Ice Diving

Course Aims

The main aims of the course are to give divers the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge so that in static, non-tidal water conditions they can:

• Dive under ice;
• Act as dive tender;
• Act as rescue diver;
• Plan and manage such ice dives.

Instructors

The chief instructor is to be a BSAC Open Water Instructor or above who is also a BSAC approved Ice Diving Course Manager. All other Ice Diving Instructors are to be Open Water Instructors or above with attendance at an Ice Diving Course.

(Theory Instructor is satisfactory for all theory instruction. Practical Instructor is satisfactory for all dry and wet practical instruction.)

Ice Diving Course Manager status is authorised by any approved Ice Diving Course Manager, based upon satisfactory attendance at an Ice Diving Course providing adequate ice diving experience (see note).

Maximum instructor to student ratios should be 1:12 for theory sessions and 1:4 for dry practical sessions.

For wet practical sessions two instructors are required for each ice diving group. In water the maximum ratio is 2:1. An instructor is to be present above water throughout.

Note: Experience of the procedures, skills and techniques diving from the ice surface is required to attain Ice Diving Course Manager status.

Instructors with experience of ice diving may apply to headquarters for approval as an Ice Diving
Instructor or Course Manager based upon experience.

Facilities and Equipment

Adequate classroom with teaching aids for theory lessons. An area of suitable site is required for the dry practical session, whenever possible this should be in a sheltered environment.

For all open water sessions, an area of non-tidal non-flowing water is essential. Dive 1 is preferably with a clear surface. All other dives require a location with ice cover i.e. no clear surface.

An Ice Diving student notes pack must be supplied to each student along with a logbook qualification endorsement upon completion of the course.

For a full list of the required personal equipment, and course and rescue equipment see appendix.

Course Programme

This course is intended as a concurrent two-day event. All theory sessions must be completed before any of the practical sessions, dry or wet. If the practical sessions are not completed concurrently then a recap practical session is recommended to reestablish skills and techniques.

Day One

• Arrangements and Introductions 15min
• Introduction 15min
• Features of Ice Diving 20min
• The Effects of Cold on the Body 30min)
• Ice-diving Equipment 30min
• Ice-diving Procedures and Techniques 40min
• Rescue Procedures and Techniques 20min
• Dry Practical 60min
• Dive One 150min

Day Two

• Dives Two and Three 360min
• Dive Debrief 20min
• Course Debrief and Open Forum 15min