Ice Diving - Tips?

[lowviz]

...//... Certainly was a lot of fun. Next year as a non student, I'm bringing my hockey stick and a puck.

Bring a puck that floats.

Beautiful ice! Looks to be rather clear and hard. How did you get through 3' of it? how long was the chainsaw bar? Was the chain modified? Did you piece it out or cut steps first? That looks like way too much to deal with in one piece.

Ice bit you too, you'll be back...

 

[rhwestfall]

That opening looks ginormous! Coupled with the thickness, no wonder it took so long. Glad you had a good time!

 

[JBFG]

5ft vis is pretty good for Clear Lake though Glad you had fun!

I'll take your word for it. 1st time diving there!
Are you from around there too?

 

[JBFG]

Bring a puck that floats.

Beautiful ice! Looks to be rather clear and hard. How did you get through 3' of it? how long was the chainsaw bar? Was the chain modified? Did you piece it out or cut steps first? That looks like way too much to deal with in one piece.

Ice bit you too, you'll be back...

The chainsaw has a 36" blade. Just made it!!
We ended up cutting the hole 10x10x10 for 3 divers. When it came time to push the block under we quickly realized that we would have to chip the corner off. So a few chunks but mostly 1 big piece. The shelf on the left was different. That one we chipped. It was a great idea that made getting in and out soooooo much easier

 

[BreeAbyss]

I'll take your word for it. 1st time diving there!
Are you from around there too?

I live outside of Calgary but I've done the pumpkin dive there a couple times, a really great event! It's my favourite pumpkin dive, really well organized. I had to be touching my buddy to know where he was, it was that murky. Probably because a lot of divers were in the water but it was the worst vis I've ever had lol Hard to carve a pumpkin

 

[JBFG]

Haha I bet. Can't wait to do that this fall!

We had to be real close under the ice as well. You could barely see you buddy. Totally reliant on the rope for signals.

The water was a balmy 3C

 

[lowviz]

@racanichou, endless thanks for starting this thread. I would have missed out on both ice and a fun adventure in the great white north if it weren't for you!

 

[JBFG]

And thanx to all of you for great advises!

I had 0 gear issues or any problems for that matter. Well except for the fact that the dives had to end.

To to go and brag at work now."What did you do this weekend?" Nothing special

 

[abnfrog]

wow that hole is huge ! im glad you had a good instructor (I could tell by him wanting you to focus on line awareness etc ) and you had a blast .... yeah air temp has a huge effect on gear freezes ....the more you ice dive the more fun your going to have and a big CONGRATS on your cert !!!!! (your now one of the crazies OR hard water divers depending on your point of view !!!!!!!!!!!..............steve

 

[JBFG]

wow that hole is huge ! im glad you had a good instructor (I could tell by him wanting you to focus on line awareness etc ) and you had a blast .... yeah air temp has a huge effect on gear freezes ....the more you ice dive the more fun your going to have and a big CONGRATS on your cert !!!!! (your now one of the crazies OR hard water divers depending on your point of view !!!!!!!!!!!..............steve

I can't wait to see the face of the DM in Greece this summer when I drop my ice card on his front counter!