Procedures and Precautions
- A snow shovel is used to clear the snow and ice from the area.
- An ice saw or a chain saw is used to cut a hole in the ice.
- A weatherproof area is used for the divers to suit up.
- The diver and tender on the surface are connected by a rope and harness. The harness is typically put on over the dry suit but under the BC or other buoyancy device so that the diver remains tethered even if he or she must remove the air cylinder or buoyancy control device. The harness fits over the shoulders and around the back such that the tender on the surface can, in an emergency, haul an unconscious diver back to the hole. The harness should not be able to slide up the diver's torso when pulled.
- Rope signals or voice communications systems must be used.
- A roped standby diver is ready on the surface.
- One or two divers may dive at the same time from the same hole, each with his or her own rope. Using two ropes runs little risk of getting tangled together, but using three significantly increases this risk.
- If the regulator free-flows and freezes, the diver should close it down and switch to the backup, and terminate the dive.
- When diving in pack ice, the surface team must constantly monitor ice movement to ensure that the exit is not comromised.
- The diver must ensure that there is always a positive indication of the route to the exit area. A tether to a surface tender is usually preferable as it can be used to communicate, but if this is not practicable a reel and distance line is an alternative.
- The risk of attack by predators should be considered. Polar bear and leopard seal may be hazards in some areas.
- Gas management for an overhead environment is appropriate.
- Deployment of a single tethered scuba diver is a reasonable and safe alternative to free-swimming buddy team diving. The tethered scuba diver is equipped with a full-face mask with voice communications, high capacity scuba air supply, and an independent emergency air supply. A lifeline with communications cable is secured to a body harness on the diver and is handled by a surface tender who is in constant voice communication with the diver. A similarly equipped standby diver is available on the surface.
Read more about this topic: Ice Diving
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