Thanks, for the replies, I do believe it is a combination of Mental Factors (and what I eat prior). I do have a fairly stressfull job. I have taken to using an endurance suppliment instead of eating as much during the day. This in itself has made quiet a difference. I do believe it is just a matter of getting myself into the correct place mentally.

It does take a long period of time for me to settle into feeling comfortable (about an hour ). Im not sure if this is how long it takes for the dive reflex to kick in. I have tried doinging facial immersions first and a couple of shallow (to about 6 meters on anchor rope) negatives. this does not seem to have hurried along the dive reflex, so maybe it is just mental.

 

[naiad]

For me, it makes a big difference if I don't eat before statics. My best times have been done when I am hungry. For dynamics, I have a sports drink, because I just get too cold and hungry. It doesn't have any bad effect on my performance, and I did that before my recent PBs.

Lucia

 

[SanderP]

Does drinking affect your breath holds as well? In a bad way, I mean?
Naiad, what sports drink are you using, something like Powerade?

As for eating, I tested it myself. I didn't eat for about 7 hours and my dynamics were a lot better than with a full stomach.

 

[lungfish]

I dive with Cytomax.... Twinlabs makes it and it is great stuff...

I can't drink booze the night before diving....

uuuuurrrrrpppp!!!!

 

[naiad]

Naiad, what sports drink are you using, something like Powerade?

I use Lucozade Sport. It is very nice, I get it from the supermarket.

 

[appyguy]

This was in reference to general spearfishing, we normally hunt from 4 metres depth to my maximum to date being 27 mtrs. The Vis can range from 3 metres to 20 metres (Rare). The conditions can have a big impact on how comfortable I am mentally on the day.

The suppliment I have started using is "Super Endur-EMX" made by Nutraceuticals. I have had a recommendation to take a protein suppliment in conjunction with this

 

[Morg]

anyone drink pedialyte for rehydration?

I never thought to drink that until I seen that some goalies in the NHL drink that.