surface intervals how many minutes should i stay above if i dive

[EARL1220i]

hi im a spearo and im begining to go deeper i really want to know if how long should i took to relax above then to dive again about 40ft. my bottom time i think is only 1min so how long should i stay in the surface. thnks alot hoping for ur help guys

 

[podge]

Rough rule of thumb would be 3 times surface time to bottom time.
So if you’re down for 1 min then you should be on the surface for 3 mins, with the odd 4min now and again to give yourself a rest.
Like i said this is just a rough guild but its how i do it and i'm still here.

 

[Siku]

How do you measure bottom time? I've heard a few ways in scuba diving. In freediving I'd guess its from start of descent to surfacing?

 

[The_frogger]

Get yourself a Suunto D4 Siku, it does it all automagically.

 

[Siku]

Wish I could, but my cash is going on skills, not tools.

Is nitrogen absorbtion just a function of time and depth? I know this is a scuba question really but I always thought computers should factor in how much air you've breathed - it varies considerably from diver to diver. Freediving is just the extreme end of the scale - one breath.

 

[Fondueset]

Siku - for serial dives you want to factor in recovery. If you are looking at max dives or repeated dives your surface intervals get longer. 3 min is good for 1 minute dives but you need to think about exertion - are you fighting current etc. It is best if your surface interval is COMPLETELY motionless - with deep relaxation. Not always possible. Also learn to feel what hyperventillation feels like and avoid it - your breaths should grow slower throughout the breathe-up.

I was out with some friends who were going for new personal bests - I made them start the breathup over if they lifted their heads out to talk.

 

[Bill]

"Is nitrogen absorbtion just a function of time and depth? I know this is a scuba question really but I always thought computers should factor in how much air you've breathed - it varies considerably from diver to diver.

In a word , no. Scuba rules don't quite work and PN2 doesn't change significantly with respiration rate.

If you limit your ascent and descent rates to 10 meters per minute, then you could probably get away with the old rules and add all your bottom times (bottom time = start of descent to start of ascent), apply the max depth and see if you need decompression. With 40 feet you'll run out of daylight.

If you're talking of maximizing bottom time, Fondueset explained it well. I'd just add that if your bottom time gets shorter, you need more rest (duh).

 

[EARL1220i]

thanks alot guys for the response hope to enroll on a freedive but here in my place theres no one i can find and no cash to enroll to just tryng my experience to gain all my skills huhuhuhuhu hope i could learn more about freedivng can anyone help me to extend my bottom time any exercise to do . thnks

 

[Fondueset]

First and foremost to improve bottom time is to relax - learn to swim with minimal exertion - max efficiency. Mainly learn to relax deeply - then work on the surface entry. This will get you far, fast and safe.

 

[peacenluv]

hey earl1220i. wolfgang runs freedive courses in cebu if that's nearby. his db username is wdaf.

 

[EARL1220i]

thnks peace its to far on my part to go there its about 2hrs flight and dont got that money to pay for the ticket or the lesson to hihihihi. do u guys have a breathing exercise that i can practice thnks mate for the time to respond to my questions