Diving under ice is a thrilling experience. You actually do not go deep. The interesting feature during a dive under ice is the ice itself. Ice divers seldom go deeper than a few metres. Diving under ice provides you with adventure and a natural “light show”. The strict procedures that must be followed support team spirit.
Diving under ice is not without risk. The conditions warrant precautions against hypothermia and equipment malfunction due to low temperatures. During a dive under ice you can not simply return to the surface when there is a problem. You must return to the hole in the ice where you have started the dive. For that reason there are very strict procedures to be followed. Under the ice you will be attached to a line leading to the surface and you will also be attached to your buddy. A standby team is ready to enter the water in order to search for you in case contact is lost. The line is used for your safety and for communication with the people at the surface. The procedures for ice diving are a key aspect of this course.
The minimum age for the ice diver programme is 18. You must be a certified diver with adequate experience. The course has a practical session on land (as preparation for the procedures and communication during the dives) and two dives in open water.
Your instructor will want a completed medical statement from you. In some regions a medical statement with only “no” answers will be sufficient for participation in the course. In other regions a medical signed and stamped by a medical doctor will be required and must unconditionally say that you are fit for diving.
We are planning to release a book in the near future in order to allow you to prepare yourself for participation in an ice diver course.