What is proper?

[Mermaid Kalliope]

I have heard different things about what's "proper" for holding your breath.

1. Don't inhale before you submerge; exhale

2. Opposite of #1

3. Try to let out as little air as possible will submerged

4. Opposite of #4

5. Take in AS MUCH air as possible before submerging

and possibly other things.

What do you guys have to say on this?

[Mermaid Jewel]

I would like to know too! But I think that if you're performing, you can sit there and stuff air into your lungs every time you surface...

[New York Mermaid]

everyone has their own way, Me I take a deep breathe and slowly exhale everything i have in my lungs 2 times and on the final exhale I take in a breath, not a full breath but a decent breath enough to fill my lungs a bit and i can hold it pretty well.

[AlohaMermaid]

I took a freediving course with the Performance Freediving trainers, and I learned a lot about breathing techniques from the class. They recommend deep inhaling and exhaling at the surface a few times, then take a deep breath before diving down. They got me to static breathhold for nearly 4 minutes with this method, and my underwater times greatly increased. I'd recommend taking a freediving class if you can. Many local scuba shops offer these courses in their swimming pools.

[Mermaid Kalliope]

Ooooo I will definitely look into a free diving class when I have the money!

I'm ashamed to say that my breath hold is only about 20 seconds.

[Mermaid Jewel]

It's okay, mine isn't into the minutes yet either so... xD

Is breathing with your diaphragm important? I know I used to have a longer breath hold but lately when I intensified my dance training, I basically untrained myself to breathe with my diaphragm (I used to sing).

Also, when do you need to surface? A lot of times I surface earlier because I'm afraid of like drowning. I know you have to push through the discomfort but when do you absolutely need to surface?

[Capt Nemo]

At the first contraction or need to breathe. Diaphram breathing allows more air in.

Do static practices laying on your bed watching a clock with a second hand. Wait until you relax. When you inhale and hold, close your eyes and wait. Open them briefly to check time when you feel your diaphram contract. You may be suprized when it starts at about 35-45 seconds. Try to learn the muscle and how to control it. Relase after 1 min. Breathe for the next minute. Hold for the next. Keep going with the 1 minute holds for about 20-30 minutes before trying longer holds. Keep your recovery times as long as your hold times. Stop if you begin to feel dizzy, tingling, or tunnel vision as these are signs of hypoxia leading into blackout. Again, if anything doesn't feel right, STOP! If you do abort a hold early, take the aborted time and do a full recovery time before holding again. So for an abort at 30 sec on a 1 minute hold, the recovery would be 1:30 before holding again.


Anyone should be able to do a 1 minute hold easily. Your body generally has enough O2 to last 4 minutes, so a 1 minute hold is simple for it to do. Much of it is learning control of your body. Or as Yoda said, "Control! You must learn control!"

[Derek Broussard]

I have heard different things about what's "proper" for holding your breath.

1. Don't inhale before you submerge; exhale

Exhale dives (FRC) have a small "cult" following in the free dive community. Marine mammals like dolphins and seals dive this way. It lessens the strength of contractions, and decreases the danger of over packing your lungs and ripping your trachea open.

It does take a few months to get use too, but once you do feels more comfortable. Its just the First couple of weeks that really suck.

Another observation I've had: When I've taught females to free dive, I've noticed that they are usually always buoyant. ( women naturally have more body fat then men) Unless you plan on using weights with your tail, diving FRC ( exhale) will help elevate some of the struggles you may have with staying submerged.



2. Opposite of #1

We as humans have grown accustom to dry life. So it only comes naturally that we would think our body needs air in the lungs before a hold. It's how we go through our daily lives and feels pretty awkward not too.

There are a few reasons you would want to inhale before a dive.
* It's a long hold. Over 3 minutes, the gas exchange in your lungs will start to make a difference in length of a hold.
* Depth. The deeper you go the more the space in your sinus and mask is compressed. The air in your lungs is used to equalize that space.
* comfort on your diaphragm, Having some air may help cushion the effects of the pressure on a dive.

3. Try to let out as little air as possible will submerged.
I'm Assuming this is more of a performance thing.

Free divers tend to exhale the last 3 feet before surfacing so that they are ready for recovery breaths when they reach the surface.

As a mermaid it might be good to know that blowing bubbles underwater is like growling or roaring on land. Dolphins, and especially sea lions take this as a sign of aggression.

4. Opposite of #4
Exhaling underwater will also remove some co2 built up and maybe add an extra 20 seconds.

I will often make small exhales underwater to "dial in" my buoyancy at shallow depth so I don't float.

5. Take in AS MUCH air as possible before submerging

This technique is also referred to as " packing". Packing has been proven to increase your lung volume by up to 2 liters. However it is very dangerous and can lead to serious injury of the trachea and lungs. The expanded lungs also puts a lot of pressure on the heart. Increasing the heart rate and making it more ineffective at pumping blood.


The reason why Packing is used was mentioned above. When diving deep that extra 2 liters can go a long ways when a diver has to fill up his sinus, mask, and ears all the way down to 100m ( yes that's METERS!). "So if the Professionals do it, then why shouldn't I"
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Overall, It really depends on the person, and what type and how deep of diving you are doing. Other then hyperventilating there are not a lot of wrong answers.

[Derek Broussard]

It's okay, mine isn't into the minutes yet either so... xD

If I went straight to the pool and jumped in, my breath hold would only be about 45-60 seconds and that would be a hard struggle. It takes a special way to warm up to start the dive reflex we all have. After I warm up properly I can hold over 4 1/2 minutes and so can you!

Is breathing with your diaphragm important? I know I used to have a longer breath hold but lately when I intensified my dance training, I basically untrained myself to breathe with my diaphragm (I used to sing).

Yes, Breathing with your diaphragm is very important. Using your intercostal muscles ( chest) only gets so much air in. Plus, your diaphragm, when properly used is able to cycle more air in and out of your lungs "refreshing the stale air on the bottom"

Also, when do you need to surface? A lot of times I surface earlier because I'm afraid of like drowning. I know you have to push through the discomfort but when do you absolutely need to surface?

I disagree with CPT. Nemo.

A breath hold has three different phases

Phase 1: The easy phase. No pain, no contractions, life underwater feels good. Towards the end you may feel some light contractions.

Phase 2: The struggle phase. Now the contractions start to have more frequency and oomph. A burning sensation starts building up. This is were the mind control is really important.

Phase 3: The recovery phase. While this may take place outside of the water, the first 15 seconds after you surface will determine if you black out or not. NEVER GASP FOR AIR! The rapid fill on the lungs and pressure on the heart will create a black out. Instead, six inhales of half lungs of air with slightly rapid exhales should make up your recovery breathes


So now to answer your question. No one can tell you when you HAVE to come up. Everyone is different, and there are no warning signs before a black out. Which is why apnea can be dangerous to do alone. However it is pretty safe to say that your struggle phase can last equally as long as your easy phase. Ie: if my contractions start at 1:30, then a hold to 3 minutes should be relatively safe (and well within your limits)

[Mermaid Kalliope]

Once again, THANK YOU Derek.

You have always proved to be very helpful.

Also, I have been practising the controlled surfacing and it's helped A LOT. My body is slowly getting re-conditioned to it. :-)

[AlohaMermaid]

Aloha,

During my freediving class, the instructor emphasized safety procedures. Freediving carries risks of blackouts, which can be dangerous underwater. So I'd highly recommend taking classes or reading about freediving . . . and also mermaid with a buddy (just like in scuba) who can be a safety monitor for you.

[Mermaid Jewel]

Thanks for the advice, Derek and Capt Nemo and Aloha! I'm not looking to have an insanely long breath hold, just to help me increase what I have now so this should help the next time I try. And I surface about like 5 seconds after I start having some contractions so I'm assuming my breath hold is wayy longer than I think it is right now.

I guess I need to retrain myself to breathe with my diaphragm...it'll be very helpful when I sing too :)

[AlohaMermaid]

Jewel, If you're almost having contractions while freediving, you're pushing it and I am hoping that you're freediving with a buddy? Even the most experienced world-class freedivers always make sure they have a buddy along. I never mermaid alone . . . just like I'd never scuba dive alone . . .

xxxxxoooo

[Mermaid Saphira]

This is great information. I can only hold my breath for 50 seconds right now : (
Thanx every1 for posting this!

[Mermaid Kalliope]

I did the breathing practices that Cpt Nemo posted and I was able to comfortable hold for 1 minute 11 seconds. I averaged about a 1:00 hold! ^_^ It was such a confidence booster!

[Derek Broussard]

Jewel, If you're almost having contractions while freediving, you're pushing it and I am hoping that you're freediving with a buddy? Even the most experienced world-class freedivers always make sure they have a buddy along. I never mermaid alone . . . just like I'd never scuba dive alone . . .

xxxxxoooo


Aloha: I agree with you that EVERYONE should be diving with a buddy.

I don't believe that contractions are a warning sign that you are pushing it. I know a few people who get "depth contractions" in a 5' pool. I also know more then a few people who don't get contractions at all.

It is because apnea (breath holding) is such a personal experience that practicing with a buddy is so important.

[Capt Nemo]

I disagree with CPT. Nemo.

A breath hold has three different phases

Phase 1: The easy phase. No pain, no contractions, life underwater feels good. Towards the end you may feel some light contractions.

Phase 2: The struggle phase. Now the contractions start to have more frequency and oomph. A burning sensation starts building up. This is were the mind control is really important.

Phase 3: The recovery phase. While this may take place outside of the water, the first 15 seconds after you surface will determine if you black out or not. NEVER GASP FOR AIR! The rapid fill on the lungs and pressure on the heart will create a black out. Instead, six inhales of half lungs of air with slightly rapid exhales should make up your recovery breathes


So now to answer your question. No one can tell you when you HAVE to come up. Everyone is different, and there are no warning signs before a black out. Which is why apnea can be dangerous to do alone. However it is pretty safe to say that your struggle phase can last equally as long as your easy phase. Ie: if my contractions start at 1:30, then a hold to 3 minutes should be relatively safe (and well within your limits)

I have been in a near shallow water blackout, and you will get tingling, dizziness, and tunnel vision just before blackout. Those are known warning signs of hypoxia. I broke the surface at the point everything went white and began breathing and everything slowly came back. The effects became noticeable at 15' and got worse as I ascended.

Packing will not cause damage unless the damage was done before the diver even went down. Boyle's Law says it won't happen! The volume at the beginning of the dive will equal the volume at the end of a dive, because the pressure is equal, hence the volume has to be equal. The only way you would get lung damage like that would be if you breathed compressed air at depth and surfaced.

And beware the empty lung divers! They're nothing but lung squeeze waiting to happen! Many freedivers going below 300' with full lungs are comming up with it. With empty lungs, it will occur even shallower. And whales and dolphins do go down with full lungs. Ever watch baleen whales feed?

[MermaidSaku]

o.o i had no idea there was a proper way : 0
i inhale then submerge but i haven't tried it any other way.
I will be gong swimming this weekend so i will try it the other way then.

[Derek Broussard]

I have been in a near shallow water blackout, and you will get tingling, dizziness, and tunnel vision just before blackout. Those are known warning signs of hypoxia. I broke the surface at the point everything went white and began breathing and everything slowly came back. The effects became noticeable at 15' and got worse as I ascended.

Packing will not cause damage unless the damage was done before the diver even went down. Boyle's Law says it won't happen! The volume at the beginning of the dive will equal the volume at the end of a dive, because the pressure is equal, hence the volume has to be equal. The only way you would get lung damage like that would be if you breathed compressed air at depth and surfaced.

And beware the empty lung divers! They're nothing but lung squeeze waiting to happen! Many freedivers going below 300' with full lungs are comming up with it. With empty lungs, it will occur even shallower. And whales and dolphins do go down with full lungs. Ever watch baleen whales feed?


I was disagreeing with you saying that one should come up at " At the first contraction or need to breathe."

as a freedive photographer I have had my share of black outs, carrying a camera housing down to 100' has its limitations. Every black out that I have had felt different, with different warning signs. The only thing in common, was that I knew I pushed too far.


While the above mentioned, may be a signs of being hypoxic, a person can still black out without these warnings, or may get different warnings. Having a contraction is not a warning that you are going to black out.

I did not mean to say that packing causes injury at depth. It causes the injury on the surface, IMO doesn't have place among recreational divers.

The title "Empty lungs" is a bit misleading, I simplified the explanation for sake of laziness. The correct term would be Functional residual volume - FRC. Basically exhaling until comfortable. There will still be some air in the lungs. Diving to 100m use to be considered medically impossible, with or without air in the lungs. I don't think Apnea is anywhere near reaching its potential, an open mind will only improve the practice.
I have been diving FRC for 2 years now, and believe it has its place in freediving, especially at shallower depths, say less then 60'. like all new activities, it is important to start slowly and listen to the body to avoid injury.

I've never seen a baleen whale feed, If you have seen it in person then you are very lucky. I have however, have had working experience with the military's marine mammals as a veterinary technician.

[Derek Broussard]

o.o i had no idea there was a proper way : 0
i inhale then submerge but i haven't tried it any other way.
I will be gong swimming this weekend so i will try it the other way then.


Saku, Hope all goes well. Remember that it's a personal experience, the most important part is that you are comfortable, and enjoy being underwater.

[green52]

I'd like to try free diving this weekend. I'll report my results afterwards.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I tried my first real breath hold today and ended up at 1'20". I've always been naturally good at relaxing, but all of the info you guys have been tossing around is very helpful. Thank you. :)

[Capt Nemo]

I've been busy. Baleen whales take a huge breath and dive well below the krill/fish, blow a huge ring of bubbles, and surface in the center of the ring. The ring concentrates the prey for them to scoop up. If you're in the water, swim away from any bubble rings comming to the surface, or your new name is going to be Jonah!:lol:

Practiced this morning with static 1:1's for 30 min and 2:2's for 30 min. Surprized that I didn't have much problem on the 2 min holds, as I haven't practiced for 4 months.