Static Vs. Dynamic

[JIII]

I have relatively little experience in diving for depth, and my static apnea attempts are never longer than just under a minute. However, I can do a dynamic swim of up to 75 yards underwater without fins. Obviously used correctly fins or a monofin could greatly increase this. I was looking at performance free diving's pre-reqs for some of their classes and the ability to hold one's breath for 4 minutes, as well as a 75 meter underwater swim were required. While I am not ready to do any serious depth, I was wondering if these are considered comprable benchmarks. Obviously static apnea has little or no use in competitive swimming, so I have been trained to be much stronger in the dynamic area. What exactly can one do to increase static apnea? Being able to submerge and hold my breath for 4 minutes would increase my underwater freedom considerably.

Thanks,

-J3

 

[Walrus]

Hi J3,
simple answer is just hold your breath longer. rofl
Seriously though I've taught plenty of people and most even beginners would do a static around the 2 to 4 minute mark with the correct technique. You have to learn the difference between wanting to breathe (urge to breathe from body responding to CO2, contractions etc) and needing to breathe (the limit is samba/blackout). In reality there is little to no physical adaptation you need to get to the 4-6 minute static mark. So you just need to learn the "skill" of doing a static, breathing, warmups, being relaxed, and pushing past that initial urge to breathe.

I taught a complete beginner and on his third try at statics he did 6.30. In a couple of weeks time there can't be any real physical adaptation, he just learnt a skill, his body was already capable of that breathold. He was well above average though so most people wouldn't get that high that quick.

Just have a search on static routines and try practising some dry statics, is safe.

Cheers,
Wal

 

[JIII]

definitely, a few years back it was all the rage for swim coaches to teach the technique where you totally empty your lungs of air, which ends the urge to breathe out (no cO2 in the system). it lasted for about a year until someone died, and the fad ended pretty quickly.

Yeah I will work on it on dry land, dying sucks.

-J3

 

[Walrus]

Hi J3,
If training breatholds in the water, you just need a buddy that knows how to deal with a blackout. The main thing is getting the persons airway out of the water, for most common blackouts they will recover and start breathing on their own within 5-10 seconds. In competitive freediving blackouts do occur and are dealt with and the divers are walking around afterwoulds like nothing happened. (Well in a competition they usually a bit down from being disqualified. :t )

Wal

 

[ramstam]

Am I the only one that gets really muscle sore after max statics? I don't like to hold for more than 5min because it ruins the next two days for me. I can do five without being sore, but starting at about 5:10, I'm up the creek.

 

[jome]

Which muscles?

I've only had sores from packing too much...

 

[ramstam]

Most of the muscles of my body. Legs, abs and chest are the worst. I think it's lactic acid from running out of O2. I turn quite blue, I've been told.