Advice for those starting out

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote jr.spero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2009 at 10:34pm
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does smoking effect your time under water or really does it not do too much?

"is it dead?"
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Paul M Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2009 at 11:05pm
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Smokin sorta improves your bottom time, a lot of the old school aussie spearo's would start smoking before comp season. Apparently it builds your co2 tolerence.
 
Todays school of thought would suggest this is false economy and apprently lung cells drowning in tar is bad.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Mullins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2009 at 10:41am
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Originally posted by TG TG wrote:

Are you using the Frenzel technique?

PS: If I get this under control, I'm sure things are going to look up much more than what they are now!


Yes, I use Frenzel all the time - it's a fundamental part of deep diving. I can hardly equalise at all head-down using Valsalva, not enough pressure.

It will give you a lot more control, you just need to remember to periodically open your throat and shift some air up into your mouth to equalise with. Every few equalisations, you also need to let go of your nose and puff a bit of air into your mask to avoid mask squeeze.

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2009 at 11:35am
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I would assume as all things, it's not too easy to master hey mullins?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Mullins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2009 at 11:51am
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Frenzel should be fairly straightforward. The coordination required to bring up air and periodically equalise your mask can be more difficult as the timing is important on a freedive (scuba divers don't have to worry so much about sequence 'cos they descend slower).

The Frenzel action is the opposite of sucking through a straw. Note than when you suck in through a straw, you don't use your chest to inhale. Instead, you close your throat and drop the back of your tongue to create the vacuum. Try reversing this action (suck in then try to spit back out but close your mouth and nose). As long as you have your soft palate open (allowing the air to get to your nasal cavity) then that's basically the Frenzel technique and should generate plenty of pressure.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Azazel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2009 at 11:51am
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Originally posted by TG TG wrote:

I would assume as all things, it's not too easy to master hey mullins?

Like all things, 'it depends'. I'm lucky enough that I've used frenzel even before I knew the word and I never even knew how to valsalva. Others take a while to learn. The good news is I don't know anyone that's tried hard to learn frenzel and flat-out couldn't.

Any takers there?

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2009 at 1:17pm
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Thsi straw analogy makes alot of sense to me Dave, only way now is that I seem to inflate my cheeks when I close my mouth and nose and do the reverse straw thing! I seem to be getting there though.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2009 at 1:27pm
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I used to have a little Staforshire terrier that used to get so pissed at me cause I did this whistle thing by using the straw suck and blow thing with my tongue, blowing the air in and out through my lips with my tongue in this manner, making a whistling sound with the air going in and out through my lips. Just now trying the straw thing Muliins mentioned it came back to me.

But as said, I seem to be inflating my cheeks if I close down my nose and mouth. Just need to figure out how to direct the air into those tubes.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Mullins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2009 at 1:30pm
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Gotta relax (open) the soft palate to allow airflow into your nasal cavity. To describe what this means:

Breathe in and out through your mouth only = soft palate closed
Breathe in and out through your mouth and nose = soft palate relaxed/open.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2009 at 2:02pm
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I'm going to lazy out on my couch tonight with a straw and give all this a go until I get it right.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2009 at 2:23pm
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I found that doing a swallowing action when doing the piston thing with the tonque pops my ears. That good or should I not swallow at all?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Mullins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2009 at 2:43pm
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The swallowing action is fine, it's not required but it does force the tongue in the right direction, so the outcome is the same. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2009 at 2:44pm
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Ahhh, think I got it. I can now pop them with my tongue, I do notice that sometimes my Epiglotus doesn't close completely and some air rushes down there with a few weird sounds coming out. But now that I got it right I see what you guys mean, it is so much easier and it takes so much less effort to pop your ears than using the Valsalva method. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Feb 2009 at 9:28am
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Just a little more on Equalizing if no-one minds:

1. When do you equalize the first time, before you dive down or once your ears start hurting or just before you know your ears are going to want to explode?
2. Is it safe to say that you equalize more or less every 4 metres and that on a dive of 10 metres you would most probably only equalize twice?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Azazel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Feb 2009 at 9:51am
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Originally posted by TG TG wrote:

Just a little more on Equalizing if no-one minds:

1. When do you equalize the first time, before you dive down or once your ears start hurting or just before you know your ears are going to want to explode?
2. Is it safe to say that you equalize more or less every 4 metres and that on a dive of 10 metres you would most probably only equalize twice?

1: First equalisation is before you leave the surface.
2: The more often you equalise, the less pressure you put your ears under. That means more time in the water before they get bunged up. On a dive to 10m, I'd probably equalise six or seven times, though I could get away with two or three.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote nikilaulau Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Feb 2009 at 9:57am
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From what I've read I understand what snooping means, but am unsure about weedlining.
Does it mean diving down and kinda' snooping around weed/kelp?
Or does it mean covering distance along weedline on the surface, and then diving down when seeing fish?
And does it refer to the area where weedline stops and open rocky terrain starts, or is it more generic and just means any area that has weed?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Feb 2009 at 10:28am
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Good stuff, thanks Azazel.

Another question:

My hood on my wettie seems to be too big. I would like to cut it down a little but as life goes, I do not want to spoil the suit. I find it very hard getting my mask on as the hood always get stuck under the mask skirtings. HELP. Is there any sort of guideline as to where to hood should sit. I don't have a massive head so I think it is overwhelming my face a little!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote long john Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Feb 2009 at 3:07pm
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A weedline or weededge is where the weed meets the sand. You want it be be fairly abrupt rather than broken ground petreing out over a distance (good for boarfish though) Then you just plonk yourself on the bottom and wait for the fish to show themselves. If not, then swim along a ways and repeat. It's generally considered better to do your swimming on the surface as you're less likely to spook things. It's not often you'll actually see the fish from the surface but you might see bait or something else that might make a particular little bit of the weedline better than another. Most fish you see only after being on the bottom for a time. Weedlining should always be done in pairs as that requirement for some bottom time can lead to blackout.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote nikilaulau Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Feb 2009 at 3:48pm
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Originally posted by long john long john wrote:

...Most fish you see only after being on the bottom for a time. ...

wicked, thanks for the comprehensive answer Long John.
I suppose stuff like this is obvious for 99% of the people on this forum, but this basic stuff is gold to guys like me with minimal experience.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Reel Screamer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Feb 2009 at 6:08pm
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Where are good places to look for John dorys, e.g depth terrain and location?

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