Packing? and Nose Plugs? QUestions

[patchesprescott]

this stuff may sound elementary to most of you, but i'm new to this sport having been a scuba diver for the last 20 years...also i put it in the beginner's section

Packing - does this mean you pack, then exhale and then take your deepest breath before going down for your breath hold?

or,

do you pack as part of the last inhale before the breath hold? - - - it just seems that this takes some time and would take time away from your breath hold to me, but maybe it is done very very quickly, i'm not sure


With the nose plug - is this a safe way to equalize using vasalva as i am descending during a freedive - i haven't been able to master the Frenzel approach and it is time and energy consuming to continually reach up to squeeze my nose with my fingers as i'm trying to descend

thanks for all the help!

 

[efattah]

Packing -- you inhale to your max, then waste time gulping air with your cheeks, then you hold your breath. So yes, you waste time, but you can gain in the long run. However I strongly recommend against packing for a variety of reasons.

Nose clip -- both frenzel and valsalva require you to pinch your nose. Only the BTV technique works without pinching your nose. A nose clip such as the Paradisia will work for valsalva, however you would need to use a pipe mask or fluid goggles at the same time (since you won't be able to equalize the mask). Most divers just pinch their nose the entire descent.