Dumpster your probably right, I never got real into the techie details of water temps etc during our dives, my lowest temp my puter ever logged was 36deg, it was during this summer at about 100 ft. Spring fed lake. But what you said makes sense, the water next to the ice is probably as close to freezing as you can get.
Betail has also given out alot of great tips too, that is what I love about this board, you can learn so much by reading.
Just remember, Ice diving is a team effort, find a good group that practices safe diving techniques, uses the proper gear, has redundent and backups ready to roll in case of an emgergency. Never dive alone, and never dive with out being securely roped and having a topside rope tender. Carrying a pony is also highly recommended. Always have a backup rope box and diver prepped to go in, in case of an emergency (ours will go 300 ft). Our main ropes are 250ft, and they are marked every 10 ft so we know how far out the divers are, the main rope goes into a Y type with 12ft each for both divers. We use C shaped connectors that have to be screwed open or shut. Never use spring loaded clips etc. Always attach to a BC that has metal D rings, or you should wear a harness under your bc with metal D rings.
Once you find a group that is experienced and fun to be with, you will enjoy the great vis, and you will find it's alot of fun. And take it slow, some people we've had come along have called it, right at the hole, either clausterphobia or something, but if you have a bad feeling before you are to go in, DONT DIVE. Dont let someone pressure you to go , better safe than sorry.
Hope you guys liked the pix I uploaded
1 fun story I will tell, we setup and some guys setup an ice shanty about 100 ft away, the trailer hid what we were doing, so we decided to go (visit) the shanty, The ice was only about 14" and my buddy when we got to where they had their holes done, decided to stick hand up the hole ! He has long arms and he patted around the hole abit, and tugged on something (turns out it was a chair or something). Anyways the topside guys hear screaming from the shanty and two guys run out of it all freaked out, thinking a dead body is in the lake and it floated up and a hand came through. That was a good laugh !
Any of you Ice divers ever do something wild like that ??? if so please share