| Imported post
This may sound like a load of tosh but here we go:-
In my previous (pre-journlistic) life I was a sports scientist (Bsc Hons) (MA) and one of the experiments that I did was with elite sportspersons that had had difficultly with stressful situations. A downhill mountain biker that had come off and had been quite badly injured would clam-up whenever she got back to "terminal velocity" again.
Another guy was a gymnast who would panic is certain situations and hence was under-performing.
My team worked with these two athletes and with a mixture of visualisation and positive outcome rehearsal techniques both of the little darlings were back to their best and the gymnast was much better.
Now what the f*ck has this gotta do with diving you might ask?
Easy, try and replicate a difficult situation you might find yourself in. OOA, lost buddy, freeflow, cramp - whatever.
Then just imagine yourself going through the various steps you'd have to go through to extricate yourself whilst controlling your breathing and obviously reaching a positive conclusion.
For example try this. Close your eyes and visualise yourself diving at your favourite spot. You're at 25m and feeling really good. Your breathing is steady and regular and you're having a good time.
Suddenly your regulator starts to freeflow. You feel your heartrate start to rise but rather than panic you reach for your alternative air source and in a controlled and positive manner you swap regs and immediately get the gas you need. Within a few moments your breathing is back to normal and your attentive buddy has switched off you freeflowing tank, switched it back on again and the freeflow has been solved.
You ascent is slow and controlled and after a safety stop you're back on the surface breathing the same way you were before you originally decended.
This is no replacement for practice but I honestly believe that mental rehearsal can make a huge difference.
Give it a go - after all with the weather as bad as it is at the moment it might be the only sea dive you'll get.  |