In the dead of winter, most divers are dreaming of tropical locales where nothing more than a swimsuit is necessary to blow some bubbles. But there are some ice divers out there for whom the urge to dive is just too strong, or their line of work necessitates pulling on a dry suit and getting the job done. People who have experienced diving under the ice often return with stories of remarkable visibility and a tranquility that can be experienced nowhere else on the planet. The unique environment under marine ice opens up a whole new world of creatures and activity that seem unlikely in such a cold place.
Because ice diving is a type of penetration dive, it is crucial that you get the proper training before ever attempting such a dive. The buddy system for ice diving is a little different than normal diving, as there are actually buddies topside as well. Ice divers are tethered to the surface with a line, which is attended to at all times by a topside buddy. The buddy feeds out and reels in the line, which not only keeps the ice diver safe from entanglement, but works as a form of communication when tugged. There is also a safety diver suited up and standing by on the surface, ready to dive in if needed, and that diver will also have his own line tender.
The risks of ice diving, besides being uncomfortably cold, include hypothermia, frostbite, regulator freezing, and entrapment by moving ice. Having a qualified team on hand and participating in the dive can help to minimize these risks, but that is why it is imperative that you are completely trained in every aspect, starting with learning how to dive in a dry suit — a bit more complicated than your typical wetsuit dive! Proper buoyancy is an essential component of your safety when ice diving, so diligent practice on all other dives will help ensure you hone your skill to perfection before it’s time to slip beneath the ice. Check out this cool video of a scientific expedition beneath the biting cold of the Antarctic.
