In the following article a fundamental topic, common to all sports activities, will be dealt with potentially at risk: the security; more precisely the reduction of risks and dangers in the activity of underwater apnea.
- Static Apnea: it is considered the purest form of underwater apnea. It consists in reaching the maximum time of respiratory absence; the specific training consists above all of mental training (guided and / or autogenic), prana-yama breathing (extrapolated from yoga) and specific tables carried out both dry and in the pool.
- Dynamic Apnea: as you can guess from the term itself, it represents the discipline of underwater apnea that develops "in motion". It consists in reaching the greatest possible distance and measurable in a "horizontal" direction (with fins or underwater frog); the specific training takes place in the pool and involves a large volume of work organized by tables; also in this case there is no lack of mental training and prana-yama breathing.
- Deep Apnea: which measures the achievement of the maximum measurable depth by means of a guide cable (perpendicular to the bottom); in turn it differs in 3 disciplines:
- Constant attitude: which exploits the propulsion of the body (with fins or underwater frog) both in descent and ascent
- Regulated variable set-up: which in descent takes advantage of the propulsion of a weighted "sled" (max 30kg), while in ascent it allows the traction of the arms on the guide cable (similar to a "climbing)
- Variable set-up NO limits: which in descent exploits the propulsion of a weighted sled without mass limits, while in ascent it is facilitated by the entry of a balloon inflated with gas by means of a cylinder applied to the sled.
The specific training varies in the three disciplines and that of the constant attitude is more "physical" than the others; in any case, each specialty includes mental training and prana-jama breathing with the addition of exercises / exercises of depth (to facilitate the compensation of the breasts). The specific training volume is quite small and is characterized by the length of time recovery.
- Jump blue: The athlete must complete a dynamic horizontal path in apnea, with fins or monofins, at a depth of 10 meters following a predetermined path, consisting of a square formed by a guide cable of 15 meters on each side. Starting from the buoy. start (Start Island) placed on the surface, must reach and touch a target positioned at the end of the summit at a depth of 10 meters, and from that moment fin along the square. The athlete who manages to cover the longest route wins, and then regains the surface (source: subaqva).
- Skandalopetra: freediving with the skandalopetra dates back to ancient Greece, born among the Greek sponge fishermen as a technique of fishing and has been successfully revived in recent years as a sport of freediving. It consists of a dive. freediving in variable weight using a "petra" tied with a rope as ballast. A companion on a boat follows the dive from the surface and recovers the freediver with the petra by lifting the rope at the end of the descent (source wikipedia)
- Spearfishing: it is a real mixed discipline; it is about underwater hunting of fish in apnea by means of a rifle (speargun or oleopneumatico) capable of firing one shot at a time (such as a crossbow or a bow). Performance is influenced by the athlete's instinct, fishing technique and freediving skills.
The risks and dangers for the freediver are numerous and varied; therefore, in order to minimize the chances of onset or unfortunate manifestation of such circumstances, it is advisable and advisable to understand their causes and specific consequences.
- Risks and dangers associated with incorrect ventilation: hyperventilation
- Risks and dangers associated with excessively prolonged apnea: pre-syncopal state or Samba and Black-out
- Otolaryngology (ENT) Risks and Dangers
- Other risks and dangers of diving apnea
- Risks and dangers associated with the marine environment
- Risks and dangers associated with marine flora and fauna
- Risks and dangers related to human beings
Risks and dangers associated with incorrect ventilation: hyperventilation
Ventilation is undoubtedly the most important component in preparing for freediving performance. The athlete must know and master sufficiently the prana-yama breathing techniques (deep, diaphragmatic and controlled ventilation) that allow to reach an excellent level of oxygenation ( O2) and psycho-physical relaxation, while it should totally repudiate the practice of forced hyperventilation (frequent and unnatural). liver) and an adequate mental attitude to manage one's autonomy during apnea. Hyperventilation, on the other hand, causes a drastic reduction in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood, an increase in heart rate and a sense of drunkenness due to the alkalization of the blood; all this favors an increase in energy expenditure and oxygen at rest (also reducing the "autonomy of" apnea), and excessively POSTPONES the perception of "hunger for" air "and diaphragmatic respiratory contractions" VANIFYING the "physiological bell" action. In other words, while the Prana-jama ventilation favors autonomy and awareness of one's physical condition, hyperventilation causes an alteration of the blood ph, induces dizziness and compromises the natural interpretation of physical signals, INCREASING THE POSSIBILITIES OF INJURY DUE TO EXCESSIVELY PROTRACTED APNEA.
Other articles on "Underwater Freediving - Risks and Dangers"
- Underwater Apnea - Pre-syncopal state or Samba and Black-out
- Underwater Freediving - Risks and Dangers - Flora and Fauna
