Cant let Gully take all the credit for that one - thats me and mine!! But he did put me there, March last year.
This is off Exmouth, Gull had dive down and speared a nice parrotfish but it went under a rock, he was out of breath so had to come up, I followed his rope down to get it out and lo and behold this baby had come around to see what was going on. I dont usually let myself spear trout, they are not particularly savvy when it comes to spears, not much of a challenge to hit them but we hadnt eaten one yet this trip, and he looked particularly tasty!! So his number was up. Within seconds of both captures there were little bronzies around, so we got the fish out of the water quick sticks and went snorkelling somewhere else.
We've been busting to get into freediving more, keep talking about it but cant seem to get it together ay Gull? But on the annual Trip Up North we get into it. Without too much training we get to this kind of depth ~10 - 15m without toooooo much trouble (I say that now, sitting dry and breathing air at my desk) - you just have to get used to the feeling of it I guess. Like we can't just jump out of the boat and swim straight down to the bottom and start spearing. Sort of start off swimming nice and relaxed down to say 3-5m off the bottom and just look around - get a better view at that level anyway, get used to the depth and the breath holding and then go down progressively from there with each new breath - relax and let your heart rate come back down at the surface, breath nice and deep and slow and generally try and chill out. BUT DONT HYPERVENTILATE or you dramatically increase the risk of shallow-water blackout.
As long as you can stay relaxed, or just think about the hunt and not about the lack of air or how far up it is, once you get down to the depth the pressure eases off your lungs and its easier to hold it in as your lungs compress with depth. I find I can swim around comfortably for maybe 10-20secs at that depth (more like 10secs than 20), as long as I can forget about not being able to breathe - just think about the fish/reef/fun. I have no doubt there are others on this site with much more experience than me!! Those hard-core fellas that get down 30+m. But thats how I/we do it. My record is 17m - I remember thinking that I felt like I could go down further but that was the bottom. But that was when I was 16 - my body has suffered too much abuse since then to be able to do that now without training!! But this trip Gully...this trip...you started swimming yet? Im gonna start this week...there it is, on record.
Your onto it Ewan - it's all about comfort.
I find the best practice for anyone wanting to safely build their breath hold is: find a straight path to walk (I used to use a long drive way in NZ) get your breath down to about 4 breaths per minute (standing still), puff ya lungs up until you have max air onboard, but still feed comfy (starting at a known start line); walk at a "slowish" pace and see how far you get in a straight line before you eventually bust out. Mark that spot. Go back, calm down and go again, I bet after a week of pushing the feeling of needing to breathe, you will nearly double your distance (don’t speed up the pace though) - that’s cheating!
Think of a big school of fish you’re descending on – not needing to breathe!
Like you said mate the water pressure is a big bonus especially when ascending from 30+ feet down - your lungs expand within a meter from the bottom and you fell 100% better already. Luv them deep captures, good effort lads!
Great tip Jason, thankyou! its not always easy to get wet so to be able to train at home during these long summer hours will help out heaps!! Cheers!!
Ewan
Mad_Spearo
Posts: 64
Date Joined: 13/11/06
WOW!!!
man that a good catch gully! 13m that pretty sweet. i only can go 8-9ish not that good... but nice fish mate.
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
How much experience have u
How much experience have u got freediving?
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Jay Burgess
Ewan
Posts: 271
Date Joined: 15/05/06
freediving
Cant let Gully take all the credit for that one - thats me and mine!! But he did put me there, March last year.
This is off Exmouth, Gull had dive down and speared a nice parrotfish but it went under a rock, he was out of breath so had to come up, I followed his rope down to get it out and lo and behold this baby had come around to see what was going on. I dont usually let myself spear trout, they are not particularly savvy when it comes to spears, not much of a challenge to hit them but we hadnt eaten one yet this trip, and he looked particularly tasty!! So his number was up. Within seconds of both captures there were little bronzies around, so we got the fish out of the water quick sticks and went snorkelling somewhere else.
We've been busting to get into freediving more, keep talking about it but cant seem to get it together ay Gull? But on the annual Trip Up North we get into it. Without too much training we get to this kind of depth ~10 - 15m without toooooo much trouble (I say that now, sitting dry and breathing air at my desk) - you just have to get used to the feeling of it I guess. Like we can't just jump out of the boat and swim straight down to the bottom and start spearing. Sort of start off swimming nice and relaxed down to say 3-5m off the bottom and just look around - get a better view at that level anyway, get used to the depth and the breath holding and then go down progressively from there with each new breath - relax and let your heart rate come back down at the surface, breath nice and deep and slow and generally try and chill out. BUT DONT HYPERVENTILATE or you dramatically increase the risk of shallow-water blackout.
As long as you can stay relaxed, or just think about the hunt and not about the lack of air or how far up it is, once you get down to the depth the pressure eases off your lungs and its easier to hold it in as your lungs compress with depth. I find I can swim around comfortably for maybe 10-20secs at that depth (more like 10secs than 20), as long as I can forget about not being able to breathe - just think about the fish/reef/fun. I have no doubt there are others on this site with much more experience than me!! Those hard-core fellas that get down 30+m. But thats how I/we do it. My record is 17m - I remember thinking that I felt like I could go down further but that was the bottom. But that was when I was 16 - my body has suffered too much abuse since then to be able to do that now without training!! But this trip Gully...this trip...you started swimming yet? Im gonna start this week...there it is, on record.
Ewan
Stingray
Posts: 188
Date Joined: 05/01/07
Freedive practice
Your onto it Ewan - it's all about comfort.
I find the best practice for anyone wanting to safely build their breath hold is: find a straight path to walk (I used to use a long drive way in NZ) get your breath down to about 4 breaths per minute (standing still), puff ya lungs up until you have max air onboard, but still feed comfy (starting at a known start line); walk at a "slowish" pace and see how far you get in a straight line before you eventually bust out. Mark that spot. Go back, calm down and go again, I bet after a week of pushing the feeling of needing to breathe, you will nearly double your distance (don’t speed up the pace though) - that’s cheating!
Think of a big school of fish you’re descending on – not needing to breathe!
Like you said mate the water pressure is a big bonus especially when ascending from 30+ feet down - your lungs expand within a meter from the bottom and you fell 100% better already. Luv them deep captures, good effort lads!
Cheers Jason
Ewan
Posts: 271
Date Joined: 15/05/06
Thats gold, thanks mate!
Great tip Jason, thankyou! its not always easy to get wet so to be able to train at home during these long summer hours will help out heaps!! Cheers!!
Ewan
Mad_Spearo
Posts: 64
Date Joined: 13/11/06
Thanks Both
thank you Ewan and Stingray for your tips. i will take that in and give it ago... keep it up!
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
My breath hold is quite good
My breath hold is quite good since I used to do competitive swimming. We would train to improve our lung capacity.
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Jay Burgess