Some minor freediving info needed.

[Mufazalov]

Hey Guys, I have some personal info to share with you and maybe you can help me sort out some of my questions.
I am spearfishing for 2 years now and recently shot a 9kilo Dusky 36m below the surface. I have never participated in PRO freediving activities (competitions) because we dont have them here - in North Cyprus. I clocked 6:00 in my static apnea few days ago and on the next day I have opened myself to a new world of Frenzel equalisation. (That day I wanted to thank Frenzel itself for coming up with that technique, Fattah for making it available for the public as a "not very confusing technique", and deeperblue for a place that brings great freedivers together. You can tell that I was very very happy that day. I would thank everyone and everything)
Now here are some of my questions:
1. Recently I have spotted a very strange beeping noise at depth. I mean when I am doing an aguchon at 20-25-30 I hear some beeps between similar intervals. I dont think that I hear my heart because these sounds remind myself of Mario Games. These 8-bit sounds. For example: I deep down, find a better place, lay down waiting for the fish to pass and the sounds emerge like an 8-bit heart rate. I dont think that anyone had the same stuff happening but who knows... any ideas whats that?
2. I found out that I need more Frenzel Equalizations (over Valsalva) to get to 30. For example if I am using Valsalva then I equalise : 1st - 6/7m, 2nd - 13, 3rd - 18 , 4th - 25, 5th - 30. But once I am using Frenzel I have to equalize every few meters or so. But I think it has something to do with the pressure I exert with my cheeks. Because sometimes one mouthfill is enough to get down to 25m. How does Frenzel equalizations work with you?
3. WHen using Frenzel E. I feel like a tooth of mine starts to hurt. Is it just a jaw being tired of work or Frenzel might have some impact on my teeth?
4. Any ideas of how I can progress deeper than 50m? My buddy cant dive to 35. THats just a pure freediving questions. Anybody been to 50m spearfishing? In the Med? I am dreaming that groupers down there are 15/25 kg each and they swim in packs. Heh, I would want to dive to 50 just to see that...

 

[Jouskari]

First of all. You´re training with a buddy and a rope right? and you have taken care that they can provide proper safety for you? Your post just sounded like that you are doing everything alone.

 

[Mufazalov]

Hey, Jouskari.
I never used a rope to freedive neither did ever I train for freediving. We only spearfish, ofcourse only freedive but freediving with a gun is different from 'pure freediving". Gradually I am increasing depths (because I like the depth itself + I am more comfortable going deeper) MOST of the time with my partner. But the thing is that he is not diving deeper than 30m. He can dive once, but he is not comfortable down there.
Rarely (sometimes) I go spearfishing alone, because I dont like to be dependent on smbd. On these days I try to take it easy and not to "touch" my limits.
But thanks for an advice tho.
anvar

 

[Jouskari]

Ok, I´ve done some spearfishing myself (I suck ). So I know what you´re talking about.

Regarding the sounds... do you use a dive computer? My guess would be narcosis or change in blood pressure in eardrums.

If you want to progress deeper than 50 m I would suggest that you start diving on a dive line using a lan-yard and start having a buddy with you always. Just in case of an SWB.

I have a few spearo friends that actually trains depth by"freediving" just to get better at deep fishing.

Here´s a pertty good thread regardin spearfishing, safety and deep diving:

http://forums.deeperblue.com/safety/68233-freediving-death.html

 

[Mufazalov]

Went spearfishing yesterday. Same strange sounds once the depth exceeds 20s. Like a duck is sitting 10 meters behind my back and sounds of its' quacking are distorted. =]

 

[Sweet Tooth]

I doubt this is what you are hearing but could the sounds come from a fish? I have heard jewfish (goliath grouper) here make some unworldly eerie sounds at us when we spearfish. I really wish I had been able to record them. They sounded like a horn though, not beeps.

 

[Kars]

Cool fish making sounds I love to hear that!

Are the sounds present on the way down? on the way up? If you lay down at a depth and wait do the sounds remain, or change?
Have you also got the sounds when diving feet first?
Do the sounds change with your ability to equalise?
Do the sounds change with your level of tiredness?

 

[Mufazalov]

Good morning,
Yeah, I know that there are fishes that make weird sounds (triggerfish, AJs) but its not the fish.
"Are the sounds present on the way down? on the way up? If you lay down at a depth and wait do the sounds remain, or change?"
The sounds emerge when I remain immovable for a period of time of the bottom floor. (aspetto or aguchon), I dont think I hear them on the way up/down.

Have you also got the sounds when diving feet first?
Well, Kars, I have never tried to get down to 30s feet first. But I will try today, so I will know for sure.

Do the sounds change with your ability to equalise?
No, equalisation has nothing to do with it. I can perfectly equalise all the way down/up. No sounds on the way.

Do the sounds change with your level of tiredness?
Dont really remember, I will try today to see if it does.

RIght now I am waiting for my buddy to go Sprfshng. I will surely double check all my answers and maybe will find some more info that will get me closer to solving the reason of my mysterious sounds.

Ciao.
Anvar

 

[Bleeth]

2. I found out that I need more Frenzel Equalizations (over Valsalva) to get to 30. For example if I am using Valsalva then I equalise : 1st - 6/7m, 2nd - 13, 3rd - 18 , 4th - 25, 5th - 30. But once I am using Frenzel I have to equalize every few meters or so. But I think it has something to do with the pressure I exert with my cheeks. Because sometimes one mouthfill is enough to get down to 25m. How does Frenzel equalizations work with you?

One mouthfill to get to 25m ? Than i'm doing something horribly wrong, the mouthfill i take on the surface is enough for me to equalize just 2 times (so it takes me to 7m max). (and no i'm pretty sure i'm not losing the air through my epiglottis). I also have to equalize every 3 m, is this the way it should be ? i don't see myself passing 25m with all this ear and mask equalizing, and mothfilling every 6/7 m. Please any help would be great, feel stuck .

 

[Mufazalov]

One mouthfill to get to 25m ? Than i'm doing something horribly wrong, the mouthfill i take on the surface is enough for me to equalize just 2 times (so it takes me to 7m max). (and no i'm pretty sure i'm not losing the air through my epiglottis). I also have to equalize every 3 m, is this the way it should be ? i don't see myself passing 25m with all this ear and mask equalizing, and mothfilling every 6/7 m. Please any help would be great, feel stuck .

Hey Bleeth,
I am progressing very fast with Frenzel Equalisation. These days I need a single mouthfil to get to 30s. Solid. I fill the cheeks with air but I push with my lips muscles (not the cheeks muscles). I hope it makes sense. I found out that the pressure exerted has huge impact on the process. If you pressed harder, then one Frenzel equalisation = 1 valsalva equalisation. Thus 5/6 is enough to get to 30. My advice would be for you to try squeezing cheek/lips muscles harder when equalising.

 

[Bleeth]

I fill the cheeks with air but I push with my lips muscles (not the cheeks muscles).

I'm not sure if i get it, you "push" what ? The air in to the nose to open the Eustachian tube ? Shouldn't i do that with my tongue ?

 

[Mufazalov]

I'm not sure if i get it, you "push" what ? The air in to the nose to open the Eustachian tube ? Shouldn't i do that with my tongue ?

I contract the cheeks muscle. For example: when I fill the mouth with air its almost bursting. When I submerge, I contract my cheek muscles (so the pressure rises = air goes somewhere to equalize my ears =] ).
As far as using the tongue as a piston then its a Frenzel - Fattah maneuver, and I am not familiar with this one yet. But yeah, I believe that using Frenzel-Fattah is more technically advanced.

 

[buddha]

For some reason I found easier
to perform the mouthfill for me (closing the jaw, compressing the cheeks an finally the tongue). I'm still developing an automatic Frenzel but the mouthfill works everytime. Not sure why...