Why do ice dive??

[fisherdvm]

Aside from challenging yourself, and see the tasks needed for cold temperature? It seems rather boring?

Aren't you simply tethered and somewhat restricted? What if you weren't tethered? Is it just dangerous because of the overhead environment, extreme temperature, and low visibility?

 

[TStrick]

I have seen on Discovery channel that there is actually quite a bit to see under the ice. I guess depending on where you are at, diving at the poles icebergs would be beautiful to see from below. I have also read that some species of marine life grow to extreme sizes, maybe it's the only way they can survive in such a harsh environment. For me given the extra cost of specialized equipment, travel and cost of support team I will stick to the warm stuff but I am glad we have those who are so inclined.

 

[Jimmer]

Who said anything about low vis? The vis where I did mine was much greater on the ice dive than it is in the summer. And as for it being boring, that just depends on the site.

Jim

 

[brutus_scuba]

The visibilty for mine was better than during the summer when other divers were getting in there to do check out dives and stirring up the bottom, and actually on my ice dive we didn't go near the bottom of the quarry. Staying right up along the ice was awesome the way the light comes through the ice is neat. It was also fun to play with holes in the ice. The bottom of the ice is very smooth and transparent, which gives it a much cooler effect then the ceiling of a cave or cavern.

 

[fisherdvm]

We just had a snow storm... And most of the time, our lake is covered in snow. In Michigan, it is cloudy most of the time, and you add snow, I just figured visibility would be low.

 

[MikeFerrara]

The neat thing about ice diving is the ice itself. The view of the underside of the ice, the hole from a distance and the neat tricks the light can play can make for a spectacular view. If you drop down and dive along the bottom it looks like any other dive. I always wanted to do some ice diving in the artic, antartic or ice caves where the ice is really neat but I doubt that's ever going to happen.

Being tethered isn't too much of a pain, and that's the way ice diving is taught but some of us prefer to do it more like a cave dive.

Diving with teathers, tenders and so forth requires quit a few people and the whole things necessarily becomes a social event. In this case a big fire and lots of chili is sometimes the most redeeming aspect of the whole affair.

 

[fisherdvm]

In this case a big fire and lots of chili is sometimes the most redeeming aspect of the whole affair.

A big fire, on the ice?? That would be kinda cool... Wonder how long would it take to melt through 1 ft of ice.

Thanks for the info Mike... I am just wondering what the rewards are..

 

[MikeFerrara]

We just had a snow storm... And most of the time, our lake is covered in snow. In Michigan, it is cloudy most of the time, and you add snow, I just figured visibility would be low.

With lots of snow cover or ice that isn't clear, it can be dark but that isn't the same as bad vis.

 

[MikeFerrara]

A big fire, on the ice?? That would be kinda cool... Wonder how long would it take to melt through 1 ft of ice.

Thanks for the info Mike... I am just wondering what the rewards are..

LOL, no we usually build the fire on shore.

 

[Jimmer]

I expected low light/vis too and was getting out a light to bring with me and my instructor told me to leave that on top, I wouldn't need it, and he was right. We shoveled a perimeter from the hole, just a line at the perimeter, then shoveled radial line from the hole to the perimeter every 30 degrees or so, and those shoveled lines just glowed underwater from even more light shining through them. Not only was it beautiful to see, but if your tether even got severed, you can follow them back to the hole.