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variable WR attempt: what really happened
- Thread starterannamaria
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
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Thank you Anna, for this excellent story. It does indeed seem likely your low BP had much to do with it - and it is a textbook description of well-planned and executed safety measures. (The scooter idea is great!)
Your precise and well-organized description of events makes it easy to see how events unfolded.
Best to you in all your future efforts - and thank you again for sharing this.
(PS - I have not been able to find the video of this dive on youtube - do you have a link?)
Your precise and well-organized description of events makes it easy to see how events unfolded.
Best to you in all your future efforts - and thank you again for sharing this.
(PS - I have not been able to find the video of this dive on youtube - do you have a link?)
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Hi there, there is no video of this dive out, as you can imagine, it is extreme and would be very upsetting for example to my family. We do however have the images of almost the entire dive, as we had GoPro cameras everywhere on the sled, even one filming upwards, so you can see a large part of my ascent. There was also a GoPro on the scooter, so you can see me from close up when Andrea meets me in 50m.
What is on youtube is our Tandem No Limits WR dive, and I think it is really great - this has never been filmed like that. It is all realtime, the actual dive, nothing staged afterwards - you can see clearly how we both equalize all the way down to 125m:
Freediving No Limits Tandem World Record 125m, Andrea Zuccari & Anna Von Boetticher‏ - YouTube
What is on youtube is our Tandem No Limits WR dive, and I think it is really great - this has never been filmed like that. It is all realtime, the actual dive, nothing staged afterwards - you can see clearly how we both equalize all the way down to 125m:
Freediving No Limits Tandem World Record 125m, Andrea Zuccari & Anna Von Boetticher‏ - YouTube
Anna,
Thanks for posting the account, I'm sure it was difficult to write it. I'm very happy you're okay.
In terms of trying to analyze what happened, and why, there is enough information in your account to say almost certainly why everything that happened, happened. And in this fashion, prevent it from happening again. I would be happy to discuss more in private.
Thanks for posting the account, I'm sure it was difficult to write it. I'm very happy you're okay.
In terms of trying to analyze what happened, and why, there is enough information in your account to say almost certainly why everything that happened, happened. And in this fashion, prevent it from happening again. I would be happy to discuss more in private.
Dear Anna
Thank you for this, not simply to clarify things to those who don't know you, and demonstrate how responsible and professional a diver you (and Only One) are, but to help anyone considering sled diving make the right decisions for them.
Most of all I'm so grateful to everyone who was there that day to save you. I'm so glad you're safe and well.
See you soon, my friend,
x
Sara
Thank you for this, not simply to clarify things to those who don't know you, and demonstrate how responsible and professional a diver you (and Only One) are, but to help anyone considering sled diving make the right decisions for them.
Most of all I'm so grateful to everyone who was there that day to save you. I'm so glad you're safe and well.
See you soon, my friend,
x
Sara
Anna, your detailed explanation is insightful. Thankfully a good outcome.
A few questions if you don't mind:
(1) Do you have a recording of the dive profile?
(2) Do you know your total lung capacity?
(3) How much lung packing did you do?
(4) Was there evidence of gas exhalation on blackout?
This information is important to estimate your gas levels.
John Fitz-Clarke MD PhD
A few questions if you don't mind:
(1) Do you have a recording of the dive profile?
(2) Do you know your total lung capacity?
(3) How much lung packing did you do?
(4) Was there evidence of gas exhalation on blackout?
This information is important to estimate your gas levels.
John Fitz-Clarke MD PhD
Hey John, yes we have the dive profile, although it is on Andrea's computer - he downloaded it off my Suunto. Unfortunately, I was not wearing the heart rate monitor that comes with my new Scubapro Meridian computer, it would have been so interesting to see that data! I have had heartrates as low as 32 bpm on variable weight dives, though, on the way up.
My total lung capacity is 6L, vital capacity just under 4L. My lungs are small according to my height and weight, this is because of a scoliosis so the ribcage is compressing the right side of my lungs. Or so I've been told...
I packed 35 times, but my packs are small. I was not fully packed, I can pack more, but have found that too much packing is giving me stress on the way down. With this amount I was great on all the training dives. In a test at the hospital this amount of packing turned out to be a little more than one liter.
There was no exhalation after the black out.
Dave: yes it was way slow. Of course I did not realize quite what speed I had anymore, was a bit distracted by the contractions, although relaxed and not too stressed, really. With the 7mm suit the ascent was certainly very easy from 40m upwards.
My total lung capacity is 6L, vital capacity just under 4L. My lungs are small according to my height and weight, this is because of a scoliosis so the ribcage is compressing the right side of my lungs. Or so I've been told...
I packed 35 times, but my packs are small. I was not fully packed, I can pack more, but have found that too much packing is giving me stress on the way down. With this amount I was great on all the training dives. In a test at the hospital this amount of packing turned out to be a little more than one liter.
There was no exhalation after the black out.
Dave: yes it was way slow. Of course I did not realize quite what speed I had anymore, was a bit distracted by the contractions, although relaxed and not too stressed, really. With the 7mm suit the ascent was certainly very easy from 40m upwards.
hey all, seems like I need to add something to my report. I started the detailed account from the last training dive, not the deepest - it never occurred to me that there would be any doubt that I had done my prereq dive, as this is required for the attempt. It was done a week before the attempt, just before training went bad.
Sorry of this has caused confusion - the judges acted correctly and of course checked on this.
Sorry of this has caused confusion - the judges acted correctly and of course checked on this.
Hi Anna,
Nice and detailed report, very educational, and apparently the safety systems proved adequate.
The blood pressure issue reminds me of the Grand Blue movie, where Enzo is also tested pre dive for his blood pressure. Personally I also had one or two occasions where I had a low blood pressure resulting in more difficult dives. It is something I take note of when I get up for a diving day. If it's low I make sure to drink enough and even consume some blood pressure upping food ingredients.
Other than that the training in November for a low aerobic threshold and high anaerobic capacity got my curiosity. Do you - like me - have a 'natural' high aerobic threshold? What training principles did you use to change that?
I think with the lessons you've learned you'll be very much able to do your 130 VWT dive.
I don't know, but I got the feeling that maintaining the normal speed for the way up may have been better, reducing the dive time, whilst since your muscles are in anaerobic mode it would not much impact the O2 in the bloodstream and brain. But off cause timing the fin strokes to avoid tensioning the abdomen while a contraction occurs.
Is pulling at such depths as fast as finning? Would one of these be better in case of contractions?
A streamlined No Limits Freediving Rescue Vest still looks like and attractive safety component.
Love, Courage and Water,
Make sure you keep diving!
Kars
Nice and detailed report, very educational, and apparently the safety systems proved adequate.
The blood pressure issue reminds me of the Grand Blue movie, where Enzo is also tested pre dive for his blood pressure. Personally I also had one or two occasions where I had a low blood pressure resulting in more difficult dives. It is something I take note of when I get up for a diving day. If it's low I make sure to drink enough and even consume some blood pressure upping food ingredients.
Other than that the training in November for a low aerobic threshold and high anaerobic capacity got my curiosity. Do you - like me - have a 'natural' high aerobic threshold? What training principles did you use to change that?
I think with the lessons you've learned you'll be very much able to do your 130 VWT dive.
I don't know, but I got the feeling that maintaining the normal speed for the way up may have been better, reducing the dive time, whilst since your muscles are in anaerobic mode it would not much impact the O2 in the bloodstream and brain. But off cause timing the fin strokes to avoid tensioning the abdomen while a contraction occurs.
Is pulling at such depths as fast as finning? Would one of these be better in case of contractions?
A streamlined No Limits Freediving Rescue Vest still looks like and attractive safety component.
Love, Courage and Water,
Make sure you keep diving!
Kars
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thanks for the detailed report Anna; very interesting read. Glad you are ok. See you in Kalamata