ICE DIVER

The PADI Ice Diver course is for those who crave extreme, challenging scuba diving experiences. Diving under the ice offers a unique and adventurous way to explore, with breathtaking beauty and conditions that few others get to witness. If you’re a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver aged 18 or older, you can enroll in the Ice Diver course. You’ll learn the roles of support personnel, tenders, and safety divers, as well as ice types, site selection, cold effects, emergency procedures, and equipment handling. During three supervised ice dives, you’ll practice using specialized equipment, safety lines, communication signals, and line-tending techniques. To get started, visit your local PADI Dive Center to enroll and schedule your first session.

Who should take this course?

If extreme, unusual and challenging scuba diving scenarios appeal to you, try diving under the ice. Ice diving is one of the most adventurous scuba specialties because you confront conditions and see beauty few others ever experience. Plus, you might get a chance to play with your exhaled bubbles on the bottom of the ice. Flash your PADI Ice Diver certification card to get instant respect, and usually a lot of questions from other divers about what it’s like under the ice.

You need to be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver who is at least 18 years old to enroll in the Ice Diver course.

What will you learn?

Teamwork is essential for ice diving, so you’ll start by learning the roles and responsibilities of support personnel, tenders and safety divers. You also discuss types of ice, site selection and prepartion, the effects of cold, emergency procedures and handling equipment issues. During three closely supervised ice dives, you’ll practice:

Using specialized ice diving equipment and safety lines.
Signals and communications along with line tending and line-securing techniques.
Handling problems and safety diver procedures.

How can you start learning now?

Visit your local PADI Dive Center and Resort to enroll in the course, and schedule the first class session with your PADI Instructor.

What scuba gear will you use?

Besides your basic scuba equipment, you’ll definitely want to dive in a dry suit. Your PADI Instructor or local dive center staff will suggest other gear appropriate for ice diving, such as a collapsible snorkel that fits in your pocket, redundant air supply such as a pony bottle, and other technical diving equipment.

Next Step

Take the icy plunge and earn your next certification:

Enroll in an Ice Diver course at your PADI Dive Center or Resort.
Browse the PADI Course Catalog for related specialty diver training, such as Dry Suit Diver.
Look for scuba diving vacations to ice diving destinations.
Check out the PADI Master Scuba Diver rating.