Great conditions at Cirkewwa as Vitalijus & Bruno complete the final open water requirements for the AIDA3 course.

One of the questions I get asked most frequently as a freediving instructor is about HOW we can hold our breath longer. What is the 'trick', the 'secret' that can make it easier for us to be underwater deeper or longer. What many people don't realise is the the human body already holds most of the answers!

Here is an overview of the four main diving responses of the human body, collectively known as 'Mammalian Diving Response' (MDR):

Peripheral Vasoconstriction
Trigger: Breath-holding, facial immersion in water, increased pressure
Response: Blood vessels in the extremities of the body (arms, legs) constrict to keep blood prioritised for the vital organs of the body
FACT: A disadvantage of reduced blood flow is increased carbon dioxide and lactic acid build up, but tolerance to these can be increased through training

Bradycardia
Trigger: Facial Immersion in (cold) water, breath-holding
Response: Heart rate slows down by 10-25% in untrained, or up to 50% in trained freedivers, thus conserving blood Oxygen
FACT: In diving seals, heart rate has been measured going from 125bpm to below 10bpm during a dive!

Spleen Effect
Trigger: Breath holding and increased pressure on repetitive deep dives
Response: The spleen contracts and releases more red blood cells which aid oxygen transportation in the blood
FACT: The spleen is not an essential organ, but holds a reserve of blood and is important as part of the bodies immune system

Blood Shift
Trigger: Increased pressure on deeper dives
Response: Blood plasma swells the alveoli of the lungs filling the chest cavity area to prevent barotrauma injury from increased pressure at depth
FACT: Only as recently as the 1970's did scientists begin to understand this phenomenon once divers such as Enzo Maiorca returned from 50m+ dives, injury free!
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Sign up for AIDA3 (Intermediate) Course at One Breath Freediving to learn more about the Mammalian Diving Response and to reach new depths underwater.

The 2015 'In Water Photographer of the Year' competition is now accepting public voting to decide an overall winner! Category winners are announced for the photography competition that is for freedivers, snorkellers, swimmers and others in the water without using breathing apparatus.
Vote by clicking the link below and deciding how many stars to give your favourite photographs. It's that easy!
http://www.inwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/2015-vote

"Ascent" - Photograph by David Watson

Congratulations Ryan, Earl, Rody & Yanica for successfully completing AIDA 2* Course. Here we are celebrating together on Tug 2 wreck after the final course requirements were met.

Welcome to our review of the Subgear 'Steel Comp' freediving mask. This mask has some innovative features and has been making waves in the world of freediving, so we put it to the test. Here is part one:

Other innovative features of this mask, include: Ridging on the silicone of the nose to provide better grip for equalisation. And extremely ergonomic mask strap attachment featuring an easy clip release button to completely free the strap from the mask, and very easy strap adjustment pull tabs (making it easier to adjust the strap while it is on the face.

The shape and fit to the face is very similar to the Technisub 'Micromask' (which is my current mask of choice). Comparing the field of vision on land these two seem about equal, if not the Steel Comp giving a slightly greater angle.

For those of you more fashion conscious the Steel Comp is also available in all white or all clear.

First impressions are extremely positive and I'm looking forward to taking it into the water!

Part two of the review coming soon......

Available NOW: €45
info@onebreathfreediving.com

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