Would you like to experience the unique feeling of diving under ice?
The BSAC Ice Diving course gives you the opportunity to take the plunge and do at least two ice dives.
The Ice Diving course introduces a qualified club diver to diving in cold water with no clear surface. You will learn how an ice-diving team works, how divers using a lifeline communicate with the surface, and how to prepare and use the equipment needed to dive in this challenging environment.
To enrol on the Ice Diving course you must have already successfully completed a BSAC Sport Diver course (or have equivalent certification from another recognised training agency) and have completed dives in cold water (less than 10ºC) that involved using a full suit, hood and gloves.
You should also have ten or more logged dives as a Sport Diver.
The two-day Ice Diving course will teach you how to plan and carry out a dive under the ice as part of an ice-diving team. You will learn how to act as a dive tender and rescue diver, as well as a diver under the ice.
The five theory sessions and one dry practical session will introduce you to all the knowledge and skills that you need, including:
- Physiological effects of cold
- Ice-diving equipment and practical ice-diving techniques, including site preparation and roped-diver operations
- Rescue procedures and skills
You have plenty of in-water time with experienced instructors to practise the skills and discipline needed for ice diving.
This is a continually assessed course during which students’ performance will be monitored against the required performance standards.
A BSAC Ice Diver is recognised as competent to plan and safely conduct dives under ice in static, non-tidal water conditions, within the limits (including depth and breathing gases) of their diver certification.
Clearly there are limited locations where this course can take place! To find out about upcoming courses contact BSAC by calling 0151 350 6203 or email us.
Not a BSAC member? You can do this course by joining BSAC directly or joining via a local club. Find a club.
Students will be given a pack of supporting learning materials. You will also need full open-water dive kit suitable for cold-water conditions including appropriate thermal protection (full suit, hood and gloves) and regulators that confirm to the EN250 Cold Water standard. The specialist surface equipment needed to carry out ice diving will be provided for the team.
Your next steps – developing your skills
After completing the Ice Diving course, you will be better prepared for cold-water diving in general, including further opportunities to dive under ice.
You could develop specific skills to expand your diving interests further. Imagine understanding more about wreck diving, driving a dive boat or becoming an underwater photographer. Check out the Skill Development Courses (SDCs) you can get involved in.
Or you could progress your diver grade training.
Thinking about becoming an instructor, or wanting to improve your instructing skills? The BSAC Instructor Training Scheme has a course for you.
You could sign up for BSAC’s Instructor Foundation Course (IFC) to become an Assistant Diving Instructor, or develop your existing skills as an Open Water Instructor and become a Marine Life Appreciation instructor.
Not yet a BSAC member?
You can do this course by joining BSAC directly or joining your local club.
If you need a hand send your postcode to hello@bsac.com and we'll help you find the right scuba club for you. Or if you fancy a chat call us 0151 350 6226 (Mon - Fri, 9 - 5:30).
