Global warming is a huge concern for all of us at Scuba Divers Travel Network, but we're happy to report that there are still many places around the world where one can enjoy spectacular ice diving. Whether you live in a hot climate and you're looking for a way to beat the heat, or if you simply love all things winter, ice diving is a fantastic experience. You do need some special training to get the most out of your dives, but fear not if you're a novice - there are many places in ice diving country where you can hone your skills while checking some coveted ice dive sites off your bucket list. Brace yourself - it's cold down here!
Russia
In Russia, the ice diving is at its best during the months of February, March, and April. Majestic underwater ice arches, huge hummocks, and cave-like ice cavities formed by the motion of the water as tides continue to move despite the bright white mantle of ice that covers the sea during these cold, dark months. As you'll discover in most ice diving hot spots, underwater visibility tends to be excellent, sometimes extending as far as about 50 meters; and that is great news, because despite winter's chill having locked nature topside into a landscape that appears to have frozen in time, life continues beneath the ice. Prepare to be amazed - brightly colored starfish, sea urchins, anemones, and even shrimp occupy rocky rifts and wrecks, and many fish can be seen going about their business beneath the thick mantle of ice.
In addition, seals, sea birds, and even beluga whales can be encountered on Russian ice dive expeditions; once you're finished, you can warm up with vodka while enjoying a banya (Russian steam bath) and reliving your adventures. Beautiful northern lights illuminate the night, making you forget the cold as you marvel at the majesty of the natural world.
Poland
Poland is a fantastic place to dive any time of year; during the winter though, it is transformed into an icy wonderland where lakes and quarries covered in ice beckon. If you've never been ice diving and you're planning a winter trip to Poland, you're in luck. Local dive shops specialize in diver training, taking care of the hard work of opening an entryway and setting up a warming shack for you. They are well-equipped, offering all the right gear and ensuring you know how to use it properly.
In Poland, ice diving season lasts from about the beginning of December to the end of February. The water is crystal clear, and the average excursion lasts about two hours from start to finish. For what you get, prices are incredibly low!
Antarctica
If you've never thought of Antarctica as a dive destination, think again! The ice diving here is spectacular, whether you simply make your way around the curvaceous contours of caverns formed completely by ice where the ice shelf meets the sea, or if you head beneath the ice itself, an ice diving trip to Antarctica involves encounters with marine life found nowhere else on earth.
During the southern summer, between November and March, birds and mammals are at their most active, and the dive season is in full swing. Crabeater seals give birth in November, phytoplankton blooms, and fish, squid, seals, and whales joined by flocks of noisy seabirds begin to feast. Humpback whales, Southern Right whales, and Minke whales are just a few of the species you're likely to encounter along the way.
Most penguin chicks hatch between the end of December and mid-January; when you're below the surface and you encounter penguins zooming here and there as they hunt fish to feed their young, you will find yourself astonished by their graceful motions and their stunning speed.
By March, temperatures begin to get colder, though they are often just above zero. Leopard seals are out in force hunting for penguin chicks, and pink and green algae blooms cover ice cliffs in some areas. Thinner sea ice takes on incredible patterns and looks spectacular from below, making you forget the cold as you enjoy the sight of the sun's rays streaming through.
To ice dive in Antarctica, you must be properly certified for cold water and dry suit diving. In addition, tour operators normally accept only those divers who are physically fit and well-prepared for the unique challenges ahead.
Canada
Canada offers some unique ice diving opportunities, and if you're new to ice diving, it is a fantastic place to learn safe ice diving practices and to log some outstanding ice dives. Some of the best ice diving in Canada is to be had in the Great Lakes region; you can even combine wreck diving with ice diving, and get a look at some of Canada's most famous shipwrecks with the added benefit of better water clarity due to colder temperatures.
Besides the well-preserved freshwater wrecks, some highlights of Canadian ice diving include the famous "Lost Villages" where you'll see submerged hydroelectric stations and locks, plus adventures beneath the ice covering the St. Lawrence River. Conditions vary annually, however dive operators are very well equipped as well as knowledgeable. Whether you visit Ontario's Thousand Islands, or choose another Canadian ice diving destination, you are certain to be amazed by the experience, which is second only to the ice diving to be had in Russia and the Antarctic.
Switzerland
Mountain lakes covered in brilliant ice beckon; depths are extreme, and temperatures underwater and outside are well below freezing. Welcome to Switzerland, where the ice diving is simply spectacular. Whether you head to Lake Lioson at Les Mosses, or if you dive inside the glacier-bound Sassolo Lake, where incredible tunnels and splendid underwater ice caves make you forget the cold, you are certain to be amazed at what you find in this incredible icy paradise. A good dive computer is a necessity here; most dive sites in Switzerland are at high altitude.
Whether you take the time to travel to Antarctica or to Russia's White Sea, or if you prefer to stick to Canada, Europe, or even a few spots in the northern United States, you'll find that ice diving is incredibly rewarding. The more you do it, the harder it will be to stop, and the better you'll be able to appreciate the differences between "good" ice diving and "great" ice diving. In presenting you with Just Gotta Dive's favorite ice dive locales, we hope we've generated enthusiasm for this often overlooked aspect of our favorite sport. Do yourself a favor - get out there - and ice dive!