Ice diving is the ultimate type of diving for those that love cold-water conditions and memorable dives. Diving in the Arctic is possible but proper equipment and training is required. A diver should already be experienced in cold-water diving and know all safety procedures before commencing. Ice diving certifications and drysuit certifications are recommended.
Divers will usually get in the water once or twice a day during their expedition with a maximum depth of 20m. There are soft corals to see, fish and other marine mammals. During a dive in the Arctic, divers may spot a beluga whale, pods of narwhal and even an orca. Drift ice is one of the biggest hazards of ice diving. It is ice that is not attached to any land and is therefore moving. It’s important to plan dives around icebergs that are fixed above ground or floating in water away from drift ice.
At the start of the trip, the first dive will be a check-dive so all divers can get adjusted and properly weighted. It’s extremely important to listen to the dive briefing about the site, to gain an understanding of the weather and ice conditions. Dives will be done from a zodiac and divers are expected to be able to set up their own equipment and carry it to and from the zodiac.
Conditions are quick to change and not having direct access to the surface can cause a small issue to become a dire situation. For some dives, a diver will wear a rope harness to ensure they do not get too far away from their access point and are able to surface if there is an issue. Divers should know what to do in an emergency and be familiar with emergency scenarios and how to handle them. For instance, what to do if your drysuit gets flooded.
Equipment you will need during your ice diving experience will be two sets of ice diving regulators, in case one has an issue with freeflow, a drysuit, proper undergarments, harness, 9mm hood, wet or dry gloves. Divers must be able to handle mundane tasks easily with gloves and hoods, for example re-adjusting a fin strap or clearing their mask. There are also heated undergarments which can make ice-diving more pleasurable. A full-face mask can also help protect your skin from the cold and should be considered before embarking. It’s also important to have the right outerwear, the water may be the warmest place of the day, and pre and post-dive you want to be adequately prepared to fight the cold. This includes beanies, gloves and hot drinks.
The most important part to remember is to gain cold-water experience in less harsh conditions. This will help you prepare for your arctic adventure. It’s important to be a team player as everyone will take turns acting as rescue divers or cutting the hole in the ice, in addition to their in-water fun. Divers must know their own bodies and be able to both physically and mentally prepare for the dive and anticipate how their bodies will react to the cold water.
Ice diving is not for everyone, but divers who do tell the stories of exotic marine life, beautiful icebergs, visibility up to 50m and the beauty of how light reflects underwater on the ice.Visiting the Arctic to dive can only be done by liveaboard with a trip usually ranging between one and two weeks. Dives can be called off if local ice and weather conditions are too harsh but the boat will usually move to another spot in the hopes of finding better conditions.
