The Balmy Baltics! Ice-Diving!

[sibermike7]

This year the weather has been cooperative and the ice has thickened up enough to be used for diving. The ice yesterday was close to a foot thick. There is an amazing amount of work entailed in preparing a dive site for ice-diving. It took us about 2 hours' work to prepare for 30 minutes of diving! Here are some photos to show some of the steps necessary to prepare the ice.

 

[sibermike7]

After about 2 hours, we were ready to enter the water! We only had 2 teams that were able to dive with an additional diver per team. Included was a picnic AND a nap of course!

 

[pidgiepoo]

You've got to be kidding!!!! Brrrrrr. Haven't you ever heard of the Caribbean??
Actually I have the upmost respect for you and your dive buddies who were able to tolerate that water for 30 minutes.I would have had hypothermia by the time the dive site was ready.
It's 30 degrees in Ohio right now and wouldn't dare go outside without a heavy coat..you, however, would probably do well in a tank top!
Kudos to you ! and thanks for the great pics.

 

[sibermike7]

You've got to be kidding!!!! Brrrrrr. Haven't you ever heard of the Caribbean??
Actually I have the upmost respect for you and your dive buddies who were able to tolerate that water for 30 minutes.I would have had hypothermia by the time the dive site was ready.
It's 30 degrees in Ohio right now and wouldn't dare go outside without a heavy coat..you, however, would probably do well in a tank top!
Kudos to you ! and thanks for the great pics.

We really did have a GREAT time!

 

[DivingDogDoc]

I think you may have a stronger will to dive than I do, but if that were the only way i could dive, I might be out there with you

 

[sibermike7]

I think you may have a stronger will to dive than I do, but if that were the only way i could dive, I might be out there with you

That's it exactly. I would LOVE to dive in warm, pristine water teeming with fish, but you take what you can get!

Because of the water temp, the visibility was GREAT. you could look up and see the pattern that we had shovel on the ice and it was 200' in diameter! Looked like a big wagon wheel. You could also see the people on the ice. pretty neat.

We are going again next Saturday since the area is already prepped.

 

[Belmont]

Thanks for the pictures. Also, your avatar is very funny. Us, northern people we have to be built strong, GRRRR:shocked2:

Can you give us the water and air temperature?
What was the location, near what city/town.
How deep was it there?
In Montreal this week we have had -20C for five days.

 

[sibermike7]

Thanks for the pictures. Also, your avatar is very funny. Us, northern people we have to be built strong, GRRRR:shocked2:

Can you give us the water and air temperature?
What was the location, near what city/town.
How deep was it there?
In Montreal this week we have had -20C for five days.

It was a very warm day until the wind kicked up. Even then I was plenty warm. Air temp was -4 and water was between 1-2.
Location Tallinn, Estonia. Depth was 10 meters though my computer gave me my average of 8.1. The great thing about ice-diving is that the water doesn't get any colder than that (well, a few more degrees in salt). As long as you're careful on your SI, then it is awesome.

We were diving Poseidon Jetstreams and the only problem we had was with the masks freezing up when we surfaced.

I think the most amazing thing to me was how well we could see. it was a very overcast day (that was why it was so warm) yet we could see great.

 

[deepstops]

Good Stuff Mike

Are you still coming to warm and sunny Florida in May?? We're always happy to show-off our local diving

 

[sibermike7]

Good Stuff Mike

Are you still coming to warm and sunny Florida in May?? We're always happy to show-off our local diving

I'll be there in MARCH!!
I have to travel SOOOO light because of European airline restrictions. Can I rent everything there?