Ice diving anyone?

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Hello -

I am seeking to get ice diving certification this winter. Is anyone going ice diving? Dive school recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Thanks -

 

[ColinB]

I did my Ice diver class last year with Rich Morin's in Glens Falls, NY.
Here's their website (not sure why it just says "index"): index
They do the class on Lake George, and I thought it was very well done, with thorough explanations and a strong emphasis on safety. It might be further than you want to travel (they're local to me) but I think it's worth thinking about for you. Here's a link to the class description:
http://www.richmorinsproscubacenters.com/ice_diver_specialist.pdf
Let me know if you'd like any other info or just give them a call.
-Colin

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Thanks so much Colin. How was the viz under the ice?

 

[ScubaGypsy]

My wife, possibly my 16 year old son and I are also interested in this during the January-March timeframe.

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Wonderful I think it will be so much fun.

 

[ScubaGypsy]

I've heard positive reviews of Rich Morin's dive operations and the pdf class description looks good. However I suspect that for a course length of 24 hours that the course will require multiple weekends at Lake George?

I had been considering going with Dive Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. I've dove with them on their charters in the summer and they were fun. I also have a buddy with a home within 30 minutes of their store so if the course requires overnights then I think I'd prefer going with them. I tried to coordinate going with them last winter (or maybe it was winter 2009?) and unfortunately they did not have enough ice on the Lake.

If Dive Winnipesaukee is not going to offer the ice diving course this winter then my wife and I are interested in going up to Lake George assuming that we can coordinate the logistics. My 16 year old son might be a harder sale though I did procure a used drysuit for him recently.

 

[Tug]

I've heard positive reviews of Rich Morin's dive operations and the pdf class description looks good. However I suspect that for a course length of 24 hours that the course will require multiple weekends at Lake George?

I had been considering going with Dive Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. I've dove with them on their charters in the summer and they were fun. I also have a buddy with a home within 30 minutes of their store so if the course requires overnights then I think I'd prefer going with them. I tried to coordinate going with them last winter (or maybe it was winter 2009?) and unfortunately they did not have enough ice on the Lake.

If Dive Winnipesaukee is not going to offer the ice diving course this winter then my wife and I are interested in going up to Lake George assuming that we can coordinate the logistics. My 16 year old son might be a harder sale though I did procure a used drysuit for him recently.

I also have been thinking of taking an ice diving class this winter. One of my buddies did it up in NH, I think with Discover Diving in Atkinson, NH. I'll ask the next time I talk to her.

 

[ColinB]

Thanks so much Colin. How was the viz under the ice?

The viz was pretty good for Lake George (probably 30 feet or so, if I remember right), but it's a pretty shallow site since they cut the hole in walking distance of the shore, so if folks aren't careful, it's pretty easy to stir up the silt. I actually spent most of my time looking at the underside of the ice, and my air bubbles pooling there, which I found really beautiful.

I've heard positive reviews of Rich Morin's dive operations and the pdf class description looks good. However I suspect that for a course length of 24 hours that the course will require multiple weekends at Lake George?

The course is one night of academics and then a full day Saturday and Sunday on the lake, so it only takes one weekend, although it's a full weekend. In the academics you'll cover procedures, equipment expectations etc. Saturday you'll prep the site (install safety lines, mark and cut the ice etc) and then do 2 dives. Sunday you do the third dive, then break down the site and then do logbooks and debrief. I just looked at the class schedule, and this year the ice class dives are scheduled for Feb 19 & 20, Feb 26&27 or March 12 & 13. I believe that the 1st weekend is full, but I may be wrong about that. Academics are scheduled for the Friday night for the first and 3rd weekends and the Wednesday for the middle one, but I was in the store over the weekend and figured I'd ask, and Rich said that he could do a Friday class for that one if any of you are thinking of traveling up for a class. Anyway, let me know if you'd like any other info or if you think you'll come up since I may be there for some of the weekends as a safety diver depending on my schedule (I had enough fun last year that I'd like to go again).
Colin

 

[diverjmd]

Come join us for the first ever ice dives on the shipwreck Weetamoo located in Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire. Enjoy the beauty of the Lake Sunapee Region, including Mount Sunapee. These will be the first ever ice dives conducted on this historical shipwreck.

The Weetamoo, a 50 foot double-decked steamship, was launched in 1902. After disembarking trains in Newbury Harbor, the Weetamoo would carry up to 200 passengers across Lake Sunapee. The Weetamoo was one of several steamships that would ferry passengers to the various hotels around the lake. In 1926, the Weetamoo was intentionally sunk in approximately 70 FFW. The wreck lies perfectly intact with opportunities for penetration through the wheelhouse and passenger areas.

Weetamoo Ice Dive Dates: March 12 & 13
March 19 & 20
March 26 & 27

Costs: $150 per day of diving
We will provide all of the surface support equipment needed, included a warm lunch. Guided dives on the wreck are also provided as part of the course.

Contact us at our website, Home Page or at uppervalleydiving@hotmail.com to sign-up.

If you're not ice diving certified or feel you may need a refresher, please see our website for our expansive list of Ice Diving Course dates for 2011.


Happy Holidays,

Upper Valley Diving Services

 

[theduckguru]

No thanks. Its bad enough diving and looking at bass. If I want to see a bass under ice, I can do that at the fish market.