Ice Diving Extravaganza dates set for Feb 6-9th

[richerso]

Well hell I have dove wet in Similar water temps, diving dry should not be a problem.

I keep trying to tell people that; but nobody believes me! Go figure!

I know people who dive wet down to 45 F. I wouldn't do that; but I know people who do. Actually, one unnamed individual, whom rumor says is going to run for Texas governor some day, talked me into diving wet in 52 F water before.

I don't know how this person managed to convince me to do this; especially since my drysuit was sitting right there <<pointing at my dry suit>>. It was something about sympathy and having a common gear configuration. Are any DIR divers reading this?

 

[ZzzKing]

I keep trying to tell people that; but nobody believes me! Go figure!

I know people who dive wet down to 45 F. I wouldn't do that; but I know people who do. Actually, one unnamed individual, whom rumor says is going to run for Texas governor some day, talked me into diving wet in 52 F water before.

I don't know how this person managed to convince me to do this; especially since my drysuit was sitting right there <<pointing at my dry suit>>. It was something about sympathy and having a common gear configuration. Are any DIR divers reading this?

Haven't you been paying attention? He's foregoing the Governorship and going directly for President. Said candidate has been seen by me, personally, at 110'/46 degrees with bare arms and camoflage neoprene gloves.

PS - please don't invoke the "D" word in the Swamp again. We just got the floor cleaned up after the last time.

 

[texdiveguy]

I have dove with this same 'said person' to temps of 42F and we were both diving wet....making 2 dives in same day.

 

[TxIceDiver]

Right. But the difference here is that when you get out of the water it could be -15F and have a 25mph wind. Like it did the first year I ran this trip, we had the heater running full blast in the hut and still could only get the air temp up to 19F. Everything was still freezing. Diving wet in those conditions would not be wise.

We go to the part of the world where the cold can actually kill you and exposed skin can freeze in minutes.

However PK is 42F in the winter, under the ice in fresh water is only 5F difference. Water temps run 37F under the ice. The layer right next to the ice will be just above or at 32F.

When it is really cold and there is no snow cover, you can grow 1-2inches of ice/day. We saw it happen on the 2007 trip.

Randy

 

[texdiveguy]

Here is the reason that everyone in that area is so interested in getting under the ice.................

 

[Ryanh1985]

Right. But the difference here is that when you get out of the water it could be -15F and have a 25mph wind. Like it did the first year I ran this trip, we had the heater running full blast in the hut and still could only get the air temp up to 19F. Everything was still freezing. Diving wet in those conditions would not be wise.

We go to the part of the world where the cold can actually kill you and exposed skin can freeze in minutes.

However PK is 42F in the winter, under the ice in fresh water is only 5F difference. Water temps run 37F under the ice. The layer right next to the ice will be just above or at 32F.

When it is really cold and there is no snow cover, you can grow 1-2inches of ice/day. We saw it happen on the 2007 trip.

Randy

I am going dry in a few weeks, was only joking about the diving wet part.

 

[k-valve]

Water temp (as I recall): was a pretty consistent 37 F.
Before some one gets upset at the inconsistency in the physics of that, there are reasons for that. It's 37 F at depth. Obviously, physics says that the water/ice transition phase must occur at 32 F when the ambient pressure is 1013 mbar.

I'm no physicist, but it doesn't seem inconsistent to me. If the water temp was 32 F or colder wouldn't it be ice?

TxIceDiver -- I am really interested in this. What are the equipment requirements other than a drysuit...regs, undergarment, etc? What agency is the certification through?

 

[mataichi]

I'm interested. I hope the orentation class is soon. I'm waiting to get called offshore and wont be on land long.

 

[JessH]

Keep running these trips. I won't be making it this year but once I get a drysuit you can count me in.

~Jess

 

[thevalkyry]

*** shiver ***