Spearo Breath Hold Expectations - am I off the mark?

[Jeremy Harris]

Hi all,
I know that spearfishing and freediving is all about relaxation, enjoyment, fun, camaraderie, and the rest and that we shouldn't worry about how we compare with others... but I just want to know, you know?

I watch youtube videos of folks spear fishing and they seem to lie in wait for AGES! Most of my hunts are done when I stalk a fish having seen it from the surface or I slowly swim along a reef looking for something. If I dive and wait, I don't feel like I can stay long enough for anything to happen... I just got my first dive computer so have some numbers now and I wonder how others compare. Would people mind sharing or is it all a bit personal?

I can hold my breath sitting in a comfy chair with some preparation for 2:45. My longest dive yet (been measuring for about a month over 7 sessions) was 1:25 at 16m depth. I'm comfortable at 16m. My deepest dive yet is 26.5m and I went down and came straight back up. If I go to between 10m and 15m I seem to be able to stay down for a total of around 1:15.

I live in a remote place and there isn't anyone around to work with at getting better...

I'd really love something to aim/train for. I'm doing my tables and a bit of exercise. Can you help?

 

[OMSDiver]

I consider myself a newb. My static and dynamic holds are almost identical.

 

[landshark sa]

Hi Jeremy

I think your spearfishing breath hold is in-line with what 90% of spearos do in "fishy" places. Areas such as the Med where fish are scarce spearo's have to do different stuff (dive deeper / longer) in order to get good fish.

Also, looking at the photo's of fish you have shared those stats seem to serve you well. So unless you want to target some specific fish that are more challenging to shoot, maybe Jobfish or deep water groupers, I wouldn't worry increasing anything**

The only thing I can add is, in my opinion, with a 1:15 average spearfishing breath hold your on-the-couch static could comfortably be 4min+

**Note: I haven't (yet) been to St Helena so may be off with the requirements for consistently successful hunts.

 

[Jeremy Harris]

Hi landshark that's encouraging - thanks! I suppose you're right that if it aint broke... spearing season is off now so there is a little more couch breathing going on. Not improving that quick but not in decline like I was last closed season so that's something! If you ever make it to St Helena let me know!

 

[Okis]

I'm still a beginner with just 1.5 year on my neck and except that i dive alot(2-4 times a week) i find that tables really helped me. But i dont think you would really need to better your times much more.

Currently my longest breathhold is 2.45 doing aspetto, afterwards i felt i pushed my limit a bit too far for my own safety and i didnt see anything worth shooting anyway.

I did have a period were most of my dives was around 2.30, however to be safe that kind of downtime will give you alot of boring recovering time on the surface(3 times the breathold time). Since that waste alot of time because the way i hunt i have lowered my downtime to 1.45-2 minutes. Should mention that i mostly dive the same depths as you. I guess if i were diving deeper more often i would have stayed at 2+ minutes.

But if you really want to get better breathold i recommend training with tables and also do some freediving courses. When i did my first course my static apnea went from 3 minutes first try to 4.35 second try, so learning the how to really helps!