Ice Diving anyone?

[TxIceDiver]

Hello everyone,

I am trying to decide if I am going to put together an Ice Diving trip again this year. Over the last couple of years the participation has been mostly non-existent. Last year JR and myself were the only 2 and we went to Colorado and dove at San Isabel.

So I am soliciting Scuba Board members to see if there is any interest in doing an ice diving class (or just going ice diving) in the Jan-March timeframe. If I get enough people that want to go, I'll put together a trip. But I need to start the planning work and hammering out the details in the next couple of weeks.

Possible locations are Colorado, Lake Okoboji Iowa, Green Bay WI. I haven't checked on other locations, but can if anyone suggests one.

The class consists of the PADI Ice diver specialty - there are about 3-4 hrs of classroom and the rest is all done at the dive site, 3 dives over 2 days. I supply all of the ice specific equipment (line, harnesses, etc)


Randy

 

[superspeed]

i might be interested a little far out for me to know for sure.

 

[Bill Parker]

What would be the airports near those locations? Are
there any suitable locations that are drivable from
North Texas? Is a dry suit mandatory? I have no idea
how to use one. What are the advisable experience
and training prerequisites?

 

[TxIceDiver]

We drive to Colorado and Iowa. From the DFW area it is 12hrs to Pueblo and 15hrs to Okoboji, IA. (I know it is a long drive, but you can get there in a day) American Eagle flys into Green Bay. To drive to Green Bay is about 20hrs.

You will want a dry suit. I have seen people ice dive in a wet suit, but wouldn't recommend it. (They were big burly Wisconsin boys and the surface temps were in the 40's) The water conditions aren't really the problem, it is the surface conditions before you get in and after you get out. Last year when we dove in San Isabel, Colorado. The surface temps were 19-28F with some wind - we stood out on the ice most of the day, the water was the usual 37F, as the sun started to go down surface temps dropped into the teens. Also, we were diving at 8500ft of elevation, the first day we dove the elevation pretty much kicked our ass. The 2nd day of diving, there was a noticeable improvement in my stamina as I acclimated to the altitude. Once again, the diving wasn't really the problem, it was hauling all of the gear and the amount of work preparing the dive site (i.e. cutting the hole, shoveling snow, etc)

This is still recreational diving. I teach the PADI Ice Diver Specialty - the requirements are that you have at least AOW (or equivalent) and be at least 18yrs old. I would also add to that - dry suit experience (10+ dives recommended). (you REALLY want to be comfortable with dry suit diving before you do it under the ice)

This type of diving isn't for everyone - but once you have been to the ice, you take on a whole new perspective on diving in extreme conditions. This is a freshwater experience - the next step would be go dive salt water, where the water freezing point is 28F. When I dove in Antarctica we saw water temps at 30F. One of the days, I was in the water for nearly an hour - (diving near an iceberg and then snorkeling with leopard seals) I was cold after that - but once we got out of the water, I warmed up pretty quickly.


Randy

 

[richerso]

Randy,
You know my answer. Sign me up. I will do it.

For everyone else,
I will beg and plead with you. You guys and girls have to do this if you think you might even remotely be a diver. This is an exceptional experience. It is kind of an extreme of an extreme type experience -- however, it is still recreatational diving and it is still very much within the reach of an AOW diver. It is just a great experience! I would recommend it to any diver who has an AOW certification with an additional 10 dives. This makes it about 20 - 30 dives in the log book for most divers.

It is an exceptional experience - but it is still very achievable! Could you do it in a wet suit? I suppose you could do an ice dive in a 7mm wet suit. I would recommend a dry suit. To reiterate what Randy said, it is not really the water that gets to you. It is all of the above water entry and exit activity that is demanding. I suppose if you were an accomplished snow skier, this wouldn't be an issue either - but I would still want a dry suit due to the synergistic component of air temperature, wind and water exposure.

Seriously, the diving is the easiest part of this experience. The real challenge is preparing for the dive and conducting post-dive operations that make this a real adventure. The dive is nothing. The adventure is priceless. . . . I hope Mastercard doesn't sue me.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

We drive to Colorado and Iowa. From the DFW area it is 12hrs to Pueblo and 15hrs to Okoboji, IA. (I know it is a long drive, but you can get there in a day) American Eagle flys into Green Bay. To drive to Green Bay is about 20hrs.

You will want a dry suit. I have seen people ice dive in a wet suit, but wouldn't recommend it. (They were big burly Wisconsin boys and the surface temps were in the 40's) The water conditions aren't really the problem, it is the surface conditions before you get in and after you get out. Last year when we dove in San Isabel, Colorado. The surface temps were 19-28F with some wind - we stood out on the ice most of the day, the water was the usual 37F, as the sun started to go down surface temps dropped into the teens. Also, we were diving at 8500ft of elevation, the first day we dove the elevation pretty much kicked our ass. The 2nd day of diving, there was a noticeable improvement in my stamina as I acclimated to the altitude. Once again, the diving wasn't really the problem, it was hauling all of the gear and the amount of work preparing the dive site (i.e. cutting the hole, shoveling snow, etc)

This is still recreational diving. I teach the PADI Ice Diver Specialty - the requirements are that you have at least AOW (or equivalent) and be at least 18yrs old. I would also add to that - dry suit experience (10+ dives recommended). (you REALLY want to be comfortable with dry suit diving before you do it under the ice)

This type of diving isn't for everyone - but once you have been to the ice, you take on a whole new perspective on diving in extreme conditions. This is a freshwater experience - the next step would be go dive salt water, where the water freezing point is 28F. When I dove in Antarctica we saw water temps at 30F. One of the days, I was in the water for nearly an hour - (diving near an iceberg and then snorkeling with leopard seals) I was cold after that - but once we got out of the water, I warmed up pretty quickly.


Randy

Don't forget redundant air

You guys will LOVE the ice!! We kind of get spoiled with it here

Here are some pics to wet your appetite. In the last one, the ice was THICK! Check out that piece of ice. It was about 14"s thick

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Oh, and this one.....Looks like a nice pic opportunity laying on the ice right? Make sure you don't forget this is dangerous! The ice broke and he fell thru right after this pic was taken. The second pic shows the same triangle after we pulled him out and continued the class...you can see where it broke away

Be safe and have fun! If you guys have a hard time finding ice, let us know and we can hook you up with a place to teach the class