The end of training days

Today was the last training day. I managed to lose an entire week with firstly the lung squeeze and then a blockage in my left sinus. The sinus still is not perfect but it allows me one dive prior to blocking up and creating an enormous pressure bubble under my left check. I have a variety of drugs that people keep pushing in my direction, and they seem to be slowly working, or it is just clearing up regardless. The main concern is that it forces me to equalise a lot more regularly than I usually would creating another level of discomfort. I did manage a few dives to check my buoyancy at 15m (it was perfectly neutral there fortunately with my massive 3.5kg neck weight) and practise duck dives, but I have a long way to go in my seven remaining dives.

I have managed three sucessful dives over the last three training days, starting at 32m and building up 5m at a time. In comparison to last year it is so easy. The massive tension (panic) at depth has gone and I am finally finding a relaxed state of mind and body allowing me to remain much more in control of my dives. I am hoping this stays with me as the dives become deeper. I feel I have become stronger and more efficient from doing some sprint work in training. The duck dives no longer feel like they take so much out of me that I don't know how I manage to continue. As usual, I just wish I had more time to adapt to and deal with the remaining technique and psychological issues. I am certain that I have plenty more in me, but don't want to do anything stupid that pushes me back further or discourages me from future deep freediving experiences.



Did I mention that the hole cleared up yesterday and was absolutely stunning for a brief moment?



What a contrast to only a couple of days earlier!