ONline free dive training

[freedivernd]

Session 2, Phase 2:
The decent descent. We'll go for about -20' to -25' the first time.
Ok. we've now left the imaginary surface of the water and should be descending headfirst, one arm extended out front, one hand pinching the nose with the arm tucked in close to the body. Now, we're not in any race here, we want to conserve oxygen, not burn it up. A mistake divers new to the sport of freediving make is thinking that they have to rush to the bottom. The bottom isn't going anywhere.. take your time. In time you'll find a comfortable finning technique but for now, slow, methodical kicks will sufficienty propel you down, especially with long blades on.
Can you clear your ears? You have got to be able to equalize quickly and efficiently. Best method is the frenzel - do a search here on the mnscuba site for "frenzel" if you are not familiar with it. It is a very efficient means of equalizing, especially when compared to the valsalva technique which you, most likely, learned at scuba certification. I am now a strong proponant of the equalize soon, equalize often theme in ear equalization. I am a good example that not everyone feels pain in their ears as a warning that you must equalize. One of my eardrums that broke at -34' just before going to equalize for the first time is proof of that. Now I no longer leave the surface with both arms extended above my head and suggest that you don't either. I have not paid great attention to when to equalize. Soon and often is the best advice. As soon as you reach vertical and the fins clear the suface, again at 10 -12', again at 17-20'.. these are just examples, everyone may be different. Realize, of course, that the deeper you go the less often you need to equalize, but between the surface and -30 feet, we'll go with soon and often.
Wait a minute, all of a sudden your at -20' and that big old scuba mask is starting to squeeze against your face and it's trying to suck your eyeballs closer to the lens. You have to stop equalizing your ears and puff some air into that mask before your eyeballs get sucked out of their sockets.
Good (un-edited) example of mask squeeze:

I know, I know, you don't want to put your precious air there but you'll have to put some of it there and the lower the volume of the mask you're wearing the less of that precious air has to go there. Now, don't put so much there that you blow bubbles around the skirt, you can't get that air back, and if your mask skirt is under you wetsuit hood you'll look like you have a balloon under there when you return to the surface. Remember, in freediving, looks are everything.... But, all is not lost, because on that return trip to the surface, it is possible to breath that air that you've put into your mask back again. In freediving, a large volume mask can become a depth limiting factor very quickly, this is where low volume masks shine. If you've ever wondered who or why would anyone want such a small, poor field of view mask, you know now... especially if you're trying to get to some depth with a big honkin' mask on. Another factor to consider, a softer skirted mask compensates better for the pressure squeeze. As you go to deeper and deeper depths, putting air into the mask is a very distracting, darn I don't want to do this, type of a requirement. Frustrating (for me anyway).
O.k., you reached the bottom, lot's of air left, but you don't realize that it only took about 10-12 seconds to get there so you beeline it for the surface, and use another 10 seconds. Next time we'll stay longer... and the time after that we'll go deeper.
Fred