Ice

[M&P+4]

Last weeks cold snap pretty much established the ice for the rest of the year....how many ice divers are out there?

I tried it out last winter and would like to get the cert but I think AOW has to come first. I missed my oportunity window with that this summer - hopefully I'll get it this summer though.

[CaptnDale]

Last weeks cold snap pretty much established the ice for the rest of the year....how many ice divers are out there?


There aren't a lot of us, but enough to get a dive together on just about any weekend. When I had my shop we had a group who would go out every Sunday. Everyone would show up Sunday at 9 am. Whoever was there would caravan it to wherever we decided to go that day. If the water was clear it would be an open water dive. If it was ice covered it would be an ice dive. We always did just one dive, then went out for lunch and a pop or two. Great fun!

[do it easy]

I've tried ice diving enough to get certified, but I would like to do more!

[DeepDiverBob]

I would love to give it a try sometime.

[Atlaua]

I was this '' close to taking an Ice diving course once. What kept me from doing it was that I didn't have a drysuit at the time and the agency rules prevented me from combining a DS course and an Ice diving course. Since then the opportunity hasn't presented itself again.

I'd have to say that personally it's not on the radar. If the opportunity comes up, then yea, I'd take it but I'm not seeking it out. Cave and wreck diving have their overhead issues, but they offer high rewards. Personally I don't see the reward vs. risk factor in ice diving (at least in midwest lakes) making it worth it.

James

[Captain Caveman]

i want to take ice class to. been looking for a while but i too need AOW. and missed it this summer for DRY and NITROX. the class faor ice is in jan around here and im going to be in mexico. maybe i can do a class with REEFRAF

[Wkndbum]

I got certified last winter @ Okoboji in Iowa. I'm trying to make up my mind if I want to go again this year. It's one of those things you want to try at least once.

The vis was great for the midwest, 40' to 50'. Didn't get cold even though I had a leaky glove on one dive. First stage frooze up on my first dive.

The only part I didn't like is that you're "tethered" to a 150' rope, don't get to do a lot of exploring.

Terry

[M&P+4]

The only part I didn't like is that you're "tethered" to a 150' rope, don't get to do a lot of exploring.



That is 50' more rope than we had when I went last year. It wasn't really a training opportunity but more of a 'try it out' dive. The DM was on a 100' rope and I was teathered to him with a 10' rope. It was probably the coolest (no pun intended) dive that I have done so far. THe algae wasn't near as dense as in the summer nearly doubling the viz. I hope to do it again this winter.

[Wkndbum]

Did 2 ice dives today in a sand pit by Kearney, NE. Vis was only 6' to 10' (not nearly as good as we expected)

Everything went as planned except for a leaky gloove on the second dive. Didn't get cold while diving but arm was cold after getting out of the water. Water temp was 36, air was 24.

I wear a pair of these http://www.cdsportswear.com/ under a set of Bare T-100 underwear, works great.

Terry

[crpntr133]

There is a group of us planning on doing a ice dive, probably at Blue Springs. This is not going to be a cert dive but rather a "try it" dive. Several that are going are actually certififed and one is a instructor. Since most of us aren't card collectors the non cert issue isn't an issue with us. Since we don't have ice right now nothing has been set but we are looking at the end of January.

[nescubasteve]

Haven't done ice diving yet. Plan on going out to Okoboji in January. Not so much thrilled with the concept of diving under ice as I am with the concept of continuing to dive throughout the winter. That's what drysuits are for anyways, right?

Terry, did you go out with Husker Divers? I was thinking about going, but didn't call the store in time to see where they were headed. I assume you went to Bassways?

Just got back from volunteer diving at Henry Doorly Zoo in the penguin tank. A brisk 41 degress for a 39 minute dive. Always a blast, though...

Steve

[Wkndbum]

Haven't done ice diving yet. Plan on going out to Okoboji in January. Not so much thrilled with the concept of diving under ice as I am with the concept of continuing to dive throughout the winter. That's what drysuits are for anyways, right?

Terry, did you go out with Husker Divers? I was thinking about going, but didn't call the store in time to see where they were headed. I assume you went to Bassways?

Just got back from volunteer diving at Henry Doorly Zoo in the penguin tank. A brisk 41 degress for a 39 minute dive. Always a blast, though...

Steve
Yea, went with Husker Divers, they started a "Polar Bear" club, dive a local lake at least once a month Dec thru Apr & get a "Polar Bear" shirt they designed. We dove a private sand pit just east of the "Arch" on the North side of the interstate. They are doing an "Ice Diving" speciality there Jan 7 & 8.

I'm thinking about going with Heartland for the Jan Okoboji trip in Jan but I'm also thinking for about the same $ I could drive to Table Rock, do a cold water dive & not be hooked up to a rope.

Terry

[Steve]

I am Ice Diver certified, it was a requirement for me to be on the County Sheriff Search and Rescue team. I did mine with my 6.5 wetsuit while a lot of the other guys used a drysuit. I brought along a thermos of very warm water to dump into my suit just prior to getting into the water. I was of the opinion my body wouldn't have to use up energy heating up the water if it was already pre-warmed.

[ppo2_diver]

I know that Haigh Quarry will only be open for one weekend in February for ice diving. I believe it is Feb 18 & 19. I don't know of any other places in the Chicago area that open for ice diving. In the past, I've had to tag along with fire departments during their training/practice. Mostly in Wisconsin and a few retention ponds in the Chicago suburbs.

I'm always up for an ice dive if I can get it. BTW, I also can teach recreational ice diving.

Duane