Vintage Ice Diving

[Scared Silly]

Not so much on the equipment side of things but I thought folks would enjoy these photos.

Long story ... I have been going through my parents old photos and came across these. In talking to my father he can not recall the specifics other than they were taken at a lake in somewhere around Susanville, which is in northern California in early 1960. But note the beaver tail suit, single tank, and of course a double hose regulator. Enjoy.

 

[rhwestfall]

and we still do it that way! (2017)

 

[rhwestfall]

2019

 

[AfterDark]

NH 1972

RI 1978 I'm on the right. We had more guts than brains in those days.

 

[lowviz]

@Scared Silly: Thanks for that retro blast! OMG, not tethered and under a solid ice cover that can't be broken from below.

@rhwestfall: That had to have been last year. Now I can see why it was so dark down there, heavy snow cover. A good light is an easy fix for that.

We, 'Team Two' (2017), had wind-swept glare ice on top. Kinda sorry I missed the snow cover...

 

[Compressor]

Incredible photos. Thanks for posting them.

 

[David Wilson]

Joan Ellman ready to ice dive in a So-Lo Marx Skooba-"totes" dry suit as illustrated in the book she wrote with her husband Van in 1961: The Young Sportsman's Guide to Skin Diving:

 

[dberry]

2019
View attachment 535442

Okay, I have to ask about this photo: What was the purpose of the little Igloo cooler?
(Upon reflection, I'm going to guess it was to keep something HOT!)

 

[rhwestfall]

Okay, I have to ask about this photo: What was the purpose of the little Igloo cooler?
(Upon reflection, I'm going to guess it was to keep something HOT!)

Emergency thaw regulators......

 

[lowviz]

Emergency thaw regulators......

RE: 2019 pic,

One diver / one tender, No crossed lines, no carabiners on the ice, all emergency equipment at the ready, guessing the emergency diver took that photo.

Man in chair looks happy...