Karlbiederman
Registered
I begin my Ice Diving class tonight, With dives tommorow. Any advice from the experts here?
Ice Diving Class Starts Tonight.
- Thread starter Karlbiederman
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Stirred, not shaken 
Seriously, though, be well hydrated, and pay attention to how you will conserve heat and get warm topside.
Seriously, though, be well hydrated, and pay attention to how you will conserve heat and get warm topside.
Lake Front
New
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
It has been about 13 years since I did my last ice dive. But it is definately something that everyone should experiance at least a few times.
Will you be wearing a wet suit or dry suit? At the time I was young, foolish, and of limited funds. So my buddy and I both used wet suits. But we can at least say we braved the dive in the limited attire.
Have fun, and be carefull during the whole event (the diving and the cutting of the hole).
Will you be wearing a wet suit or dry suit? At the time I was young, foolish, and of limited funds. So my buddy and I both used wet suits. But we can at least say we braved the dive in the limited attire.
Have fun, and be carefull during the whole event (the diving and the cutting of the hole).
Green_Manelishi
Contributor
I am not sure I qualify as an expert but here are my advices:
1) stay warm topside
2) realize that anything can go wrong with your gear
3) stay clear of the hole if you are not tending or diving
4) don't even consider pushing your comfort envelope.
1) stay warm topside
2) realize that anything can go wrong with your gear
3) stay clear of the hole if you are not tending or diving
4) don't even consider pushing your comfort envelope.
OP
Karlbiederman
Registered
I do have a dry suit I have done cold water dives before. 37F is the coldest I have been in.
Your gonna freeze!!!
kidding...Bring warm water in a cooler...Yeah yeah..it keeps it from freezing. This helps with de-icing your suit.
Avoid stepping in the hole wihout scubagear....
Bring Large golves or mitts to keep your hands warm during surface interval. a Hat again keep the old brain warm. A towel to dry exposed skin. Chapstick. A change of undergarments, incase your suit floods or leaks - Depending if you have a shelter or not...Bring something to wrap yourself in. Even though you have a drysuit...stuff freezes..so just to keep the wind off you. Staditum jackets work great. Or a reall big coat or tarp.
And for the apres dive...Hum...RUM!
Something warm to drink...BUT drink water even in the cold you dehydrate...
Have fun
kidding...Bring warm water in a cooler...Yeah yeah..it keeps it from freezing. This helps with de-icing your suit.
Avoid stepping in the hole wihout scubagear....
Bring Large golves or mitts to keep your hands warm during surface interval. a Hat again keep the old brain warm. A towel to dry exposed skin. Chapstick. A change of undergarments, incase your suit floods or leaks - Depending if you have a shelter or not...Bring something to wrap yourself in. Even though you have a drysuit...stuff freezes..so just to keep the wind off you. Staditum jackets work great. Or a reall big coat or tarp.
And for the apres dive...Hum...RUM!
Something warm to drink...BUT drink water even in the cold you dehydrate...
Have fun
OP
Karlbiederman
Registered
Thanks for the advice the warm water is a geat Idea. And we do have a shelter we will be using to avoid the wind. I am sure I will have fun.
Dive1Dennis
Guest
I cot certified last year and I'm looking forward to doing some more ice dives this winter. It is really cool to be under the ice looking up at the smooth sheet of ice above you. We dove with a big heated ice shanty that covered the hole, it was almost like cheating!
As far as advice goes, a couple additional things I can think of....
Don't drop the pry bar through the hole in the ice. It is nearly impossible to find when it drops into the silt at the bottom!
Be warry of free flows, you want to minimize breathing on your reg until you are in the water so it does not freeze up.
If you have dove in 37 degree water you know what the cold is like and should not have any problem. Water temp last year on my ice dives as 38. It is more a question of learning the line handling, signals, and considering the overhead environment. Nothing difficult.
You will have a blast, let us know how it goes.
As far as advice goes, a couple additional things I can think of....
Don't drop the pry bar through the hole in the ice. It is nearly impossible to find when it drops into the silt at the bottom!
Be warry of free flows, you want to minimize breathing on your reg until you are in the water so it does not freeze up.
If you have dove in 37 degree water you know what the cold is like and should not have any problem. Water temp last year on my ice dives as 38. It is more a question of learning the line handling, signals, and considering the overhead environment. Nothing difficult.
You will have a blast, let us know how it goes.
Be sure to bring some waterproof gloves for line tendering. Your hands will get wet and cold from pulling in and paying out the line. If you have a portable barbeque where you can melt some snow and heat it up for warm water, that I've always found to be immensely useful. It's great for pouring warm water into wetsuits, warming up your hands, and even feet. Coolers are great for keeping water warm, and has many uses:
All's I can say is...... you are a brave soul!
Similar threads
- Question
