Best course of training to increase bottom time only?

[SoCalScot]

I freedive to spearfish. So what I am interested in doing is increasing my bottom time between 20-30 feet because that is where I do most of my spearing.

I am looking for the best way to go about training to increase my bottom time only. I have no interest or need to go deeper since the fish I am after are usually not much deeper then 20-30 feet. But what I do need to do is increase my overall bottom time at those depths.

I do not have access to a pool for training at the moment. If needed I might be able to find one. But it would be max 9 feet deep. Which is standard here in California.

So realistically what are my best options for training to increase my bottom time at 20-30 feet? Is there something that can be done on land? Or something that I can do while I'm spearing. (it would seem a shame to spend an entire trip at Catalina only training when I could have my gun with me and hunt at the same time )

[cdavis]

Not sure what level you are, so hope this is helpful.

Try to make the first 1/2 of the dive as relaxed and as close to zero exertion as you can. Try not to move at all until you feel the first urge to breath. Get your weighting and surface dive technique down pat so it takes very little energy to get to your depth. Exhaling a little bit won't hurt your bottom times if you are very relaxed and might make it much easier to get down, resulting in net more bottom time. Overall, relax, relax, relax. Don't hyperventilate.

Good luck

Connor

[alexrom1207]

There are a lot of training methods you could try. Like Cdavis said RELAX, that's probably the number one thing that limits you (I know it's the number one thing that limits me) Here are two really good threads on this subject. Enjoy and good luck

http://forums.deeperblue.net/beginne...can-right.html

http://forums.deeperblue.net/static-...ut-needed.html

[SoCalScot]

Thanks for the tip.

How much will training static help with my actual bottom time? Can working on my static help increase my bottom time by much? Or is there a better way to train to increase my bottom time?

[alexrom1207]

An increased static will definitely increase bottom time because your CO2 and O2 tolerances get better from practicing static. But you also need to train your muscles to work more efficiently in an apnea state. So apnea walking, dynamic pool training, etc... will all help you there. Just be careful and ALWAYS train with a partner.

[SoCalScot]

Originally Posted by alexrom1207

An increased static will definitely increase bottom time because your CO2 and O2 tolerances get better from practicing static. But you also need to train your muscles to work more efficiently in an apnea state. So apnea walking, dynamic pool training, etc... will all help you there. Just be careful and ALWAYS train with a partner.

Thank you for the help

[alexrom1207]

No problem. Here's a link to a thread I started that has some videos of sambas (these can result from training) I tend to be a little cavalier in how I view safety while I train (and even when I spearfish sometimes which is obviously very stupid) but anyway these videos took be back a step and made me really realize how dangerous this can be and how quickly it can happen. http://forums.deeperblue.net/safety/...mba-video.html Just remember to always do any training in water with a partner spotting you. Cheers and good luck