Breath holding?

[northernone]

- not advocating this practice -

Prior to my rebreather for videography I regularly practiced breath holding while diving. I've never encountered it publically discussed positively but I've met other a few other videographers who use this technique extensively for wary subjects.

Is holding a medium breath while maintaining depth for a minute or so in order to position and frame a shot more common then I'd expect? Beyond breaking the #1 rule of diving are there other disadvantages you've encountered?

Caution note: especially unsuitable in surge, uncontrolled buoyancy or at narcotic depths.

Regards,
Cameron

 

[TMHeimer]

I hold my breath while slightly descending a foot or so to hover over those dumb flounders and poke spear them (they can't see me with two eyes on their topside?). I don't think time (like a minute or whatever) has anything to do with the danger--just if you ascend. I would think descending more than a little could result in lung squeeze.

 

[RainPilot]

The problem is not holding your breath, its ascending while you are holding it.

There's also a BIG difference between stopping breathing and holding a glottal breath stop. When I do neutral basic drills like reg recovery etc I will stop breathing when neutral, remove the reg and then recommence breathing once I have a reg back in.

 

[RainPilot]

I hold my breath while slightly descending a foot or so to hover over those dumb flounders and poke spear them (they can't see me with two eyes on their topside?). I don't think time (like a minute or whatever) has anything to do with the danger--just if you ascend. I would think descending more than a little could result in lung squeeze.

No problem with holding breath descending even large amounts. Think freedivers.

 

[Vicko]

No problem with holding breath descending even large amounts. Think freedivers.

The problem comes from rapid expansion of lungs after you take a breath from your reg, just a few meters won't matter, but when you do it after 10 m or so you have a serious chance of massive barotrauma, this is why freedivers need to be taken to the surface after they have a deep blackout.

We don't have pain receptors in our lungs so there is very little warning before a injury.

 

[Steve_C]

Other then briefly while taking a picture i did it once. Was skimming just over a coral reef looking down, looked ahead and realized I was about to pass over a very large green Moray swimming toward me. Did not want to make any motion to startle it. I inhaled and held my breath as I went up a couple feet and it slid under me. Seemed like forever as I thought of all the places he could bite but just a few seconds. This was an inhale with the mouth open. Not closed.

 

[TMHeimer]

No problem with holding breath descending even large amounts. Think freedivers.

Yes you're right of course. I don't think that breathing compressed air would make any difference. I recall reading about it once--that you'd have to go to extreme depths to be subject to lung squeeze. Wonder why that is--If going up only a little (particularly close to the surface) can cause a rip in lungs, why would you have to go to like 700' or something for them to collapse? Doesn't air contract at the same rate that it expands? Can't recall the reason.

 

[archer1960]

I think every experienced diver holds their breath for at least a short time once in a while. Like the OP, I often hold it when setting up a photograph, to avoid "bubble face". I try to be sure I never ascend while holding it, though...

 

[JamesBon92007]

When I do neutral basic drills like reg recovery etc I will stop breathing when neutral, remove the reg and then recommence breathing once I have a reg back in.

 

[Dan]

I think every experienced diver holds their breath for at least a short time once in a while. Like the OP, I often hold it when setting up a photograph, to avoid "bubble face". I try to be sure I never ascend while holding it, though...

I do this while taking picture to make sure I don't scare the fish, but I try not to do it too often. If I do too many times, in the end of the dive I get a slight headache.