Training for Freedive Spearfishing in prison

[blueh2oboy]

There is a lot out there on how to train for Freediving and in all the classes they teach you how to dive and also some good info on how to train to get in shape for Freediving.

Freedive training undoubtedly makes you better at diving deeper but the techniques are not necessarily exactly what you need for spearfishing.
Freediving is one fluid dive over and over without any variations. When we spearfish each dive is different, our heads are moving around while we are descending looking for fish instead of having our chin tucked and swimming right past everything like I see most graduates do, we shoot a fish and go from relaxed to high exertion while still on a breath hold and have to fight with fish, getting in and out of boats, etc etc.
Its like cross training to combine Freediving and spearfishing.
I'm wondering what everyone else does to train. Personally I would much rather dive but seeing as I spend 6 + months out of the water every year and have to keep in solid shape so that I can compete with the likes of best in the world the first day I'm back in the water.
Here is what I've been doing this month:
Spearfishing and freedive conditioning/training - SpearBlog
Curious to see what Spearfishing/Freediving specific training you all do and if it works. I'm sure we are all different in what our bodies need to make it happen. Some guys can run three miles 3 times a week and it keeps them in shape to dive and some can not do a damn thing and dive the same all the time. Knowing I am going to be diving 15 days straight from dawn til dusk when I get off work though makes me want to be in top shape so I don't waste a minute of time sitting my lazy ass on the boat.

 

[cdavis]

Do you have access to a pool with a deep end?

Connor

 

[blueh2oboy]

No pool, 12 hours of work a day, Weight room has only a stationary bike, treadmill, and a rowing machine. Free weights and a few medicine balls so I have to be pretty creative during the day while I'm running around.
I work on a 650' ship as Chief Officer so I'm "landlocked" although I'm actually on the water all the time. It is painful to watch hundreds of great dive possibilities and blue water pass underneath as we go from one place to the next.

 

[cdavis]

Hmm. . . . tough problem.

Your dive pattern is similar to mine, no diving for months then 5-10 days straight. I've developed a system that gets me to almost 100% on day one, but it would not work for your style of diving. Reviewing your blog, you are in great shape, necessary for the type of moderate dive time, short recovery, long session you do. I'd keep doing what you are doing and try to figure out a way to train your dive reflex/blood shift. Not easy with the way you dive, but it would be a great advantage for your reflex to kick in hard and very early. I use frc to approach the same thing, but my dives are no where near as energetic as yours.

Suggestion: try a week of full exhale statics, one or two sessions a day. Do them at rest at first. You don't have to go out a long way, 30-45 seconds will get contractions started and start blood shift. There is no need to hold until it is extremely uncomfortable, although that might help if you find that the idea works. When you start breathing again, you will feel the blood rushing back into your legs. What you should see (I do) is progressively stronger and faster blood shift. If that works, try it with exercise. If that works, you will see an improvement on day one of real diving.

Another possible is play with less breath up, so you take down more C02 which helps kick in your reflex early. Its tricky to find the right combination for this and everybody is different

Good luck and I really enjoyed your blog.

Connor