Breath holding

[carta]

Hi guys,

Since I started spearfishing I was trying to wait for the fish while blending in with the environment, however my breath is very limited and only allows me to wait about 20s. 
I was wondering if you could spare a couple of techniques to increase my breath?

Thanks

[charlie]

personally I before every dive take about 6 deep breaths and hold the last and go down.remember always don't go beyond your limit.when you have time go jogging or go for a ride with abike this will helps too.

[skip]

From what SimonG has told me there's quite a lot of training involved. Learning to relax and keep your heartbeat low, the various breathing techniques to improve your lung capacity, and even the amount of weight you carry so that you can go down with minimal fining effort. I would imagine this all contribute, but as I'm no spearfisher I'll let the experienced guys give you the exact info.

[freediver]

Hi carta And welcome from my expirience in this sports, breath takes time to improve it self but there are some techniques to improve your self in breath holding.
When i started i used to go yoga lessons to improve my hearth beat and breath,there are some techniques in yoga called pranayama, they are important to improve lung capacity. The Important Is that you will keep your mind always clear when your in the sea and relax the most. There lot Of other training to do but the best thing to do, DIve with some one who have expirience, and you will learn most of the things to do.

Mark

[fabrizioviper]

Hi carta welcome . take things slowly , most important thing for you to improve your breath and your performance in water is to go regularly at least twice a week , this is a sport that takes a bit of time to improve your skills , it could take years you just have to be patient . but you started on the right track . SAFTY FIRST.

[EmicMalta]

Hi Carta,

first of all well come in this forum. Would apriciate if you post a reply in the http://maltafishingforum.com/talk/index.php?topic=903.0

Here are a lot of good spearos. I suggest to go for a dive with one of us. Its only for an idea but this will help you a lot. At the moment I m too busyto take you with me and in fact I promised Lapsiboy and Jon109 to come and didn t had some free time. I suggest to go with someone that fish in shellow water and all you do is helping him and watching him. At the moment here in Malta there is no one qualified as I ve just had a confermation from apnea academy that can give you any apnea course. This would had helped you a lot. When you go with someone you have to kee in mind that he has years of experiance and don t try to impresionate cos there is your life involved.

When you hear that some fish are being caught at special depth don t care for them cos lot of us we do our best catches in less then 5mtr of water.

As fabrizio said this takes time  but this will build in you differnt feelings

As Freediver said he is one from the few I know who done yoga. This helps a lot

As charlie said one has to know if he is doing hyper-ventilation without knowing which isn t safe

[carta]

hi guys,

Thanks a lot for all the help.  I would love to join for a dive with you guys.  I am thinking about starting some jogging for the winter to start by and will keep diving at least during the weekends, since those are my only days off.

[EmicMalta]

try to go at leastonce a week. THis will help you not to feel the cold. In winter normally all of us we spear in shellow water so this can keep you up.

[baghira]

Hi carta. Welcome on board. You will find useful information here which others gathered throughout the years.
Here are a couple of my suggestions.

The first thing is to do some
physical exercise, (one thing in my mind for this winter, I am just waiting for my she to come to go for a walk).
First you have to get confident in the water, and this you get it by going  as often as you can, and by doing some errors. You will miss many fish but that will improve your technique. The only way to learn, is by making mistakes. One improtant thing to remember is to dive always safe. Try shallow water for long time before you adventure yourself in the deep. There are very difficult and dangerous situations awaiting in deeper water, some of them I realized lately, so better do one step at a time.

Relaxation : I think this plays the best role. You have to train your brains, to do this, and diminish the heart beat.. Correct breathing also helps. I do not like the advice of hyperventilation, It can be dangerous. He got his by diving for years and knowing his body limits, but it mghit be not good for you.

Correct equipment: This is also necessary. You dont get this, you feel uncomfortable, and so.............

Weight Get the correct weight for you, depending on the technique you are adapting. You might also put some extra weight when you ae in 5 metres water, this will help you.but never dive below with it or you might just stick to the bottom.

Correct finning: This might scare fish if not properly done..

One small advice is: Wait for the fish, she has to come many times, and not you have to go after.

Always remember to keep an open eye for the surroundings, both for fish, and for any hazard. And when you go, you have to be in good health, no drinking etc.
Another thing to do is quit smoking if you do.......................

Hope this helps and take care

[baghira]

P.S. When you are more at ease in the water, go with some experianced guy, you will gain more from him......

[Granitu]

From what SimonG has told me there's quite a lot of training involved. Learning to relax and keep your heartbeat low, the various breathing techniques to improve your lung capacity, and even the amount of weight you carry so that you can go down with minimal fining effort. I would imagine this all contribute, but as I'm no spearfisher I'll let the experienced guys give you the exact info.

To learn to relax is a fundamental secret of diving. And the process to learn relaxation is YOGA! many free divers use it like umberto pellizzari amongst others. learn the basics of respiration... is something called pirannha i guess and combine it with equalization training as not all equalization techniques bring you to relaxation

[carta]

Thanks again guys,

I started with some meditation although it is not yoga it is still a start hopefully.  Also I will start cycling next week! Always better then doing nothing 

[kurtfalcon]

Hi guys. I am 16 years old and Ive been going apnea with my dad since I was 6. During the years I've imrooved my breath alot. In summer after going swimming almost every day I come to take braths of about 2-3 minutes long. In winter I decline alot because I rarely go apnea but I still practice alot of holding breath while on land. i do it almost every day. I am doing about 1:30 to 2 mins now. Since you are all professionals, what do you thinkof my situation and capabilities. I really wish to improve more. Please help.

[Granitu]

it is not a matter of physical capabilities  or breath holding kurtfalcon, it is a matter of how you prepare your breath hold. a normal person, if he prepares his breath hold well in a static apnea(not moving) can do 2-3 after 5 times. i read it over the internet

like you, because of various scholastic responsibilities, during winter times i find it very difficult to go apnea diving. but doing a lot of cardia vascular exercise helps to increase your lung capabilities

also yoga helps to focus and reduce to minimum excessive tension, meditation is excellent in  my opinion. It brings your body in an efficient working manner, control on emotions,free your mind ect.

also i would add that the best way to prepare a breath hold is to do 5 mins of relaxed breathing, beginning through your nose. do a 2 mins breath hold and a 4 mins rest. eventually it has to be reduced to 1 min rest and a 3 minute breath hold. it is all about rhythm. eventually you do your best breath hold, normally i arrive at 4 mins. in the mornings, on empty stomach i even did 5 mins.

however it is to note, these exercises help, but in the end it is the sea which says it all. at sea our breath hold changes. Fear of drowning and others, which may be of a sub conscious nature reduce our capability. those are the times where we need yoga techniques.

also certain equalization techniques use a lot of lung air and cardia vascular energy from the thorax. in my opinion i always found this the hardest part in spear-fishing. True, you may need to work your depth but an unsafe equalization techniques yields injuries.

also finning techniques and all other aspects involving spear-fishing are difficult to learn and are learned from mistakes or the fish that got away but ultimately PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

[baghira]

right granitu