The Dahab Freediving Championships have ended – so, how did David get on?

Welcome to the not-so-secret freediving training diary of David Mellor!

In David’s last diary entry David talked about his final preparations for the Dahab Freediving Championships, and how he needed to increase his protein intake, was trying not to  over train and introduced us to his new stretching toy.  This time we talk to him post competition and hear about the highs and lows of the event.

David talks about his Free Immersion dive at the Dahab Freediving Championships:

I never touch the line when I go down, but in my warm up dive I did.  I gently put my arm around the line and went into freefall, it felt good and I thought great, I’ll do that in my dive and it will mean I’m always close to the line.

Well, on my dive I did exactly that –  I had my eyes closed and went into freefall.

I felt I was freefalling slower than usual so I opened my eyes to see I was leaning over to one side – this happened twice on the dive and so my relaxation was bad – I also swallowed my mouthfill so it was just really messy.

I still managed 64mtrs with all that so I guess I shouldn’t feel too bad.

Another lesson learnt and actually I learn a lot from my mishaps.

Training this last week I have made big improvements and was beginning to feel unstoppable, another few days and I was thinking 70mtrs was going to happen but as we all know freediving is not like this so it gave me another slap round the face and now I will once again press the reset button!

Loving the experience of it all though.

David describes his White Card, 55m CWT dive at the Dahab Freediving Championships:

I absolutely love the freefall part of the dive.

I never think about the depth. I break each part of the dive down and only concentrate on that particular part of the dive. So I relax on the surface, I listen for the countdown and calm my breathing.

On FIM I start to pull down and think only of equalising and keeping all of my body relaxed especially my legs.

I take mouthfill at 15 mtrs and then pull once more and now I’m in freefall.

I relax my abdomen and think cool now I’m on a ride!

I drop another 5 or 6 mtrs and again think about relaxation and my freefall position. I then top up my mouthfill at around 22 mtrs and again scan for relaxation.

By now I’m dropping pretty quick and loving the sound of my lanyard getting faster.

I try to hold constant pressure with the mouthfill but now and again I pulse my cheeks lightly to ensure I equalise. As I feel the air in my cheeks getting smaller I do one more M charge just to top up my mouthfill.

I’m now at 30mtrs plus and again scan for relaxation in my whole body but pay attention to my abdomen and throat and chest as if you’re not relaxed you will feel tightness in the upper chest.

I jab my eyes shut most of the time but slightly open now and again just to check my position on the line. Now the light is changing and the sound of the lanyard is getting even quicker and I’m loving it.

I know I’m getting deep but I only think about equalisation, my mouthfill is now getting smaller but I try to stay relaxed and pulse lightly.

Never at any part of this dive do I think about the depth.

As my mouthfill gets smaller I know I’m nearly there so I reach one arm up to feel for the ball, I grab the tag with that hand and grab the line with my other hand and start my assent.

I don’t think about the surface, I only think about each arm pull.

I stay relaxed and calm and again pay attention to relaxation in my legs.

I keep pulling and every pull I think about relaxation. I’m contracting but I’m on my way up so I stay in the moment and keep pulling.

I can feel my buoyancy changing, getting easier.

My eyes are closed but I hear the grouper call of my safety and I’m thinking I’m almost there.

A few more pulls and I’m at the surface, a few breaths and a big smile and I’m super happy.

An amazing high when you get a white card and all the training is worth it!

David came second overall in this event – an awesome achievement!

You can see David here with Hussein the organiser and Harry Chamas – his coach and mentor during the Dahab leg of the freediving competition circuit.

Next stop –  Singapore!

Read Part Thirteen, Now!

Missed David’s previous blog? Check it out, here:

Learn to freedive with Go Freediving

Competitions Countdown!

Abbreviations and Meanings

DYN – Dynamic

DNF – Dynamic No Fins

DYNB – Dynamic Bi-Fins

CWT – Constant Weight

CNF – Constant Weight No Fins

FIM – Free Immersion

STA – Static

CWTB – Constant Weight Bi-Fins

Qualifications

RAID Advanced Freediving Instructor