Question Novice doing 12.5 meters underwater X 4...

[ISL]

Hello,
I am a 54 year old fitness swimmer and have started doing some basic underwater training. I never swam on any team of any kind and did not learn how to swim properly until my mid to late 30s.

I swim in a 25 meter pool and have begun adding what I think are very safe and reasonable underwater sets but as a beginner I am a bit confused and scared by all the information I am now looking at and I can't tell if I am courting disaster or doing something pretty safe.

I swim either 1,000 or 1,500 meters broken up into sets of 200 + 50 meters. Each 200 set is standard freestyle or a related drill (pull buoy, fins...the basics). Each set of 200 takes me roughly 6 minutes.

After each 200, I do 4 X 12.5 meters underwater sets. These sets take me at least 3 if not 4 minutes. I rest alot between the sets. The first set of underwaters are usually the hardest, I get a bit tingly in my shoulders and often pop due to fear during the first 12.5 X 4 and sometimes during the second. Then they get pretty easy and I usually have air to spare at the end of each set.

For a seasoned freediver this seems safe but what about a real novice in his mid-fifties? There are no worthwhile lifeguards at my pool.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

 

[J Campbell]

12.5 meters is not very far. Many experienced underwater swimmers can glide that far. If it gets easier as you progress then that just means the first sets are just you getting warmed up and used to it - the dive reflex kicks in. But please explain "a bit tingly in my shoulders". Is this related to being tired, needing air? I don't understand why that would affect your shoulders.
The proper advice is to not dive alone at all. But I know many people, myself included, who do so because they can't find a buddy. So, if you are diving alone then don't push yourself at all. When I dive alone it's short dives to work on my technique or just for the pleasure of being underwater, but I never push it.

 

[rollerGR]

Sounds fine. I'd suggest a few additional things, from my own experience:

- Do a couple of shallower warmup dives. At 4-6 meters. Focus on staying relaxed when diving down, staying at the bottom, and also while ascending. Pay attention to not tensing your chest/lungs.

- There should be a rest 2x (at the minimum) as your previous divetime. If you had a dive with a total time of 1'30", rest time should be 3'+.

- Dry apnea exercises for relaxed breathing (fill belly first, chest second, shoulders last). Get to the point of diaphragmatic spasms so that you get to know your limits (never exceed that point, and it might change from day to day. One day it will be 2 minutes, next day 3, day after 1'30 etc. Also don't stare at a watch).

For your 12,5m dives I'd suggest doing half of them static once you reach the bottom, like an ambush. The other half, swim around once you reach the bottom (these will be naturally shorter in duration).

 

[cdavis]

Interested in the shoulder tingles. That might be dive reflex/blood shift and very good if it is. I get tingles in my hands and forarms after about 1.25 minutes. In me, that is bloodshift. Earlier means a long comfortable dive. Given that it disappears as dives get easier, you might get it back by doing longer distances in subsequent dives. 25 meters is plenty safe