Posts by O2 deprived

welcome Nate

thanks so much! that is really nice. I am working then training - no rest for the weary who will be in Greece for the WC's !

thanks for the info! I think even I can manage those tools!:goodposting:

very cool Daniel! calamari!!!:)

In memory of Patrick Musimu
Jul 27 |06:58

It is with deep sadness that AIDA International notes the passing of Belgian freediver Patrick Musimu. Patrick appears to have drowned on 21 July, while pool training alone. He is survived by his wife Isabelle and daughter Maeva. Patrick was best known for no-limits diving with a sled (http://www.patrickmusimu.com/).

That a diver who achieved depths in the 200m-range drowned in a 2m pool warrants close consideration by all divers. If a diver of Patrick’s accomplishments and experience can drown while pool training, it’s clear that no diver is experienced enough to train without a safety. To restate the most important rule in freediving: All breath-hold activities in water require the supervision of a trained freediving safety diver. We urge all divers to reinforce this message with other persons in the dive community including instructors, judges, and divers generally. A diver’s first level of responsibility for safety is with himself/herself — only the diver can decide not to train alone. Safety should always be the number one concern when training, competing, spearfishing, or recreationally diving.

Patrick’s loss is tragic, foremost to his family, and also to the diving community as a whole. It’s important that we take from this sad event the wisdom to avoid further accidents of this type.

On behalf of Aida Board,

Kimmo Lahtinen
AIDA, president

Quote from Dan

Maybe I'm wrong. I should fork out the cash and take one of these courses, just so I don't go accusing someone of something unjustly if I am wrong. In the end maybe it's just what every individual person brings with him in the first place.

I would venture to say that your last sentence is the most accurate.

There has been no official word on COD for Patrick. Some say he was just swimming . Until the autopsy results are in -we will not know.
Any sort of breath hold diving is inherently dangerous whether it is spearfishing or competitive diving. There are many more spearfishing deaths than in comp. freediving. There have been 4 deaths on sled diving ( which is totally different) and now 2 with training while alone.
PFI and FII do not teach comp diving unless you decide to take the advanced courses. The Level 1 & 2 are for recreational divers and spearfishing safety and performance.They teach kick technique, equalizing,proper body position,physiology, rescue, etc.
BTW- I am not associated with either of these schools so this is not for promotional purposes- just elucidation.

Very sad ,indeed. Always remember to dive and train safe- with a buddy who is experienced in safety.

here is the report

http://www.spearblog.com/2011/…und-alive-in-puerto-rico/

Hello,
sometimes I come through Eleuthera on my way to Long Island. It is a lovely place to dive.

Dan,
There are differences in the various courses offered by PFI, FII, Will Trubridge, Apnea Academy, SSI,.Immersion ,etc And even within one program instructors have different styles and emphasis. Dan Silvera, an outstanding spearo, and FII instructor has the ability to tailor a course aimed at hunting. Sheri Daye and Daryl Wong have instructed for PFI.
In my own coaching , we work on technique and conditioning. I only work with advanced divers and do not teach any safety or basic skills. Watching a video of your finning can greatly improve your kick when you see the mistakes you are making. I have been training 20 spearfishers this year and they have all said the conditioning and technique work have greatly improved their hunting skills. Besides that, we have a lot of fun and have established a strong network of divers, boats, and resources.

nice write up! If I had known there was a course, I might have taken it just for an excuse to go to Belize Kirk is one of the best deep safties in the world. He pulled his wife, Mandy up from a very deep blackout on a record attempt and saved her life.
The safety info presented is invaluable. I have had to grab several people who had blacked out . Good to know what to do and what to watch out for.

the pro plugs might help-it is harder to equalize in cold water that we have here in Cali. You are getting a squeeze ( look up barotrauma). As JImCuda says; you need to equalize early and often. Once you miss an equalization you cannot catch up. Equalize on the surface before you descend then every few feet. If you are getting stuck at 30ft or so -it may be because of the thermacline (colder water) and/ or your head position. Keep your chin tucked ,stay relaxed. If that doesn't work; turn toward the surface ,equalize, then continue on.Practice equalizing at home, dry--many times a day. This will train your ears and make the eustachian tubes more flexible. Take a couple advil before you dive to reduce inflammation.
Frenzel is also good to learn- it has to do with closing off the throat and using your tongue like a piston to force air into the tubes. Look up 'equalizing" on DeeperBlue. and read posts by Eric Fattah.here is Eric's famous document http://liquivision.com/equalizing.php
I know this all sounds very complicated but with practice it will happen naturally. Also, get a mask that doesn't leak-- that is annoying when diving and inhibits relaxation.

decongestants and mucinex are helpful - take a decongestant without pseudoephedrine so you won't increase your heat rate and definitely drink lots of water and avoid coffee, energy drinks, and alcohol .
You also need to solve that mask problem -that will help. Are you putting the edge of the hood over the skirt of the mask ( for a good seal) ? Do you think you need a better fitting mask?

Quote from Dan

Practicing statics to become a better spearfisherman, is like saying that practicing making love by yourself will make you a good lover. In reality of course you'll just be a wanker

Here is a training exercise from the Ozzies at Curtis Coast that is very beneficial- you might like this better Dan

"We have started on a cycle of delay training. It goes 25m - delay (no breath) - 25m. Our last cycle brought most divers up to 1 minute delay. Those divers will kick off near that level and have a new target. New divers will work up to the 1 min. This training is great for spearfishing as in dive time and energy it approximates a 25m dive with a minute of bottom time. For a freediver training for depth if he/she does 25m swim - 25 sec delay - 50m swim, this approximates a 50m dive in dive time and energy and is a good way to gradiently build up to this level.
Wayne Judge 5:07pm Apr 22

so what you do is swim 25m underwater with fins . then stop at the end- hold your breath ( static) then do another 25m ( or yards here in the US) increase the static as you can.You can also try to go further after the delay. Make sure you have a buddy when doing any exercises in the water. There is always a potential for blackout.

Quote from nyspear

I didn't see that dive in the results. With the dive time so far in excess of the announced time, did they raise the plate?

It was a Variable Weight dive which is not a competition discipline-- only for records. He did it at the end of the competition.

In regards to the counter ballast and lanyards; the diver is on sonar and observed from the platform crew. If there is a problem the counter ballast is enacted and the diver is pulled up. Like everything, the system is not perfect but so far so good in competitions. There are a team of safety divers. The deep safety meets the diver at 30m on their ascent and the second safety comes in at 20m. In the case with Walter; the safetys waited for over 1:30 as Walt was late. It was scary but it all worked out and Walter was fine. He did stay on O2 for sometime after the dive for recovery purposes.

Here is a good article from the NY Times about the comp. I was interviewed but I guess too dull to make the news!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/sports/17dive.html

some comps have divers on re-breathers others rely on the counter ballast system. Fortunately, there have been no serious accidents in comps . There have, of course, been tragedies in no-limits record attempts.

I don't know what the PFI static record is. I was in a course with a guy who did about 5:45- tragically he died of a blackout a few months later off Oahu. Sergio Goens- a famous underwater photographer. It can happen to anyone.

Quote from Wishihadgills

Just out of curiosity what is the static record?

World record men?
11:35
Women- 8:23

rule of thumb dive time breath hold about half of your static but that's just a ball park-it depends on stress, exertion ,etc.

An interesting thing happened at Vertical Blue Competition last week. Walter Steyn of Aus became "narked" (nitorgen narcosis) at 122m and ending up staying there for 40 sec before he realized he needed to come up
Total dive time 4:28

here is the dive profile.

Linda has been chasing baboons lately-- out of her car:)

thanks Linda. hope to see you in Greece in Sept
Carla