I am looking to do some Ice diving?

[wetdiver9]

I fancy doing some ice diving. i am based in the SE of the UK and although it gets cold here it isn't cold enough for Ice diving! So it looks like i will have to travel, but i don't want to pay many thousands pounds on an organised trip. I don't mind making my own travel arrangements if it means saving a few pounds.

So has anyone had any experiences in Northern Europe/Russia? Any suggestions or recommendations?

Many thanks Luke

PS

I am not currently certified for ICE diving so i will need to do a course as well

 

[coombsm]

One word, Canada. Plenty of ice diving around Calgary, Alberta...

Just look up some dive shops in Calgary, AB and they should be able to steer you in the right direction.

Cheers

 

[wetdiver9]

I didn't even consider Canada, I don't know why! i will have a look on the net, thanks.

Has anyone had any experiences in Canada?

 

[AquaExplorer]

LOL...man all I have to say is that you are NUTS!

 

[Hawkwood]

Wetdiver9,

We typically start the courses around mid to late February and they run through March, all dependent on temperature/ice conditions. The dives are done out on Lake Minnewanka in Banff.

 

[elan]

I fancy doing some ice diving. i am based in the SE of the UK and although it gets cold here it isn't cold enough for Ice diving! So it looks like i will have to travel, but i don't want to pay many thousands pounds on an organised trip. I don't mind making my own travel arrangements if it means saving a few pounds.

So has anyone had any experiences in Northern Europe/Russia? Any suggestions or recommendations?

Many thanks Luke

PS

I am not currently certified for ICE diving so i will need to do a course as well

I would not make sense to pay much money for doing just the ice diving, it's nice but definitely not worth those expenses.

There should be plenty of that stuff near you, Scandinavia comes into mind. May be guys from Norway, Sweden or Finland can chime in. We have plenty of that here in Canada , but unless you travel to see the country spending a lot of money just for the sake of ice diving wouldn't be worth it imho

 

[Rhone Man]

I seriously considered an ice diving trip to Russia - I'll see if I can dig out the website and post a link - it looked really good.

The downside is (i) Russian visas are a real pain, and (ii) once you get to Moscow, you still have an 18 hour train ride (big coutry). But it was cheap, and you certainly don't need to worry about whether it will be cold enough or not...

EDIT: Here it is - I see the operation is run out of the UK, so that might make life easier for you.

http://www.ice-diving.co.uk/

 

[DCBC]

Has anyone had any experiences in Canada?

I agree that cost wise, Norway would be less expensive for you. If this is doable dive Bergen. It's among the best ice diving I've experienced. If you're into drift dives, do the Maelstrom near Bodo as well (also called the Saltsraumen or saltwater runoff). The current runs at much as 25 knots; simply Amazing!

If your sold on Canada, Air Canada has a direct flight from Heathrow to Halifax, which would be your least expensive option. Ice Diving is done by quite a few divers here as the water is often warmer than the North Atlantic. Drop me a PM if you decide to make the trip.

 

[wetdiver9]

Thank you for your responses.

Elan your right, looking at the flight costs Canada is going to be too expensive compared to northern Europe, £75-£150 compared to £400-500 to Canada. I would also have to take the family if I went to Canada, as this is on our must visit list and they want to visit in the Summer. DCBC it would be good to meet up and do some diving, when we finally make the trip over to Canada.

So my focus is back on Northern Europe.

Rhone man, thanks for posting the link. This is one of the web sites that has inspired this insanity! and i agree it is a hell of a journey and that's putting me off, as well as the price. Once travelling to Moscow, waiting for transfers and final transfer from the train station its nearly 2 days travelling just to get there, but ice is guaranteed!

DCBC, 25 knots that's fast!! Bergen is Doable, as I can get a direct flight from London at a good price. Who did you dive with?

I did a quick Google search for diving in Bergen (and i mean just a quick one) and the only result that jumped out was Nemo classic diving, but they don't seem to advertise ice diving on their web site. They are near to the airport which would make life easy. So i will have to spend some time looking into dive centres around Bergen, but not tonight, Happy new year to you all!!

Has anyone dived in Bergen, if so can you recommend an operator?

Thanks Again

 

[DCBC]

DCBC, 25 knots that's fast!! Bergen is Doable, as I can get a direct flight from London at a good price. Who did you dive with?

I was a guest speaker at a conference a few years back in Tromso. I was invited to dive Bergen by a commercial diving business there called IMC Diving situated just north of the ferry terminal. There is a LDS in Bergen, although I don't know the name of the company. They put me up in a suite at the Hotel Park in Bergen; a small 1800's guest house which I'd recommend.

Interestingly enough, Norway has some of the world's best dive sites including drop-offs and wrecks. Ice Diving is common, so you shouldn't have any problems. Wishing you an excellent time!