Hi there mate.
Ice diving is fantastic and I can really recommend the course. I used to do a lot of ice diving when I lived in Sweden.
Regarding skills that can be used also in warm waters I would say that it's good training for any future diving in over-head environment, such as wrecks or caves.
This is what my PADI Instructor Manual says about the skills:
Dive data
1. Number of dives: Three dives. No more than two
dives per day allowed.
2. No out-of-air drills are to be practiced in the overhead
environment.
3. Dives are limited to within the light zone and within a
maximum of 39 metres/130 feet (23 metres/75 feet recommended)
of the surface entrance point, vertical and
horizontal distances combined.
4. Dives will be conducted during daylight hours only.
DIVE ONE:
Performance Requirements
By the end of this section you will be able to:
Demonstrate proper techniques for selecting and preparing an ice
diving site.
Perform the tasks of a surface tender.
Perform the tasks of a safety diver.
Maintain neutral buoyancy while ice diving.
Monitor your air supply and surface with a tank pressure no less than
one-third of the starting tank pressure.
DIVE TWO:
Performance Requirements
By the end of this section you will be able to:
Maintain neutral buoyancy while ice diving.
Monitor your air supply and surface with a tank pressure no
less than one-third of the starting tank pressure.
DIVE THREE:
Performance Requirements
By the end of this section you will be able to:
Prepare, organize and lead an ice dive.
Execute appropriate postdive procedure (entry hole closure).
Maintain neutral buoyancy while ice diving.
Monitor your air supply and surface with a tank pressure no less than
one-third of the starting tank pressure.
DIVE FOUR: (Optional)
Performance Requirements
By the end of this section you will be able to:
Perform an under-ice search for a dive team that has become separated
from their safety line.
Respond correctly to a dive team that signals: pull me in immediately.
Execute the proper surface rescue procedure for an individual who has
fallen through the ice or into open water.
Nowadays I live in Egypt so I don't get to do that much ice diving...
.....a.....
Reed Sea Expert ;o)
WELCOME TO AZIAB