I am often asked about ice diving you don’t go diving under the ice do you the
don’t go diving under the ice do you the
don’t go diving under the ice do you the question is kind of posed like you’re
question is kind of posed like you’re
question is kind of posed like you’re nuts are you this 1960s quote from
nuts are you this 1960s quote from
nuts are you this 1960s quote from Jacques Cousteau perfectly describes my
Jacques Cousteau perfectly describes my
Jacques Cousteau perfectly describes my diving experience we all have very busy
diving experience we all have very busy
diving experience we all have very busy lives we are inundated with the
lives we are inundated with the
lives we are inundated with the technologies and additional technologies
technologies and additional technologies
technologies and additional technologies all the time we have just a wealth of
all the time we have just a wealth of
all the time we have just a wealth of information coming to us and with that
information coming to us and with that
information coming to us and with that misinformation most of us also carried
misinformation most of us also carried
misinformation most of us also carried an electronic leash that keeps us on
an electronic leash that keeps us on
an electronic leash that keeps us on schedule
schedule
schedule tells us all of our deadlines and tells
tells us all of our deadlines and tells
tells us all of our deadlines and tells us what all of our friends are doing we
us what all of our friends are doing we
us what all of our friends are doing we need some break from this we need a
need some break from this we need a
need some break from this we need a release from this stress diving for me
release from this stress diving for me
release from this stress diving for me brings a focus some of you may meditate
brings a focus some of you may meditate
brings a focus some of you may meditate may participate in yoga or some other
may participate in yoga or some other
may participate in yoga or some other activity that puts you in that moment
activity that puts you in that moment
activity that puts you in that moment diving does that for me when I go
diving does that for me when I go
diving does that for me when I go underwater it’s like all the stress is
underwater it’s like all the stress is
underwater it’s like all the stress is gone all the weight is gone
gone all the weight is gone
gone all the weight is gone schedules disappear deadlines don’t
schedules disappear deadlines don’t
schedules disappear deadlines don’t exist the only thing I am thinking about
exist the only thing I am thinking about
exist the only thing I am thinking about is my breathing my buoyancy in the water
is my breathing my buoyancy in the water
is my breathing my buoyancy in the water and the anticipation of what I’m going
and the anticipation of what I’m going
and the anticipation of what I’m going to find on this dive this really struck
to find on this dive this really struck
to find on this dive this really struck me one winter dive as diving with a
me one winter dive as diving with a
me one winter dive as diving with a student
student
student and I went into the hole first slid down
and I went into the hole first slid down
and I went into the hole first slid down went underwater and scooted back out of
went underwater and scooted back out of
went underwater and scooted back out of the way and arrested my head on the
the way and arrested my head on the
the way and arrested my head on the bottom of the ice at that moment weeks
bottom of the ice at that moment weeks
bottom of the ice at that moment weeks and months of stress just washed away I
and months of stress just washed away I
and months of stress just washed away I was so calm finally ah so relaxed the
was so calm finally ah so relaxed the
was so calm finally ah so relaxed the being there under the ice being just so
being there under the ice being just so
being there under the ice being just so calm and relaxed is like this is home
calm and relaxed is like this is home
calm and relaxed is like this is home this is where I belong then a smile
this is where I belong then a smile
this is where I belong then a smile comes to my face as I see my students
comes to my face as I see my students
comes to my face as I see my students legs entering the water and dropping
legs entering the water and dropping
legs entering the water and dropping below the layer of the ice and going
below the layer of the ice and going
below the layer of the ice and going this is quite the irony of how
this is quite the irony of how
this is quite the irony of how absolutely comfortable I feel in a place
absolutely comfortable I feel in a place
absolutely comfortable I feel in a place that intimidates if not terrorizes most
that intimidates if not terrorizes most
that intimidates if not terrorizes most of the rest of the world the second
of the rest of the world the second
of the rest of the world the second question I often get is oh isn’t it cold
question I often get is oh isn’t it cold
question I often get is oh isn’t it cold or aren’t you afraid of finding the hole
or aren’t you afraid of finding the hole
or aren’t you afraid of finding the hole again yes the water is cold I don’t like
again yes the water is cold I don’t like
again yes the water is cold I don’t like being cold though there is a lot of
being cold though there is a lot of
being cold though there is a lot of equipment in ice diving I do not have to
equipment in ice diving I do not have to
equipment in ice diving I do not have to be cold to enjoy ice diving and actually
be cold to enjoy ice diving and actually
be cold to enjoy ice diving and actually for a lot of the winter here in northern
for a lot of the winter here in northern
for a lot of the winter here in northern Minnesota the water is significantly
Minnesota the water is significantly
Minnesota the water is significantly warmer than the air although water does
warmer than the air although water does
warmer than the air although water does take heat away from your body
take heat away from your body
take heat away from your body 20 times faster than the air does so we
20 times faster than the air does so we
20 times faster than the air does so we were a drysuit and there’s two parts to
were a drysuit and there’s two parts to
were a drysuit and there’s two parts to address it there’s the shell that keeps
address it there’s the shell that keeps
address it there’s the shell that keeps me dry I the previous picture under the
me dry I the previous picture under the
me dry I the previous picture under the water
water
water I am completely dry I’m not
I am completely dry I’m not
I am completely dry I’m not at all the other layers fleece a fleece
at all the other layers fleece a fleece
at all the other layers fleece a fleece layer underwear underneath that shell
layer underwear underneath that shell
layer underwear underneath that shell provides air space for insulation that
provides air space for insulation that
provides air space for insulation that is what keeps me warm and the fleece is
is what keeps me warm and the fleece is
is what keeps me warm and the fleece is very important because it doesn’t soak
very important because it doesn’t soak
very important because it doesn’t soak up moisture like cotton does from
up moisture like cotton does from
up moisture like cotton does from condensation forming on the suit ice
condensation forming on the suit ice
condensation forming on the suit ice diving as with any overhead environment
diving as with any overhead environment
diving as with any overhead environment diving whether it’s cave diving cavern
diving whether it’s cave diving cavern
diving whether it’s cave diving cavern diving or rec penetration diving has
diving or rec penetration diving has
diving or rec penetration diving has certain safety procedures to follow so I
certain safety procedures to follow so I
certain safety procedures to follow so I can find my way back out of these four
can find my way back out of these four
can find my way back out of these four ice diving I maintain contact with the
ice diving I maintain contact with the
ice diving I maintain contact with the surface by use of a rope a surface
surface by use of a rope a surface
surface by use of a rope a surface support personnel a tender is assigned
support personnel a tender is assigned
support personnel a tender is assigned to every diver and we use a rope to
to every diver and we use a rope to
to every diver and we use a rope to communicate and know a way out now the
communicate and know a way out now the
communicate and know a way out now the rope the tender one thing that my tender
rope the tender one thing that my tender
rope the tender one thing that my tender learns is how to keep tension on the
learns is how to keep tension on the
learns is how to keep tension on the rope so we can use this and not get
rope so we can use this and not get
rope so we can use this and not get entangled and this is also used as a
entangled and this is also used as a
entangled and this is also used as a communication tool
communication tool
communication tool my tender can give one pull on the rope
my tender can give one pull on the rope
my tender can give one pull on the rope which is asking if I’m okay and I don’t
which is asking if I’m okay and I don’t
which is asking if I’m okay and I don’t want to make sure I want to make sure
want to make sure I want to make sure
want to make sure I want to make sure that I’m not going to confuse signals I
that I’m not going to confuse signals I
that I’m not going to confuse signals I give one pull back after a little delay
give one pull back after a little delay
give one pull back after a little delay and then my tender takes the slack back
and then my tender takes the slack back
and then my tender takes the slack back up and the tender will give me two pulls
up and the tender will give me two pulls
up and the tender will give me two pulls on the rope that’s telling me I’m as far
on the rope that’s telling me I’m as far
on the rope that’s telling me I’m as far away from the hole as she has roped so I
away from the hole as she has roped so I
away from the hole as she has roped so I acknowledge back one pole that I need to
acknowledge back one pole that I need to
acknowledge back one pole that I need to change directions I can’t go this way
change directions I can’t go this way
change directions I can’t go this way anymore I need to start going this way
anymore I need to start going this way
anymore I need to start going this way to continue on my dive
to continue on my dive
to continue on my dive that there’s a few other signals but one
that there’s a few other signals but one
that there’s a few other signals but one that’s very important I’ll come back to
that’s very important I’ll come back to
that’s very important I’ll come back to is things could go wrong and I may need
is things could go wrong and I may need
is things could go wrong and I may need to get out of here so if I give three
to get out of here so if I give three
to get out of here so if I give three poles to my tender one two three I’m
poles to my tender one two three I’m
poles to my tender one two three I’m saying I want to get out of here
saying I want to get out of here
saying I want to get out of here and if I really want to get out of here
and if I really want to get out of here
and if I really want to get out of here I’m going to keep pulling to make sure
I’m going to keep pulling to make sure
I’m going to keep pulling to make sure that she got the message and she would
that she got the message and she would
that she got the message and she would start pulling me back to the exit
start pulling me back to the exit
start pulling me back to the exit now I also use wireless communications
now I also use wireless communications
now I also use wireless communications so a lot of times when I’m diving under
so a lot of times when I’m diving under
so a lot of times when I’m diving under the ice I can talk directly to another
the ice I can talk directly to another
the ice I can talk directly to another surface support personnel or my tender
ice diving is a team event it takes
ice diving is a team event it takes several people to pull off doing a nice
several people to pull off doing a nice
several people to pull off doing a nice dive but for each diver it’s an
dive but for each diver it’s an
dive but for each diver it’s an individual experience now once I’m at
individual experience now once I’m at
individual experience now once I’m at the bottom of the lake there’s really no
the bottom of the lake there’s really no
the bottom of the lake there’s really no difference to diving in the summer well
difference to diving in the summer well
difference to diving in the summer well except for the rope and I can only get
except for the rope and I can only get
except for the rope and I can only get so far away from the hole but being at
so far away from the hole but being at
so far away from the hole but being at the bottom there’s really no difference
the bottom there’s really no difference
the bottom there’s really no difference so why the life-saving why not just wait
so why the life-saving why not just wait
so why the life-saving why not just wait till July am i nuts no visibility the
till July am i nuts no visibility the
till July am i nuts no visibility the layer of ice on top of the lake keeps
layer of ice on top of the lake keeps
layer of ice on top of the lake keeps the waves from hitting the shore and
the waves from hitting the shore and
the waves from hitting the shore and stirring up the shoreline we have no
stirring up the shoreline we have no
stirring up the shoreline we have no rain and runoff into the lakes just
rain and runoff into the lakes just
rain and runoff into the lakes just building up the sediment river inlets
building up the sediment river inlets
building up the sediment river inlets into the lakes they’re down to a trickle
into the lakes they’re down to a trickle
into the lakes they’re down to a trickle we don’t have a lot of water coming into
we don’t have a lot of water coming into
we don’t have a lot of water coming into the lakes and that layer of ice allows
the lakes and that layer of ice allows
the lakes and that layer of ice allows all the sediments to settle to the
all the sediments to settle to the
all the sediments to settle to the bottom
I’ve been diving a few of our local
I’ve been diving a few of our local lakes been diving in Lake Bemidji and in
lakes been diving in Lake Bemidji and in
lakes been diving in Lake Bemidji and in the winter we can have over 30 foot
the winter we can have over 30 foot
the winter we can have over 30 foot visibility in Lake Bemidji but a few
visibility in Lake Bemidji but a few
visibility in Lake Bemidji but a few years ago was diving another Lake big
years ago was diving another Lake big
years ago was diving another Lake big Sam Blake down towards Park Rapids
Sam Blake down towards Park Rapids
Sam Blake down towards Park Rapids between here in Park Rapids I was 70
between here in Park Rapids I was 70
between here in Park Rapids I was 70 feet underwater along a rocky shelf and
feet underwater along a rocky shelf and
feet underwater along a rocky shelf and I get two poles from my tender and
surpriser the I get two poles indicating
surpriser the I get two poles indicating I need to change directions I take a
I need to change directions I take a
I need to change directions I take a look at my gauges and I see that I’m 70
look at my gauges and I see that I’m 70
look at my gauges and I see that I’m 70 feet underwater and I take a look up to
feet underwater and I take a look up to
feet underwater and I take a look up to the rope and I look up the Rope
the rope and I look up the Rope
the rope and I look up the Rope realizing I am a hundred feet away
realizing I am a hundred feet away
realizing I am a hundred feet away there’s a hundred feet of rope out on 70
there’s a hundred feet of rope out on 70
there’s a hundred feet of rope out on 70 feet deep and I can see my tender
feet deep and I can see my tender
feet deep and I can see my tender standing on the ice now from here to the
standing on the ice now from here to the
standing on the ice now from here to the back of the theater is 60 feet a hundred
back of the theater is 60 feet a hundred
back of the theater is 60 feet a hundred feet puts me out on the curb so I’m
feet puts me out on the curb so I’m
feet puts me out on the curb so I’m seeing a hundred feet in one of our
seeing a hundred feet in one of our
seeing a hundred feet in one of our local lakes in the winter am I crazy
local lakes in the winter am I crazy
local lakes in the winter am I crazy now the diving is really good in the
now the diving is really good in the
now the diving is really good in the winter now big Sand Lake is one of our
winter now big Sand Lake is one of our
winter now big Sand Lake is one of our clearer lakes around here but it’s not
clearer lakes around here but it’s not
clearer lakes around here but it’s not this clear in the summer another event
this clear in the summer another event
this clear in the summer another event that can happen and I talked with a lot
that can happen and I talked with a lot
that can happen and I talked with a lot of ice divers I just love this
of ice divers I just love this
of ice divers I just love this phenomenon is I’ll roll over and I’ll
phenomenon is I’ll roll over and I’ll
phenomenon is I’ll roll over and I’ll look up at the ice and if the Sun angle
look up at the ice and if the Sun angle
look up at the ice and if the Sun angle is just right it’s like I’m swimming I’m
is just right it’s like I’m swimming I’m
is just right it’s like I’m swimming I’m weightless underneath this beautiful
weightless underneath this beautiful
weightless underneath this beautiful emerald green crystal ceiling it’s just
emerald green crystal ceiling it’s just
emerald green crystal ceiling it’s just an incredible sight when that happens so
an incredible sight when that happens so
an incredible sight when that happens so after exploring for a while
after exploring for a while
after exploring for a while coming towards the end of my dive I go
coming towards the end of my dive I go
coming towards the end of my dive I go up to the surface away from my exit
up to the surface away from my exit
up to the surface away from my exit point and I go up there basically to
point and I go up there basically to
point and I go up there basically to play with the bubbles as I exhale the
play with the bubbles as I exhale the
play with the bubbles as I exhale the bubbles go up and they get trapped
bubbles go up and they get trapped
bubbles go up and they get trapped against the ice and you can go up there
against the ice and you can go up there
against the ice and you can go up there and play with them you can try write
and play with them you can try write
and play with them you can try write your name in the larger bubbles and for
your name in the larger bubbles and for
your name in the larger bubbles and for some of us um you may remember back to
some of us um you may remember back to
some of us um you may remember back to science class in elementary or high
science class in elementary or high
science class in elementary or high school where the teacher let you play
school where the teacher let you play
school where the teacher let you play with mercury and you could push it
with mercury and you could push it
with mercury and you could push it around the table and you can play with
around the table and you can play with
around the table and you can play with mercury you can’t do that anymore
now the ice here is extremely smooth and
now the ice here is extremely smooth and almost frictionless for several of us
almost frictionless for several of us
almost frictionless for several of us veteran ice divers who have been doing
veteran ice divers who have been doing
veteran ice divers who have been doing this for a while we also get engaged in
this for a while we also get engaged in
this for a while we also get engaged in a fairly unknown rare winter activity
a fairly unknown rare winter activity
a fairly unknown rare winter activity inverted under ice skiing so remember
inverted under ice skiing so remember
inverted under ice skiing so remember I’m wearing a dry suit it’s filled with
I’m wearing a dry suit it’s filled with
I’m wearing a dry suit it’s filled with air I can flip upside down when I’m
air I can flip upside down when I’m
air I can flip upside down when I’m there at the surface of the ice or the
there at the surface of the ice or the
there at the surface of the ice or the bottom surface of the ice flip upside
bottom surface of the ice flip upside
bottom surface of the ice flip upside down and all the air in the suit runs to
down and all the air in the suit runs to
down and all the air in the suit runs to my feet I can take additional air from
my feet I can take additional air from
my feet I can take additional air from my tank and put into my suit that runs
my tank and put into my suit that runs
my tank and put into my suit that runs down to my feet and plants my feet now
down to my feet and plants my feet now
down to my feet and plants my feet now upside down on the bottom of the ice in
upside down on the bottom of the ice in
upside down on the bottom of the ice in a really clear lake I can see this flat
a really clear lake I can see this flat
a really clear lake I can see this flat plane around me and like that I am no
plane around me and like that I am no
plane around me and like that I am no longer upside down I am standing on this
longer upside down I am standing on this
longer upside down I am standing on this upside-down world under the ice now it’s
upside-down world under the ice now it’s
upside-down world under the ice now it’s time to end the dive I’m about 80 to 100
time to end the dive I’m about 80 to 100
time to end the dive I’m about 80 to 100 feet away from the hole and I’m standing
feet away from the hole and I’m standing
feet away from the hole and I’m standing on the bottom of the ice upside-down my
on the bottom of the ice upside-down my
on the bottom of the ice upside-down my tender no
tender no
tender no what’s happening because I’ve let her
what’s happening because I’ve let her
what’s happening because I’ve let her know that I am going to signal three
know that I am going to signal three
know that I am going to signal three poles that I want to ride back to the
poles that I want to ride back to the
poles that I want to ride back to the hole so I’m going to give three poles
hole so I’m going to give three poles
hole so I’m going to give three poles one two three signaling to my tender
one two three signaling to my tender
one two three signaling to my tender that I’m ready to get in this dive and
that I’m ready to get in this dive and
that I’m ready to get in this dive and I’m going to sit back go into a little
I’m going to sit back go into a little
I’m going to sit back go into a little bit of a tuck and start getting pulled
bit of a tuck and start getting pulled
bit of a tuck and start getting pulled across the bottom of the ice back to the
across the bottom of the ice back to the
across the bottom of the ice back to the exit now water is fairly dense and that
exit now water is fairly dense and that
exit now water is fairly dense and that tender starts pulling you in it feels
tender starts pulling you in it feels
tender starts pulling you in it feels like you are flying through the water
like you are flying through the water
like you are flying through the water going really slow but it feels like
going really slow but it feels like
going really slow but it feels like you’re going very fast going through the
you’re going very fast going through the
you’re going very fast going through the water upside down writing this back in
water upside down writing this back in
water upside down writing this back in along the smooth surface what a
along the smooth surface what a
along the smooth surface what a fantastic way to end the dive and this
fantastic way to end the dive and this
fantastic way to end the dive and this unique experience thank you
unique experience thank you
unique experience thank you [Applause]
”
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