Technique questions

[seahunter]

I think this is my first post, so hi!

I am going to say a few things about myself so people can better answer my questions. I guess I would consider my sell a beginner/intermediate freedivier. I started freediving when i was 11 so i could spearfish. I have been freediving for the last 13 years. I have not taken a class yet, but I would like to. I usually spearfish 50 feet deep and the deepest I have dove is to 80 feet. I usually dive in 50 degree F water with 10-20 feet of visibility.

I have some questions about some techniques.

When swimming up from a dive should you kick all the way to the surface or stop kicking and float to the surface after you become positively buoyant?

I don't hyperventilate any more because i thought I might be doing it wrong. Is there a video clip that someone can post that shows someone hyperventilating properly?

 

[Panos Lianos]

Hello and Welcome to DB. Here are some quick pointers:

You should adjust your weights in order to be positive for the shallow 2/3 part of your diveand negative for the deepest 1/3. Then you can stop kicking both on your way down and on your way up.

Don't hyperventilate. Becoming hypocapnic reduces your apneistic ability.

 

[efattah]

I recommend weighting yourself as follows:
- Define your sink depth as the depth at which you begin to sink at >= 0.70 m/s
- Weigh yourself such that your sink depth is at 1/3rd of the target depth, or 27m, whichever is less
- This formula is if you are diving with a monofin
- With bifins, I would recommend your sinkdepth be a bit deeper

The reason is that with a monofin you can easily have a terminal speed of 1.2 m/s and have no problem on the ascent. This level of negative buoyancy can cause problems with bifins. With bifins I would recommend a terminal velocity of no more than 1.05 m/s, and that is for good carbon bifins. With cheap plastic bifins, even 1.00 m/s is pushing it for terminal speed.

 

[seahunter]

Thanks guys. I am using Picasso blackteam fins right now, but i am going to get 20 fathoms blades for them. I guess I should take some weight off my belt because I am neutral at 20 feet and I almost always hunt deeper then 30 feet.

I looked around and found a thread that talked about proper techniques for breathing up. It said that you don't want to hyperventilate.