yet another, new to freediving question...

[JackSpearo]

I've been wanting to freedive ever since I saw a new amateur freediver in grand cayman, he raved about how great the course he took down there was, and how he never thought he could hold his breath for more than a minute...

anyways, so I am very interested in taking a course with DiveFIT in Ft. Lauderdale this June...

but I was curious, after reading some on the board, I think I want to get the Cressi longblades, I just dunno if I should get the 2000,3000, or wait for the new professional to come out.

any ideas what I should do?

also, I can hold my breath now for about a minute, maybe a minute and 10-15 secs. That's about average right?

I've read about a book written about an italian guy on here I believe, called something about freediving off one breath, should I get this, even if I sign up for a course? is it worth it?

I'm 5'11, some what athletic, but need to lose about 10 lbs, I weight about 185.

thanks guys and gals....

Jack

[Crazys13]

Welcome the the exciting world of freediving! Don't worry about your breath holding, it will get better very fast with a little bit of training. I went from 1:08" last may to 3:01 this march, without any real heavy training. About the fins, I originally bought cressi gara 2000HF, but they were VERY stiff, and wayyy to stiff once I got in the cold water here. I then bought a set of 3000LD, and I love them for the price. Durable, comfortable, and perform very well. They have proven themselves countless times.
Do yourself a favor and scan through all the old and new threads in all the forums, you will learn lots of stuff very fast.

[Spaniard]

Welcome to DB mate! With regards to books, you might have confused titles; there is a book called 'One Breath' by UK Freediving supremo Emma Farrell and 'Manual of Freediving' by Italian legend Umberto Pellizzari. Both are excellent. With regard to fins, do a search on DB as there have been many discussions on this topic. You are starting out so don't worry about 'best' times at the moment; chill out and enjoy the ride. You will find lots of useful info. here and do a course if you can! Good luck.

[trux]

As for the Gara Professional fins, I hope we'll see some review from Dave Mullins after the Dean's Blue Hole competition that started today. He wrote Cressi offered him a pair for testing there. I am not sure though if he really received them.

Otherwise I would not hold my breath while waiting for them - they are on the catalogue since more than one year, and still nowhere available. I heard from people who saw them on exhibitions that they seem to be pretty stiff (though they did not test them).

[JackSpearo]

thanks for the responses...so for a beginner like myself, with a limit of 20 meters, the 2000 is better than the 3000?

Spaniard, are you originally from Spain?

my fiance is from Valencia...

[sanso]

Originally Posted by JackSpearo

... so for a beginner like myself, with a limit of 20 meters, the 2000 is better than the 3000?...

The limit of 20 meters won't stand long.
You can do 20m with whatever fins You might get. I have a pair of Gara 3000 (not the LD) and am very happy with them. they might be a bit stiffer than others, but it seems that much of it is just a matter of taste. The Omer footpockets are just too wide for my feet and the millennium blades feel floppy - but that's just for me Others don't like the feel of the 3000s

See if You can't try on your buddies' fins when You go diving to get a better picture.

Safe diving,

[Jonta]

Dont worry about static i went from like 55sek to 3´45 in around in 3 weeks.
I might add that im just 15 years old and i have asthma( not sure about spelling...)

[yoda turtle]

Hey Jackspero, good to see another new freediver. Am only just getting into it myself. I have the Umberto pelizzari book "manual of freediving ".
if you can get hold of a copy it will be well worth it.Its real asset,with good advice on relaxation and visualization techniques for increasing your breath hold times. after a week of following some of these I made a jump of 200% on my static time. it really isn't that difficult to to get there.
doing a course would seem to be the best idea, I just booked onto one in Egypt. I've had nothing but encouragment and great advise since I joined DB, so thats already a big leap in the right direction that you've made.
Have fun.. and be cool

[sanso]

Originally Posted by yoda turtle

... just booked onto one in Egypt. ...

Just out of curiosity, where and when will You take that course?

[yoda turtle]

Hi Sanso, you mailed me a week ago. I had the wrong username so I changed it ,hope it hasn't caused to much confusion me and my wife (she will climb) are in Dahab with Dessert divers (thats you is'nt it) from may 30 till june 9. how is the triple depth training going! hey I have ordered my self a monofin from waterways,its the nemo wing monofin. would it be good to bring it to Dahab with me do you think.?

[sanso]

I was just kidding, I knew it's You.

If You have a mono, You should certainly bring it along. - Unless, of course, You just planned on hanging it over the mantlepiece.

[yoda turtle]

Darn !...... you had me there !