Upcoming trip, how am I doing?

[clane2ndwindow]

Hey all,

I'm new to freediving. I started training about 2 months ago in order prepare for an upcoming dive trip. Right now my static max is 2:40, swimming in the pool I can go 1:00. Is that good/bad/average for two months of breathing tables?

I can only find time for 3-4 O2/CO2 tables a week plus 1 trip to the pool a week. I have two more weeks until our trip, how much can I improve do you think? What will help me ramp up faster, tables or the pool?

Thanks!

 

[cdavis]

Given what you have quoted, you will be doing relaxed dives in medium depth of over a minute. That is pretty good for a beginner. Try doing some pool apnea work on exhale, say 85 % of max exhale. Have a buddy to spot you. This will help you feel dive reflex and is much quicker to discomfort. Good training.

Connor

 

[clane2ndwindow]

Thanks Man, but what is exhale work? Sorry, I don't understand...

 

[Siku]

Fully inhale then exhale slightly (15% Connor recommends) then dive.

I'm not sure if this stimulates a dive reflex or simply simulates the compression of the chest at greater depths.

 

[cdavis]

Ah, almost my favorite subject. Fair warning, I'm a bit biased.

Exhale diving is going down with less than a lung full of air. FRC is the amt of air left in your lungs when you simply open your air passage and relax on the surface. Diving FRC is a good way to start. Use the deep end for the best result. Diving FRC or below sets off your dive reflex early. It also means contractions and discomfort may come faster at first(or, they may not come at all, caution required). Both things are great for speeding up training. there are several threads on exhale/FRC diving. Use the search function for "exhale" and "FRC" , "Murat." One good one is "exhale diving for the "average" diver" The technique is a good training tool and, with practice, is a fabulous way to dive. Fair warning, the physiology is quite different from full lung diving. Have a spotter, particularly at first.

Where are you going on your diving trip?

Connor

 

[clane2ndwindow]

Thanks! I'll do some reading on FRC.

I'm going to Thailand's Trang Islands this month. If anyone has been there and has some good freediving hints I'd appreciate it!

 

[nyspear]

Hey clane2ndwindow - where in NYC are you? I've been looking for a pool to train at, but in NYC it's tough to find a spot that isn't packed every night with lane swimmers.

 

[clane2ndwindow]

Hey clane2ndwindow - where in NYC are you? I've been looking for a pool to train at, but in NYC it's tough to find a spot that isn't packed every night with lane swimmers.

Yeah, that's the truth. I go to the Westside Y (63rd & CPW). Usually after 9pm you can get your own lane, I don't try to go any other time. If you come by lemme know

 

[Andrew the fish]

Thanks! I'll do some reading on FRC.

I'm going to Thailand's Trang Islands this month. If anyone has been there and has some good freediving hints I'd appreciate it!

I've been to Ko Chang last February. I don't know what kind of weather you are going to get there this time of the year but in February if was fabulous. This is where I actually decided to get back into freediving, Thailand, lot to see, beautiful corals, shellfish, some fish, warm and clear water. Salinity is high, not like Pacific around left coast here, it would burn my eyes there in Thailand if water gets inside the mask. Some small rocks scattered around Ko Chang that were withing easy reach by finswimming, 2000 meters or so. Next time I am there ( and there will be next time) I better have monofin and good dolphin kick technique. Lot of sea urchins so be careful, those things can ruin your vacation. Some little desolate Islands will be completely taken by sea urchins, I mean approaches to them, cannot walk unless you have some kind of gumboots. Heavy boating activity, so if you are snorkeling/freediving you will have to safeguard yourself in some way or go with scuba divers on organized trip. We were hiring speedboat for hundred bucks or so and going far away from all the nuisance to some most beautiful and pristine rocks with lovely sandy beaches. Killed some fish and cooked right there on the beach with some crudely made firepit. I don't think you can export any shells, friends of mine sneaked through a big, attache case size bivalve mollusk shell, but I could never understand why bother. Tides sometimes someplaces were hard to keep up with, so bottom times where short, under a minute I think. Anyways, I am new to this sport and back then I wasn't thinking freediving, more like snorkeling with some diving involved. Local beer brew is good, "Chang" I think and there was some other brand - both good and cheap:friday. Anyways, I wanted to fly back to Thailand the moment stepped out of the airport in Vancouver. Light drizzle, gloomy dark and cold, snotty green coulds above - "geez why would people want to live here" I thought.

 

[Andrew the fish]

I just realised where Trang Islands are. I guess it may be quite different there. My GF was in that area a few years ago and didn't like it very much, apparently ocean swell was too much for her to keep up with. Inside the gulfed area of Thailand the water is flat.