Charter trips in the snow

[TSandM]

We're leaving for Canada Friday, and tonight, we got about four inches of snow.

Forecasts are for a HIGH temperature each day of the trip in the 32 degree (0 for you metric people) range, which means that, in the mornings when we get on the boat, it will most likely be in the twenties.

Yes, I dive a dry suit, and yes, the boat has heated areas to be in during surface interval. But can I hear people's stories of similar charters and either how much fun you had, or what specific coping strategies you came up with that helped?

 

[Rainer]

Here are some good suggestions:

http://www.northernatlanticdive.com/gauntlet/winter_diving_prep.pdf

 

[dsteding]

Forecasts are for a HIGH temperature each day of the trip in the 32 degree (0 for you metric people) range, which means that, in the mornings when we get on the boat, it will most likely be in the twenties.

Lynne, the forecast I saw had a high of -1 C . . .

I can't believe we are doing this. At least it will be sunny, calm, and with 80-100 feet of vis . . .

My coping strategy involves putting drysuit on in hotel, walking across street, getting on dive boat, diving, surfacing, swearing like Richard Pyle in that cold-induced Tourette's Syndrome video, hiding inside on the surface interval, putting on a dry hood and repeating.

At the end of the day, I hope that you or Bob will take a hammer to me and break me out of the ice cube that was my drysuit.

And, a bit of good single-malt at the end of the day to warm me up.

This trip is going to be off-the-hook fun. Wanna borrow an argon bottle?

 

[scubawally]

the best thing I like about winter diving in canada is the fact that only the most hardcore divers can be seen....where im from you see a lot of cars with dive flags lisence plate but oddly enough no that many diver in the water this time of year. I was diving today and the water temp was a balmy 36 degrees and we did a 55 minute dive

 

[scubawally]

where will you guys be diving

 

[dsteding]

Wally-

We'll be on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo, diving with Diver's Choice.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

I like to drink "hot as I can stand" water between dives. It helps warm me inside, is not diuretic, and holding the cup helps warm my hands.

If you've not read the NorthAtlantic doc, do so. There are great suggestions like bringing two hoods, pairs of dry gloves, etc. I've been using a "brand new" hood and gloves for the second dive for a few years. It is much more pleasant than using the wet pair.

Now, If I could stop growing ice in my mask ....

 

[Warren_L]

We're leaving for Canada Friday, and tonight, we got about four inches of snow.

Forecasts are for a HIGH temperature each day of the trip in the 32 degree (0 for you metric people) range, which means that, in the mornings when we get on the boat, it will most likely be in the twenties.

Yes, I dive a dry suit, and yes, the boat has heated areas to be in during surface interval. But can I hear people's stories of similar charters and either how much fun you had, or what specific coping strategies you came up with that helped?

Where abouts are you going? Canada's a pretty big place.

I just got back from a night dive. Water in the lake was still pretty warm at 38F. Warmer than the air tonight, I think judging how quickly my drysuit froze up after I got out of the water, air temps were in the low 20s. There are a number of things to keep in mind to make your sub-freezing diving more pleasureable.

First, bring some warm water in a couple of thermoses. Note, warm, not boiling hot. This will come in handy if you happen to freeze up gear before or after a dive. Often times, if it's cold enough, drysuit zipper, hood zipper, inflators, etc will freeze up. If your second stage starts a trickle free-flow, a dip in warm water before you go in will help.

Bring also something warm to drink during surface interval. I find this really helps.

Also, if it is really blowing cold before you exit from your dive, disconnect your drysuit inflator while still in the water. I've come out before only to have the connector frozen on. While in the water, this can't happen.

Bring extra set of hood and dry glove and liners. Nothing's worse than having a wet glove and going for a second dive. A second dry hood makes gearing up for the second dive more pleasant.

 

[scubawally]

the key to staying warm will be to dry your head and hands when you get out of the water and put on warm gloves and hats between dives......besides the water on that side of country is not that cold when you compare it to what we get on the east coast.... I was stationed in victoria about a year nad a half ago and people there dove in wetsuits year round....water temp was usually in the 50-60 range.....good luck with the diving they have some very good wrecks in the nanaimo area...you should check out Ogden Point Dive Center based out of victoria next time you want to dive in that area....they dive some nice wrecks and a bunch of other places that you go on charters as well....plus the shop is also located on a pretty good dive site

 

[TSandM]

Most recent report is water temps about 43 degrees . . .

Thanks for the article reference.

"Canada" to those of us in Seattle means Vancouver/Vancouver Island, for the most part. And that's where we're going.