What's my problem? Your advice please...

[docgreenfingers]

As a beginner, last week I managed to get 10 meters deep. I could also hold my breath for around 1 min 15 secs gently gliding around 6 meters. Now this week I have two problems...

I can only seem to hold my breath for 30 to 45 secs. When I get to the point my brain tells me to go up for air, the gulping now goes on and on. Last week it only lasted 5 secs or so and I could breath again and stay under. The gulping doesnt seem to go away now.

Also my ears are not equilising after 7 or 8 meters, so Im not getting the 10 meters like last week.

Any advice please?

 

[Spearo_the_Hero]

You mentioned you are a beginner and I see your location is Tenerife. Did you already take a proper freediving course? If last week was so much better then perhaps you were also diving with others you felt really comfortable with and could therefore naturally stay longer deeper, right? If you are diving alone now then you won't feel the same confidence and this lack of relaxation will rob you of oxygen and equalization skills. Not that you should be diving alone, of course.

I don't know what you mean about the 'gulping' please describe. Possibly contractions of the diaphragm creating a vacuum to your mouth...causing an involuntary reflex like a gulp or sudden suction in your throat?

What is different from your diving in terms of location, association, equipment used and dive preparation? These kinds of variable play a role. The last breath taken is of course a variable. e.g. if you are diving on full exhale then you would fit in the normal bell curve of freedivers diving on exhale able to only go 7-8 meters or less @ about 1/2 minute. But I don't think you are diving in full exhale. Only with full information and introspection can this issue be solved. The answer is within. Mainly, we need to find out exactly what is different from last week.

 

[docgreenfingers]

Spearo_the_Hero....

Location and equipment the same. Diving with buddy all the time. No not diving on full exhale. Yes contractions is what I mean. They seem to be never ending yet the other week I could get passed that. I have been out tonight and managed to go 10 meters. I tried equalising more frequently on way down this seemed to work. As for the not breathing under water for as long I could I went in to contractions at around 45 secs. I stuck it out as long as I could which gave me an extra 15 secs, staying down for a minute. But I come up only because the contractions dont stop. Professional Freediving lessons? No. My buddy is progressing well. Infact Im watching him go from 10 meters last week to 17.1 meters today. maybe worrying about him going so deep and hence maybe not relaxing enough.

 

[docgreenfingers]

Latest... Had a few days rest then went freediving this morning. Floated and relaxed on my safety float for 5 mins so I was nearly asleep. Sea was calm, water crystal clear, sun blazing down and I then slowly slipped into the water to my last breath and descended to the sandy bottom six meters deep. I then sat in lotus position relaxing all my muscles. Wow how great it was. No contractions and I was still at the bottom 1min 15secs. I then slowly staying relaxed started accending. I managed 1min30secs. New underwater record for me. I could have stayed longer as I didn't reach the contractions. On surfacing I felt even more relaxed and not out of breath. My problem is solved. Get the heart rate down. Relax,relax, relax.

 

[Ms Mer]

Well done doc! Sounds like a wonderful experience and a bit of a breakthrough for you too. Don't ya love it when they happen!