hello from The Ice!

leptonyx · 31st March 2006, 21:05

Hi Rebreather World

Let me introduce myself:

I started diving rebreathers about two years ago (Draeger Dolphin) and have been reading and researching SCR and CCR models since then with growing enthusiasm. Previously, I had been diving OC since 1990, mostly warmer waters, but went to Northern Norway for the first time in 1998 and in fact moved to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard (also known as Spitsbergen) in 1999. There I started diving under the sea ice, which is done up here routinely for scientific purposes and from research ships, helicopter campaigns, and winter (snowscooter) trips. Recently I have spent most of of my in-water time along the Antarctic Peninsula, hence the screen name and location

Diving under sea ice is (quite literally) a very cool thing to do, there was only one problem (no, not freezing regulators, that is not rated as "problem", just "occasional nuisance"): those damned bubbles!

Obviously, if you are working and looking up all the time, hunting krill and other small critters under the ice, or trying to collect very precise samples of the ice/water interface with quantitative instruments, you do not want to pollute or disturb your work by just being there!

But alas, sooner or later you have to exhale, and that's it (for that sampling spot).

So, after years of deliberations and discussions (safety issues, insurance issues, "new gear" vs. "approved gear"

and so on) I finally managed to get a SCR system for my work, got certified, and started using it - and have been happy with it ever since (except when I have to hand it in to the logistics guys in between missions).

So if anybody wonders how a SCR works under "extreme cold conditions", I can assure you: just fine in the Arctic, and even better in the Antarctic!

But now I wonder: how about bringing CCR's under the ice? Any comments?

Sten · 31st March 2006, 22:24

Quote: (Originally Posted by leptonyx)

But now I wonder: how about bringing CCR's under the ice? Any comments?

I have used my inspiration a few times under ice. No problem so far!

/Sten

leptonyx · 31st March 2006, 22:30

Quote: (Originally Posted by Sten)

I have used my inspiration a few times under ice. No problem so far!/Sten

Nice pic!

RobertSt · 31st March 2006, 23:15

My YBODs mouthpiece one way valves tend to freeze before dive when there is some deg below C. Gently blowing in by one side of the mouthpiece and holding my hands around it usally fix it. Any good tips? Soaking the rubberflaps in silicone is maybe not a smart thing to do?

And the second dive on a cold day, when your scrubber is like one piece of ice, you learn to do your pre-breathing

Robert

***caveseeker7*** · 1st April 2006, 02:23

Thought you were kidding with the Antartica location

, a warm welcome to Rebreather World.

If you look around the website you find plenty Rebreather divers in snowy, icy conditions, such as these guys on Megalodon and Ouroboros CCRs. I also remember seeing like pictures with a KISS as well as Inspiration shots above and below the surface. Check in the galleries. It's also been done with PRISM and Cis-Lunar CCRs (bottom of page).

RebreatherNut · 1st April 2006, 03:21

Hi Leptonyx,
Do you have any awesome Antarctic Rebreather Pictures you can post here?

RBN

Jason Blackwell · 1st April 2006, 07:09

Quote: (Originally Posted by leptonyx)

But now I wonder: how about bringing CCR's under the ice? Any comments?

Welcome,

I know some of the Kiwi guys at NIWA (National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research www.niwa.cri.nz) used the Halcyon PVR-BASC in lakes in Antarctica for a while back in 1999 IIRC.

Cheers Jason

shell-back · 1st April 2006, 20:41

welcome ,

Funny .. every one in that pic on a rebreather is

except for the dude on OC.

***caveseeker7*** · 1st April 2006, 20:52

Quote: (Originally Posted by shell-back)

Funny .. every one in that pic on a rebreather is

except for the dude on OC.

Not much to smile about, poor sod.

I've seen that expression on faces of divers without p-valves ...

Sutty · 1st April 2006, 22:46

How do you get a job diving in the antarctic? Or doing anything else so you can dive occasionally!

Seriously - PM me with any tips

Neil

31st March 2006, 21:05	#1 (permalink)
leptonyx New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other SCR Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other SCR Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Antarctica & Svalbard Posts: 54	hello from The Ice! Hi Rebreather World Let me introduce myself: I started diving rebreathers about two years ago (Draeger Dolphin) and have been reading and researching SCR and CCR models since then with growing enthusiasm. Previously, I had been diving OC since 1990, mostly warmer waters, but went to Northern Norway for the first time in 1998 and in fact moved to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard (also known as Spitsbergen) in 1999. There I started diving under the sea ice, which is done up here routinely for scientific purposes and from research ships, helicopter campaigns, and winter (snowscooter) trips. Recently I have spent most of of my in-water time along the Antarctic Peninsula, hence the screen name and location Diving under sea ice is (quite literally) a very cool thing to do, there was only one problem (no, not freezing regulators, that is not rated as "problem", just "occasional nuisance"): those damned bubbles! Obviously, if you are working and looking up all the time, hunting krill and other small critters under the ice, or trying to collect very precise samples of the ice/water interface with quantitative instruments, you do not want to pollute or disturb your work by just being there! But alas, sooner or later you have to exhale, and that's it (for that sampling spot). So, after years of deliberations and discussions (safety issues, insurance issues, "new gear" vs. "approved gear" and so on) I finally managed to get a SCR system for my work, got certified, and started using it - and have been happy with it ever since (except when I have to hand it in to the logistics guys in between missions). So if anybody wonders how a SCR works under "extreme cold conditions", I can assure you: just fine in the Arctic, and even better in the Antarctic! But now I wonder: how about bringing CCR's under the ice? Any comments? Last edited by leptonyx : 31st March 2006 at 21:09.
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31st March 2006, 22:24	#2 (permalink)
Sten Beeing Visionary Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Posts: 45	Re: hello from The Ice! Quote: (Originally Posted by leptonyx) But now I wonder: how about bringing CCR's under the ice? Any comments? I have used my inspiration a few times under ice. No problem so far! /Sten Last edited by Sten : 31st March 2006 at 22:24. Reason: New link
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31st March 2006, 22:30	#3 (permalink)
leptonyx New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other SCR Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other SCR Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Antarctica & Svalbard Posts: 54	Re: hello from The Ice! Quote: (Originally Posted by Sten) I have used my inspiration a few times under ice. No problem so far!/Sten Nice pic!
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31st March 2006, 23:15	#4 (permalink)
RobertSt New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Norway Posts: 17	Re: hello from The Ice! My YBODs mouthpiece one way valves tend to freeze before dive when there is some deg below C. Gently blowing in by one side of the mouthpiece and holding my hands around it usally fix it. Any good tips? Soaking the rubberflaps in silicone is maybe not a smart thing to do? And the second dive on a cold day, when your scrubber is like one piece of ice, you learn to do your pre-breathing Robert Last edited by RobertSt : 1st April 2006 at 11:43.
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1st April 2006, 02:23	#5 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,284	Re: hello from The Ice! Thought you were kidding with the Antartica location , a warm welcome to Rebreather World. If you look around the website you find plenty Rebreather divers in snowy, icy conditions, such as these guys on Megalodon and Ouroboros CCRs. I also remember seeing like pictures with a KISS as well as Inspiration shots above and below the surface. Check in the galleries. It's also been done with PRISM and Cis-Lunar CCRs (bottom of page). __________________ Cheers Stefan Be Water, My Friend - Bruce Lee Sponsor Lou in Race For Life!
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1st April 2006, 03:21	#6 (permalink)
RebreatherNut Rebreather World Greeter Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Ray Other Rebreather/s: Ray Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bremerton, WA Posts: 675	Re: hello from The Ice! Hi Leptonyx, Do you have any awesome Antarctic Rebreather Pictures you can post here? RBN __________________ "One minute to go, Luck-meister! Then I'll be down on you like a buzzard on a gut wagon." - ALF
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1st April 2006, 07:09	#7 (permalink)
Jason Blackwell Bloody Rebreathers! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Optima Dolphin Ray Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Vision Evolution Classic Kiss Dolphin Ray Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brisbane, Queensland, AUSTRALIA Posts: 361	Re: hello from The Ice! Quote: (Originally Posted by leptonyx) But now I wonder: how about bringing CCR's under the ice? Any comments? Welcome, I know some of the Kiwi guys at NIWA (National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research www.niwa.cri.nz) used the Halcyon PVR-BASC in lakes in Antarctica for a while back in 1999 IIRC. Cheers Jason
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1st April 2006, 20:41	#8 (permalink)
shell-back I do all my own stunts Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Ray Azimuth Other SCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Ray Azimuth Other SCR Home Build Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: middle of US Posts: 481	Re: hello from The Ice! welcome , Funny .. every one in that pic on a rebreather is except for the dude on OC. __________________ The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance -- it is the illusion of knowledge. ----Daniel Boorstin Billy Beal SDITDI IT #3507 Rebreather World FIGJAM commitee member
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1st April 2006, 20:52	#9 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,284	Re: hello from The Ice! Quote: (Originally Posted by shell-back) Funny .. every one in that pic on a rebreather is except for the dude on OC. Not much to smile about, poor sod. I've seen that expression on faces of divers without p-valves ... __________________ Cheers Stefan Be Water, My Friend - Bruce Lee Sponsor Lou in Race For Life! Last edited by caveseeker7 : 1st April 2006 at 20:59.
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1st April 2006, 22:46	#10 (permalink)
Sutty Classic Kiss diver Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Glossop, Derbyshire, UK Posts: 763	Re: hello from The Ice! How do you get a job diving in the antarctic? Or doing anything else so you can dive occasionally! Seriously - PM me with any tips Neil __________________ Never forget that life is a finite resource.
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