Ice Diving

[Cut throat Jake]

Trying to get a few for an ice dive, maybe even a night dive under ice?
Please get incontact ASAP before the ice goes.
I have a quarry in mind near Ferrybridge, exellent viz 6m very easy access.
Would like some divers for surface support.

[andy2tanx]

You know I'll go if I'm not working don't you?

[Cut throat Jake]

Course I know that shipmate! Read this
Ice diving is an overhead obstructed environment in it's most severe form
In ten feet of water or more of depth the diver will not be able to break out or dig out through ice only 1 1/2 to 2" thick
At depth the diver will encounter total darkness,the dive will be completely equipment dependent,and there is no room for any errors and little for equipment failures.
The tender will literally hold your life in his hands
A backup diver and tender must be in place, and a 90 percent diver ready to go
The emergency procedures plan must be in place,and the proper training recieved and practiced

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Equipment

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The diver and tender must be properly equipped for the dive
The tender must have a PFD,warm clothing,gloves,and ice creepers or clamp-ons.He will need a tether line in a dry bag,a safety harness with quick release strap,and ice screws.He must be trained in the proper signals as he is the divers lifeline
The diver must be properly equipped with a drysuit,harness with locking carabiner,pony bottle,and spare mask if he is diving full face.He will need at least two cutting tools at chest height,and dive shears. He will be leaving off the snorkel,and octopus regulator
The backup diver and tender will also be in place and the 90 percent diver standing by in a warm environment ready to go

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The Ice Dive
A triangle will be cut into the ice a 10'x10'x10' is ideal
The divers blood pressure will be taken,to determine if he is fit for the strenuous activity ahead
The tender will help the diver dress,placing the depth and air gauge underneath the left armhole of the bc ,duct taping the divers fin straps,and taping the locked and inverted carabiner to the divers chest harness located under his BC.They will be inspected by the Dive Commander for proper equipment ,then the diver will crawl out to the hole,tethered to the tender who should be several feet away
The backup diver and tender will do same
Once at the hole the tender will place an ice screw into the ice,lock the rope,into the screw with a locking carabiner and himself to the screw via a quick release strap,locked to his harness
The diver will place his exposed face into the water and blow bubbles to prevent shock upon entering the water
The diver will enter the water and make a feet down drop to depth planned
He will follow the tenders signal to complete the mission at hand
At no time will the regulator be allowed out of the water to prevent freeze-up
The maximum distance out on the marked line (every 5ft) will be 100 ft
EMERGENCY PROCEDURE
In the event of an emergency signal the signal request will be followed,if a backup diver was requested,he will enter the water clipped to the other divers line via strap,and attached to his own tether line
He will locate the primary diver and assist.He may be required to supply the other diver with an independent air source
The 90 percent diver will be brought out and and prepare for immediate entry
In the event the primary diver becomes disconnected from his tether ,he will immediatly come up underneath the ice shelf,and remain there until his tank reaches 500 lbs at that time he will drop his weight belt,and prepare to switch to his pony bottle
At no time should he deviate from this procedure
The backup diver will swim out 50ft past the last known location of the diver and begin a sweep at the ice shelf to snag the troubled diver

[Jay]

Ok - if I can, I'm in too.

Regards

[Hobby]

Hi Jake,have just registered and am unsure if it's worked ok!Glad to see you're utilising proper procedures frem PSD's.Am doing a lecture tonight on Ice diving and O/H environments,kit used,different configs. and how they came about.I mentioned it to Andy but he's working,you're welcome to come along if you're interested,in fact anyone is.Cheers.