
Spearfishing combines the thrill of the hunt with the serene beauty of the underwater world. But if you’ve ever wondered why your breath-hold is a struggle whilst spearfishing, you are not alone.
Many spearos find that despite their best efforts, their breath-hold time decreases significantly when they’re actively hunting. Let’s break down the reasons behind this and explore how you can overcome it.
1. Increased Physical Activity
Spearfishing is not just about holding your breath; it involves a lot of movement. Whether you’re kicking to chase fish, diving repeatedly, or battling currents, all of these physical activities demand oxygen.
Why it matters:When your muscles are working harder, they consume more oxygen and produce more carbon dioxide (CO2). This leads to an increased urge to breathe and a shorter dive time.
How to improve:Work on streamlining your body position and reducing unnecessary movements. Efficient finning techniques, duck diving and staying as relaxed as possible underwater can conserve energy and extend your breath-hold.
2. The Stress Factor
Spearfishing introduces an element of excitement and stress. Spotting a fish triggers an adrenaline response, which can increase your heart rate and oxygen consumption. Even a small rush of adrenaline can shorten your breath-hold time.
Why it matters:When you’re stressed, your body’s natural fight-or-flight response kicks in, making it harder to stay calm and relaxed—both of which are essential for longer breath-holds.
How to improve:Practice mental relaxation techniques before and during your dives. Visualisation and mindfulness can help you stay calm, even when you’re in the middle of the hunt.
3. Repeated Dives Without Proper Recovery
Spearfishing often involves multiple dives in quick succession, sometimes without adequate surface recovery. This can lead to something known as progressive hypoxia, where your oxygen levels drop further with each dive, making it harder to hold your breath.
Why it matters:Skipping proper recovery not only shortens your bottom time but also increases the risk of shallow water blackout, a dangerous condition for freedivers and spearfishers alike.
How to improve:Follow the three-to-one rule: spend at least three times the amount of time on the surface as you did underwater. For example, if your dive lasted one minute, you should rest on the surface for at least two minutes before diving again. During this time, practice controlled recovery breathing to reoxygenate your body.
We know you might want to rush into the next dive to find your next catch, but taking the time to recover on the surface will reduce the risk of shallow water blackout and maximise your bottom time.
4. Lack of Focus on Relaxation
Freediving relies heavily on relaxation, but when you’re hunting, your focus shifts to tracking fish, scanning for targets, and positioning your shot. This divided attention can prevent you from fully relaxing your body and mind.
Why it matters:Tension in your muscles and mental distractions increase oxygen consumption and make your dive feel more strained.
How to improve:Incorporate relaxation into your spearfishing routine. Before diving, spend a few moments focusing on your breathe-up and performing a quick body scan to release tension. Once underwater, move slowly and deliberately to maintain a relaxed state.
5. Poor Freediving Technique
Spearfishing may not always involve the same level of preparation as a dedicated freediving session, but proper technique is still critical. Poor posture, inefficient finning, or rushing your breathe-up can all shorten your dive time.
Why it matters:Small inefficiencies in your dive technique can add up, consuming more oxygen and reducing your overall breath-hold capacity.
How to improve:Work on refining your freediving technique, even if you’re primarily a spearfisher. Taking a course or practicing skills like equalisation, streamlining, and finning efficiency can make a big difference.
6. Water Conditions
Spearfishing often takes place in challenging environments. Strong currents on FADS and headlands, cold water, or reduced visibility can make diving more physically demanding and mentally taxing.
Why it matters:Fighting against currents or feeling disoriented in murky water can increase both your physical effort and stress levels, reducing your breath-hold time.
How to improve:Choose your dive sites carefully and match them to your skill level. If conditions are rough, focus on staying close to structures like reefs where you can find shelter from currents.
7. Psychological Urge to Surface
When hunting, it’s easy to lose track of time while following fish or lining up a shot. Your body, however, keeps track of your oxygen and CO2 levels, and the psychological urge to surface can kick in faster than expected.
Why it matters:The sensation of needing to breathe is caused by rising CO2 levels, not a lack of oxygen. Misinterpreting this sensation can make you surface prematurely or create discomfort during your dive.
How to improve:Train your CO2 tolerance through specific freediving exercises, like static apnea tables or dynamic apnea drills. The better your tolerance, the more comfortable you’ll feel underwater, even when CO2 levels rise.
8. Gear and Buoyancy
Your gear setup can also impact your breath-hold. Wetsuit thickness, weights, and spear guns all affect your buoyancy and hydrodynamics.
Why it matters:If you’re not properly weighted, you’ll either fight to stay down (if underweighted) or struggle to descend (if overweighted). Both scenarios waste precious oxygen.
How to improve:Ensure your gear is properly configured for the depth and conditions you’ll be diving in. Test your weighting in a controlled environment and adjust as needed.
Takeaway: Mastering the Balance
Spearfishing requires a unique balance of physical, mental, and technical skills. While it’s natural for your breath-hold time to be shorter during spearfishing than in freediving training, these tips can help you conserve oxygen, stay relaxed, and enjoy longer, safer dives.
Remember, safety always comes first. Never push your limits, and always dive with a buddy who knows how to perform proper freediving rescues.
Want to Improve Your Spearfishing Breath-Hold?
At Deep Sensations Freediving, we offer courses and workshops tailored for spearfishers, helping you build confidence, improve your breath-hold, and refine your technique. Check out our courses and take your spearfishing to the next level!
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