The idea of submerging oneself in ice and freezing water can be daunting for many. But in the world of scuba diving, ice diving actually exists. And it's a common sport for those living in the Arctic Circle.
Ice diving is a popular sport not just amongst locals but also foreigners flying into any cold country to attempt and experience the “joys” of diving under a sheer sheet of ice, in almost zero visibility with numb limbs.
What is Ice Diving?
It is defined as a type of penetration dive that takes place under ice with a single entry and exit point. With that, specific procedures are required in order to perform such a dive.
Procedures of Ice Diving
Ice diving is a team activity as it requires a line tender who is responsible for taking in the line of the diver so that it does not get tangled and to look out for rope signals. The team will also include a stand-by diver and a supervisor.
The dive first start with shovelling snow and ice to clear the way before an ice saw is used to cut a hole in the ice. A weatherproof area is concurrently set up for divers to prepare for their dive. Before starting the dive, the diver and tender are connected by a rope lifeline and harness over the dry suit but under the BCD. The harness goes over the shoulders and around the back such that the tender can haul the diver back to safety in case of an emergency.
Throughout the dive, a tethered diver is always on standby and the tender and diver maintains communication either through rope signals or vocal devices
Equipment Required for Ice Diving
Typically ice diving occurs in environments where temperatures are near zero or even lower. As such, a large amount of equipment is required.
On top of the basic diving equipment such as cold-rated diving regulators, thermal dry suits and undergarments, divers are required to bring back-ups in case of any equipment freezing and malfunctions. Divers should bring spare mitts and socks, equipment to shovel snow, cut holes in the ice, safety gear such as harnesses, integrated BCDs or weighted belts with double buckles, shelters, and lines.
For the surface team, warm clothing is required due to long exposure to potentially cold and windy conditions as well as crampons to get more traction on ice. Shelters should be mandatory in the packing list to keep the surface team comfortable and cosy while on the ice.
Training and Certification
As ice diving is considered an advanced form of diving, certain training relevant to the dive is required. For instance, learning how ice forms, recognising unsafe ice conditions, dive site preparation, equipment requirements and safety drills are essential. The need to be proficient in the usage of diving equipment and diving in cold water conditions is unquestionable. Other essential skills required includes how to deal with frozen air-supply systems using redundant back-up systems and how to react in other potential emergency situations.
As for certifications, recreational ice diving and specialised ice diving training for public safety divers in planning and executing emergency ice diving operations are available for divers to attain in order to be qualified for whatever aspect of ice diving they are looking to pursue.
Conclusion
Ice Diving is an advanced type of diving and should be approached with caution. Always ensure that you are prepared and that you have a team of trusted professionals alongside you. But apart from that, every dive is as memorable as the other because ice diving is about the challenge. Putting yourself to the test and pushing your body beyond its limits is what makes ice diving so alluring in the first place. So while it may seem menacing, it's nothing less of any other advanced, challenging aspect of any other sport and its technicality and difficulty should not hold you back from attempting it.