Arctic Kingdom :: Ice Dive, Arctic Diving

ICE DIVING COURSE

OVERVIEW
The Ice Diver course provides an introduction to the specialized equipment, skills and knowledge necessary to dive safely under the ice. Descending below the crystalline surface to the world beneath the polar ice is a magical experience. Superior underwater visibility and dramatic lighting combine to create the best photographic conditions of the year. The ice glows as sunlight filters through in many shades of aqua blue. Fish, their metabolisms slowed by the polar waters, swim unhurriedly by. Diving beneath the ice is an unforgettable experience for any diver interested in savoring the undersea experience year-round.

Course Highlights
Wall dives, shipwrecks, land fast ice, stationary pack ice, drift ice, pressure cracks/ridges and more depending on ice conditions. Every day the ice can change!

Introduction to:

Dive Site Preparation
Diving on a line
Surface Tending
Emergency Scenarios
Hypothermia
Lost Diver

Prerequisites
Divers must hold an advanced diver certification card. Certification or equivalent experience for Drysuit Diving is highly recommended but not required.

Course Format
The Ice Diver Course is taught over four days in a daily mini-expedition style format. With our experienced Arctic diving instructors, students travel via airboat over ice or open water to reach the ice dive location. Although only three ice dives are required to earn an Ice Diver certification, we normally will plan for each person to do four to five ice dives, or as many as conditions permit. Discussions of techniques and best practices are held on Day 1, followed by practical ice diving sessions Day 2 through 4. It is recommended that each student purchase and have read a short book on ice diving prior to the course. To provide the personal touch and best possible instruction, maximum divers in a course program is set at 8.


ICE DIVING EXPERTS Drawing upon decades of experience on and beneath the Arctic ice, Arctic Kingdom is able to provide training that replicates the Arctic diving experience in a region much closer to home.The Arctic is home to a variety of conditions, from drifting pack ice to massive icebergs and huge pressure cracks. In Ontario's 1000 Islands, we have chosen a location with ice conditions similar to the Arctic, offering a wide range of training scenarios. Using our state-of-the-art airboat, you will be able to experience ice that has never been accessed before, safely and reliably.
Contact us at +1 (416) 322-7066 or at

PACKAGE COMPARISON	2 DAYS	7 DAYS
Price	$590 (CAD$) from Thousand Islands Ice Dive Facility (+13%HST)	$2,499 (CAD$) from Ottawa, Canada $2,200 if drive to facility (+13%HST)
2011 Dates	Jan 22 - 23 Feb 19 - 20 Feb 26 - 27	Jan 29 - Feb 4 Feb 5 - 11
Location	1000 Islands, Canada	1000 Islands, Canada
Transportation	Airboat / Ground	Airboat / Ground
Itinerary	DAY 1 - A morning and afternoon ice dive using the Arctic Kingdom air boats and/or snowmobiles. First dive is usually cutting a hole and walking through ice dive safety techniques. (-/-/-) DAY 2 - A morning and afternoon dive accessing various dive locations and building on the knowledge of the previous days ice dives. Complete course requirements and paperwork for certification. (-/-/-)	DAY 1 - Arrival in Ottawa International Airport. Overnight in the beautiful capital city of Ottawa. (-/-/-) DAY 2 - Morning transit to Arctic Kingdoms ice Dive facility in the Thousand Islands regions. Travel time is approximately 1 hour. Afternoon theory and practical information session. (B/L/D) DAY 3 - A morning and afternoon ice dive using the Arctic Kingdom air boat and/or snowmobiles. First dive is usually cutting a hole and walking through ice dive safety techniques. (B/L/D) DAY 4 - A morning and afternoon dive accessing various dive locations and building on the knowledge of the previous days ice dives. (B/L/D) DAY 5 - A morning and afternoon dive accessing various dive locations and building on the knowledge of the previous days ice dives. (B/L/D) DAY 6 - Morning dive followed by a debrief session. Transit to Ottawa hotel. (B/L/-) DAY 7 - Depart Ottawa for home destination. (-/-/-)
Included Services	Ice Diver Course by top Arctic diving instructors - Ice Certification Up to 5 dives from Air boats and/or snowmobiles. Dive Equipment - all tanks, pony bottles and weights, air fills	2 Nights Accommodation In Ottawa 3 Nights Accommodation in Thousand Islands region Airport transfers to and from Ottawa hotel Ice Diver Course by top Arctic diving instructors - Ice Certification Up to 5 dives from Air boats and/or snowmobiles. Dive Equipment - all tanks, pony bottles and weights, air fills
Not Included	Accommodations Meals Transportation to training facility All other dive equipment (drysuit, regs, etc) Arctic Kingdom offers ice diving equipment for rent or purchase	Airfare from to/from home and Ottawa