Surface Intervals

[paddler3d]

Hello all!

I'm an experienced SCUBA diver, but not so experienced in free diving. I've snorkeled all my life, but never have really gone for the whole breath hold thing. Frankly, free diving it is not very popular in our neck of the woods. However along with one of my dive buddies, we've been getting into it. In fact, I'm sure we think we know enough to be dangerous.

With that, what are some rules with surface intervals?

For instance are SI's 1:3...down for 1minute and up for 3minutes, down for 2minutes up for 6minutes.

Thanks in advance!

Chris

 

[cdavis]

Its a little hard to quantify. Lots of variables; the individual, degree of exertion, depth, temp, degree of inhale, etc, etc. 3:1 is pretty safe for most diving. I do 1:1 on short shallow dives and 3-4+:1 on full lung deep/long dives. Doing FRC in moderate depth, warm water, low energy dives, 2:1 or longer.

You want to feel fully recovered and get your heart rate back down low, plus some time.

Connor

 

[samdive]

a good rule, recommended by my dive doctor - is that if you dive to 30m or deeper, have at least 10 minutes between dives. (obviously this gets longer if you get super deep - say 50+)

3:1 is a good recommendation shallower than that, but it will depend a bit on your individual physiology in terms of both recovery time and disposition towards DCS. Making sure you are very well hydrated throughout the dive period helps on both counts.

 

[paddler3d]

30m?!?! Not quite there yet. Well, at least not without a tank.

My buddy and I are going to try and make it down to FL this winter and try to take a formal class.

What is FRC?

What do free divers consider 'moderate depth'?

Thanks for the info so far!

Chris

 

[flying_spanner]

30m?!?! Not quite there yet. Well, at least not without a tank.

My buddy and I are going to try and make it down to FL this winter and try to take a formal class.

What is FRC?

What do free divers consider 'moderate depth'?

Thanks for the info so far!

Chris

I personally do most of my diving in around 15 - 20m of water. Any deaper than that is too much like hard work when doing repetative dives.

I can go deeper but it takes me too long to recover between dives.

For my surface intervals I take the time until I feel that I can dive again. ie heart rate in check, feeling relaxed and comfortable. Then I add 30 seconds to that time by counting in my head.

It's not very accurate but until I can afford a nice new Suunto D4 it'll have to do.

 

[cdavis]

Diving FRC, or exhale diving, is coming to mean diving with less than a full lung of air. FRC means literally, Functional Residual Capacity, ie, relax and exhale passively and whats left is FRC. n The amount varies with the diver. I normally dive with about 60 % of max. Takes a while to get used to, but works extremely well for some types of freediving, not all.

Moderate is moderate to the individual diver. For me, thats 40-60 when spearfishing and 60-70 when sight seeing (feet not meters).

Recommendation on taking a course, DO IT! It will be some of the best $ you've ever spent. After Martin or Kirk work you over, you will probably think 30 m is a breeze.

Connor

 

[PFI]

Hey all,
If you're new to freediving, there are a couple of safety rules we always use. First, always use the buddy system and have one diver up, one diver down. That way you've always got someone breathing up, ready to safety should a problem arise.

Second, if you're diving shallower than 25m/82 feet, maintain a 2:1 surface interval. If you're down for 1 min, stay up for at least 2 (longer is great). If you're doing 25m-60m your surface interval should be at least 8 min.

And of course, I'd highly recommend taking a PFI course! Feel free to send me any specific questions here or to my email.

 

[paddler3d]

Hello Erin!

You answered one of my posts on ScubaBoard about instructors in MD. One of my dive buddies and his wife are going to try and come down next Spring to Ft. Lauderdale. We'll see. We've already booked a live aboard in the Bahamas in July. I just need to make more money and work less...

Do you guys have a store front? We're actually pulling the boat down to Lauderdale/Largo the 2nd week in Oct. for the last bit of warm diving of the season.

Chris

 

[PFI]

Hi Chris,
We'd love to have you come down for a class! We don't have a storefront but we have an office at 429 Seabreeze Blvd- right on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale. Feel free to come by and say hi! You can always call there too if you have more questions about freediving or classes.