Ice Diving Operations
© Dive Rescue International, Inc. 2008
Schedule
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Morning: Lecture Afternoon: Pool Skills
Diving Emergency Procedures
Skills Test Written Test
Objectives
Divers become well versed in the knowledge and skills necessary to safely perform underwater operations below solid ice.
Identify knowledge related to command and control.
Establish the psychological effects of diving in an overhead environment .
Execute the precautions necessary for safe diving in overhead environment.
Perform lost diver procedure under the ice.
Overview
Psychological Aspects Special Equipment Equipment Problems Unique to ICE Diving Environmental Conditions Usually Associated
with ICE Diving Emergency Procedures Ice diving Techniques
Public Safety Dive operations, statistically is one of the most dangerous jobs performed by
public safety personnel.
The information and skills provided over the next three days help reduce risks, ultimately it
is up to you to continue your education and practical skills.
Psychological Effects of Diving Under Solid Ice
How Do You Cope With Fear of the Unknown?
Trust in your tenders. Trust in your
equipment. Trust in your safety
diver. Trust in yourself. How do your SOP’s
come into play with trust?
Psychological Effect of Cold
Exposure to Cold Water
Exposure to Cold Weather
Special Equipment
Dry Suits Full Face Mask Chest Harness Pony Bottles Surface Supplied Air
Ice Rescue Suits Warm Water Warming Tents Ice Auger Chainsaw
Equipment Problems Unique to Ice Diving
Free-Flows Fogging Hose Connections Freezing Equipment Becoming Brittle
Environmental Considerations Unique to Ice Diving
Temperature Wind/Wind Chill Wet
Temperature
Hypothermia Cold Stress Frost Bite Other Effects Of
Excessive Cold Rapid Heart Rate Breathing a lot
(hyperventilation)
Wind
Wind Chill Factor Greater wind speed, greater loss of body heat
Snow Blindness Inflammation and sensitivity of the eyes caused
by ultraviolet rays of the sun reflected by the snow or ice
Wet
Feet: Water Proof Boots Required Hands: Water Proof Gloves Required
You Can’t Park That There!
Equipment - Divers
Dry Suit w/ Power Inflator
Full Face Mask w/ Communications
B/C w/ Power Inflator SPG (mandatory) Depth Gauge Compass Timing Device
Equipment - Divers
Underwater Light 80 cu. ft. tank (min) Regulators That Are
Environmentally Packed/Sealed
Totally Redundant Air Supply
Chest Harness w/Locking Carabiner (mandatory)
Equipment - Divers
Two Cutting Tools Surface Supplied Air
Source Would Be Optimal
Equipment - Tenders
Warm Clothing (Layered)
Hood or Hat Face Protection Sun Glasses Insulated &
Waterproof Boots Waterproof Gloves Snow Fence/Pallet
Equipment - Tenders
Ice Rescue Suits for Personnel Cutting Hole
Ice Crampons for Personnel on the Ice
Communication Equipment
Warm Water First Aid Equipment
Drown Proof Your Team Members
PFD’s Within 25’ of the Water
Maintain Good Footing Around the Hole Crampons Cinders and Sand Snow Fencing
Self Rescue Techniques Ice Awls
Ice Strength Guidelines
Thin Ice Maximum Load
2 inches One Person Walking
4 inches One Person Fishing/ Group Walking
5 inches Snowmobile
8 inches Car
12 inches
Light truck
P = 50 T2 P = Load Bearing
Capacity T = Ice Thickness
Review of IceWhich is Strongest??
Clear Ice
Snow Ice
Candled Ice
Frazil Ice
Clear Ice
Strongest Ice Formation – Long
Hard Freeze
Snow Ice
Opaque or Milky Porous and Very
Weak Formation – Snow
Frozen on an Ice Sheet
Candled Ice
Milky with Crystalline Borders
Deteriorated Clear Ice
Unable to Support Weight
Frazil Ice
Forms in Turbulent Water
Thin Film that Floats on the Water Surface
BREAK
Overview of Planning Risk vs. Benefit
Size up task or reason for diving
Evaluate dive site Evaluate
environmental conditions
Selection of equipment
Selection of personnel
Planning
Job Assignments Fulfillment of Safety
Guidelines and SOP’s
Team Briefing
Survey of the Task… Why?Risk vs.. Benefit
Training Rescue Recovery
Chain of Events
Analyze the events and actions that have lead to the need for a Risk/Benefit Analysis.
Ask the question is there an event or action in the past that would create risk for this dive?
Environmental Considerations
Ice Thickness Depth of Water Surface
Temperature Wind Speed (Wind
Chill) Underwater Visibility Air Under the Ice
Open water
Wind direction when divers started Wind direction
shifted
Ice Shelf Moved With the Wind
Environmental Considerations?
Selection and Preparation of Equipment
Annual Inspection Moisture Free Air Dry Regulator Environmental Package Keep Equipment Warm Inhalation from Regulator Above Surface in
Extremely Cold Surface Temps… Free Flow
Job Assignments
Divers Tenders Support Personnel
Command Staff ALS Personnel
Operational Safety
Equipment ICE Personnel Emergency
procedures
Radio Channel Pre-Dive Briefing Stay Focused Post Dive Briefing
Incident Command Organization
Designated IC Operations Officer Safety Officer Medical Officer
Dive Team Make-up
Five Personnel Primary Diver Safety Diver 90% Diver (Tent) Tenders Incident
Commander (IC)
Tenders
Focused and Keep Divers Focused
Responsible for their assigned diver from their pre-dive check to their post-dive check. (Neuros)
Dressing Equipment Checks Entry and Exit Assistance
Tenders
Monitoring the Divers Air Consumption (100 PSI per minute @ 18-21 resp. per min)
Communication with Diver
Monitoring the Divers Search Pattern
Tenders Need Monitored for Protection from Elements
Support Personnel
Diver and Tender Assistance
Record Keeping (scribe)
Equipment Handling
Why Perform a Rapid FieldNeurological Exam?
It documents trouble free dives. It determines the extent of nervous system
involvement in the diver who is experiencing a problem.
It promotes early treatment by detecting symptoms promptly.
It determines how well the diver is responding to treatment (baseline).
Rapid Field Neuro Exam Evaluates:
Mental Status Sensations Muscle Tone Balance &
Coordination
Cranial Nerves Speech Sight Eye Movement Facial Movements/
Sensations Head & Shoulder
Movement Hearing
When to Perform a Rapid Field Neuro Exam
Before and After Every Dive Whenever a Diver Experiences Pain,
Discomfort, Alterations in Body Sensations or Function, or any Unusual Difficulties After Diving (within 24 hours)
During the Treatment & Transportation of an Injured Diver
BREAK
Dive Site
Shore/Ice Based Transportation Entry/Exit Points
Entry Point (Hole)
Triangle 10 ft. Sides Ice Auger &
Measure Depth Support Personnel
Cut
Angle your cuts so the ice block slides under easier.
Ice Block
Site Preparation
Cutting Hole
Mark Sides with ¼” to ½” Cuts
Continue to Cut Deeper
Stand Outside of Triangle
Auger Hole 1 ft. from Sides Near Corner
Cut Through to Water on Last Cut
100 Feet
50 Feet20 Feet
Ice Hole
Snow cleared on circular paths
Snow cleared on paths, arrows
Point toward the direction of the hole
Training Site Selection
Look Up!
Hole Safety
Footing Material Around Hole
Stow Plug Under Ice Replace Plug When
Finished Make Dive Site Safe
When Finished
Types of Safety Line
Water Rescue Rope Underwater
Communication Line 3/8 inch comm. Rope
(5,000 lb Tensile Strength)
8 mm comm. rope (3,150 lb Tensile
Strength)
Attach Through Ice
Securing Safety Line
Ice screws
Securing Bar
Safety Line Attachment1. In-Line Figure 8 Knot attaches to divers
chest harness with locking carabineer.2. Arm length out, a second In-Line Figure 8
Knot is tied into the line for a hand hold (loop must be directional towards diver).
Diver Safety
Chest harnesses must be worn by each diver.
Safety line/comm. line must be attached with locking carabineer to diver.
Line Signals
Tender to Diver 1 Tug = Are You Okay? 2 Tugs = Stop, Change Direction, Take Out
Line 3 Tugs = Come to the Surface 4 Tugs = Stop, Danger, Stay Down, Don’t
Move
Line Signals
Diver to Tender 1 Tug = I Am Okay 2 Tugs = I See Object….Need More Line 3 Tugs = I Have Found Object 4 Tugs = HELP NOW !!!!
One Diver Down With a Backup Diver vs.. Two Divers Down
Primary Diver Covers More Ground Better Air Consumption Easier to Manage
Safety Diver Stronger Skilled Diver/Best Problem Solver Fully Suited Ready to Go
Sweep and Circular Patterns
Search
Swivel
ICE ICE
Swivel
Under the Ice
Descend to Working Depth
Begin Search Pattern
Keep Light Tension on the Safety Line
Keep Hand Contact with the Safety Line
Answer All Signals
Under the Ice
Buoyancy Control Monitor Air & Time Know Your
Limitations Know When to
Terminate the Dive Self-Discipline is the
Key to SAFETY
Lateral Distance Formula
S = D2 + L2
S = Length of Line
D = Depth
L = Lateral Distance
S D
L
Limit Ice Diving Penetration to
50 Lateral Feet!!
Under Ice Emergency
Know Your Emergency Procedures
Lost Diver
Stop, look, wait for one minute and begin safe ascent to surface.
Look for light from hole or spokes. Look up for underside of ice. Be vertical and keep one hand on underside
of ice, wait for safety diver or safety divers line.
Be alert for sight or feel of line.
Lost Diver
Stay calm, Relax, Control your breathing, Monitor your SPG. Prepare yourself to remove your full face mask and go to your pony, if available.
When your SPG reads 500 PSI in your main tank, Inflate your B/C and Release, Strip and Ditch your weight belt.
Lost Diver
When safety line is located signal 3 pulls in both directions.
Hold onto line, the tender will pull you in.
DO NOT attempt to chop hole in ice with your dive knife. This only consumes O2.
Lost Diver - Tenders
Mark line when you no longer feel diver. This sets an approximate distance out.
Notify Incident Commander (IC) and Backup diver.
Place marker at the location tender is standing and at location on opposite side of hole in the direction the lost diver was traveling.
Lost Diver - Tenders
Deploy backup diver 30 degrees to the left & 30 feet past that of the lost divers last known position (30/30 rule).
Backup diver swims in a circular search pattern close to the underside of the ice.
When backup diver is deployed the 90% diver moves to the backup position.
Lost Diver - Safety Diver
Backup diver holds rope in right hand. Backup diver ensures good tension . Backup diver swims away from the rope. Backup Diver begins right hand search upon
rope becoming taught. Backup divers right arm should be at a 45° to
compensate for weaknesses while swimming.
Lost Diver - Support
Assist backup diver into water.
Assist returning divers as needed.
Everyone should focus on the rescue.
ALS Personnel should standby to receive the divers.
Lost Diver - 90% Diver’s Role
Don’t Become a Statistic!
Risk / Benefit
Summary
Psychological Effects of Diving Under the Ice Equipment Selection Personnel Safety Emergency Procedures
Have Fun and Be SAFE!!Questions?