New to free diving

Quote from Billum

Im new to free diving. Ive been scuba diving for the past 5 years ( NC wreck diving)
I was playing with an apnea app on my phone and im hooked. Im headed to hatteras may 20th hoping to do some spearfishing. I can hold my breath for 2 min so far. Looking for some advice on my breath up.

Hi Billum welcome to Speardiver, and Speardiving.

Check out the "freediving" section of the forums, there are a lot of posts in there about breathups, statics, practice etc. They offer lots of info and opinions from many different divers. But keep in mind that static breatholds dont exactly translate well to spearfishing breatholds.

If you cant get in the ocean, a better thing to do is "dynamic" breatholds like walking, or even better pool swimming. Trying to simulate the load of a typical spearfishing dive is the ideal out of water practice. Practicing in the pool with fins is even better.

Regarding breathups, keep in mind that many "breathups" are controlled, limited forms of hyperventilation. And you are messing with your bodies c02 breathing reflex. Personally, my breathup is extremely conservative, I breath normally and as calmly as I can for 2 minutes before taking 2 deep breaths then a last inhale and diving.

Its also good to learn diaphragmatic breathing. and to breath using your "belly, then chest, then shoulders" to ensure a proper lung fill.

Good luck in may :thumbsup2:

Welcome Billum (from another diver new to the forum).
What's this apnea ap? I should definitely have that!
My workout for generally staying in shape is swimming at the pool. For breath hold practise I use some old smallish fins and do underwater laps with a kick board. The board provides resistance so I'm not going too fast plus strength-building. It's great for my knees too which are close to replacement time. Just try to relax and not go fast.

Welcome Billum, good to have you. I echo the words of granitedive and reefchief for the most part. Here in Cali
I started with Yoga, lots of ocean swimming year round, followed by a very heavy dive schedule. I didn't have a family then.;) so the time was spent on diving every day. Freediving and spearfishing can be a journey that can last a life time, we all are on different parts of the trail and we don't have to get up the mountain fast.

Cheers, Don Paul

welcome friend...glad you have ditched the hose

the best training is of course diving...short of that, follow the advice above. I sometimes will hit the treadmill with a snorkel..not literaly, but i run with a snorkel in my mouth to limit and control my breathing.

just take it slow and dont push yourself

Welcome Billum. You'll have a nice time if you catch some vis @ the Triangle Wrecks. It is only 15ft or so deep so you don't have to be Joe Superfreediver to have fun there. There are a couple of little swim-throughs that are kinda neat. Hands down the most frequently dove spot in this area, so keep that in mind if you are trying to get some fish. Congrats on your breath hold progress!