Ice Diving

[Omicron]

It made for an interesting dive, that's for sure.


mndiver - as far as how it goes.  Don't drop your reel, is essentially the deal.  And honestly, if you drop your reel on an average ice dive...how far is it going to drop?  Swim back down and pick it back up.  It's a risk that is within my personal comfort level.  You don't swim through a cave holding onto the line either - and while some of the tunnels are tube-like, they come in a myriad of shapes that's never conducive to just turning around and heading back out the way you came.

A lot of the things you learn in cave training wouldn't be needed under the ice...  lost line drills, lights out drills, etc.  Ice diving is a lot simpler in my mind - hold onto the reel, and swim.  When you are done, reel back up   Siltouts aren't a concern - just swim away.  Lights aren't a concern - you dive during the day.  Out of air w/ a ceiling isn't a concern - you are just about in open water.  If you have a partner, share air and head up.  If not, you could even pull a CESA by just swimming up your line.  Lost line...kind of a concern - but that one is more personal risk acceptance I think. 

A big thing with the ropes ice diving is to make sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the diver is not going to lose their way back, they can be pulled back in, and they can be rescued.  I can see the point of it, to an extent.  It feels a little babysitterish to me, but that's just me.  If that's what I gotta do to ice dive with a group, that's what I'll do.  I enjoy hanging out on the ice all day with a fun group to miss out, just because I wanted to use a reel

If you have anymore questions, fire away.  I've been thinking about this for awhile and it's neat to know a few others were too...  I know a few divers that do this actually, and that's kinda what got me thinking about it.