I haven't had the opportunity to get sucked into a hole, and have it not let me up.  Sounds like you should try swimming down, and away from the center in attempt to get away from its center of strength.  If you pull your skirt when you feel you don't have much air left, is there something that would prevent you from sticking your head back up in your kayak and grabbing a fresh breath of air?  After messing around in the pool I decided your float bags, even if you let the air out to get them out of the boat would probably be too buoyant for a portable breathing device and be able to dive down.  They would shoot you straight to the surface.  I'm curious about grabbing a breath out of the boat.  Any thoughts, ideas?

Best way to get out of a hole is to swim to the sides and/or swim upstream into the faster water. Other than that, focusing on something like a breathing device will just be a distraction from the task at hand.

Trying to swim like that is so tiring that going through all that trouble to breathe out of your boat would tire you out so much and do more harm than good.

who ever bribribar whater the fuck is, you should stay away from anything above class 2... PLEASE!!!!

A friend of mine had a swim like what you're talking about. He said he was able to pull his head up into the boat and could see, but his body was so pumped it wouldn't let him take a breath. There's some video on oregonkayking.net. Look for the Kenobi Gorge. His name's EJ. Nasty backed up hole.

Sick vid.

Drago - I didn't see it from that hyperlink, but how is this different from unscrewing the  18" tube on your float bag while it's still in the boat and sucking a breath from that if you pumped it up.  Even if you didn't, old-school CPR relied only on 2nd hand air.

Should have been on the seat photo at the top of the page link.  It uses a one way valve, no unscrewing.  You can such air out of the tube, but not blow it back in, keeping water out.  You have to pull the skirt unless you can wind it through your paddle gear, I have not found that way.

I recommend throwing yourself in a hole that you know won't be a keeper but will give you some experience getting a beat down.  I'm never a huge fan but try to drop into a semi-meaty hole ever once in a while for some practice.

Well, as ussual I came in late on this discussion. Yeah, breathing devices and similar inovations remain (at least for the time being) impracticle at best. Better to do the following:

1) Be in shape. Good cardiovascular is the key to holding one's breath for longer durations. Anymore I'm often surprised at how much air I have in my lungs when upside down. If you can go to a hot spring with a cold plunge nearby, it's a good place to give your capilaries a work out, by alternating soaks-hot, cold hot, cold, ect. Once you've done this a few times, go into the cold pool and see how long you can hold your breath. It's a great exercise, though not recommended for those with heart conditions.

2) just paddle lots of whitewater. Playboat, creekboat, whatever-just get into holes that won't kill you. Sooner or later you WILL get trashed in one, but as long as you don't over shoot your skill level (by boating grades of WW inappropriate for your skill level,) you should be fine. Like Ryan said.

3) walk out onto the rock at Rodeo hole with all your gear on, and jump in above the hole. Great way to feel what swimming in a hole is like: by actually doing it. It's as safe a place as any to mess around. Swimming class III whitewater intentionally is good for you. Just pick rapids with deep, clean water that won't bang you up, and has a natural recovery pool below it. It's great to have your friends join you, too. If you're concerned about safety, have someone hang out in a boat or with a throw bag. Remember that lots of rescue situations require the rescuer to employ swimming as a swiftwater technique.

Dave....  Some people like beating dead horses.  I think it is a kinder thing than beating living ones.  Though kinda smelly.

Seriously, Draggo has exactly what I think you should do in my mind.  Nothing beats experience.  EVER.

So there is my two cents and horse whipping.  Anyone else wanna beat the dead horse?

Good thread, I just found it this morning. I love the naming theme: Kessel Run, Beggar's Canyon and Sarlacc; I'm adding this run to my list for when I can paddle at that level. The  video an photos are amazing. Thanks for the great write up, guys.

D

Oh MY G%#! I thought this post died along time ago!!! It's like rotten eggs in the fridge, not sure if you should touch them or just leave them alone.........