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Ice Diving Expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula & South Georgia

Diving in Cape Horn, Falklands & Tierra Del Fuego

Victory Adventures Diving Expeditions have
destinations, where nature and its wildlife
are unique and where tourism is limited. The
thorough knowledge of Antarctica has enabled
us to develop voyages which combine nature
cruises with diving expeditions. The ice
diving cruises are still expeditions, but are
now more structured, offering you the best
dive sites in a fascinating and icy world.

During the voyages, experienced dry suit and
wet suit divers have the opportunity to
explore the wildlife from below the surface.
However, it will be unwise to focus
exclusively on diving. During the trip, you
can participate at any time in our thrilling
land excursions and zodiac cruises. This
combination characterizes the uniqueness of
the voyages. It will certainly be the
ultimate experience!

The dives vary from shallow ice diving, where
the diving is near or under the ice floes
(approximately. 30 feet) to shore diving to
approximately 30 to 60 feet.
The combination of sunlight, sea water and
the often extraordinary formations of ice
gives a variety of shades and brilliance.
While snorkeling or diving along the ice floes,
you will be astounded by these deep blue colors.

Diving in Antarctica does not only offer ice,
but also an interesting marine life, such as
kelp walls, sea snails, crabs, sea
butterflies, various Antarctic fish,
ice fish, shrubby horsetails, jelly fish, sea
hedgehogs and starfish. In Antarctica you can
dive with seals and penguins. When they are
within close proximity of the zodiacs, you
can snorkel and try to observe these animals
from under the surface!

Antarctic Ice Fish
During Antarctic dive expeditions you may
observe penguins from under the surface as well
as sea lions and perhaps even leopard seals.
The Falkland islands waters are rich in krill, which is
consumed by many species, and therefore acts
as a natural bait for many forms of marine
life. Also we have diving open in South
Georgia.

Please note that the itineraries Antarctica
is always weather and ice permitting. It is
always possible that because of the pack ice
or drift ice the trip has to change its
sailing schedule, and that certain bays or
fjords are closed because of ice. These
diving voyages are true expeditions.

Although Victory Adventure Expeditions
know the destinations in detail, each dive will be a
surprising event. Ice is not static but
always in movement. This means that the
colors and marine wildlife under the surface
always depend on the conditions and
formations of the ice.

Victory Adventures Diving Expeditions are
glad to be offering this extraordinary
experience. Although we have a well planned
itinerary, it is likely that the final
destinations will be different than expected.
If you are used to fixed itineraries and
definite destinations this may not be the
voyage for you. Moving ice may cause us to
end up hundreds of miles from our intended
dive sites. But we can promise you an
exciting adventure that breaks new ground.
Fascinating experiences in the world of ice ,
glaciers, gigantic icebergs and spectacular
ice walls which characterize a scuba diving
voyage to Antarctica.
Seals, Whales and colonies of thousands
of penguins will almost overwhelm you.
No two days are alike with surprises and
unforgettable experiences await you.
During this voyage, we hope that divers will
have at least one dive per day while we are
around the Antarctic coastline, so there'll
be plenty of time to join the rest of our
group for other activities.
We expect the dives to vary from shallow ice
diving, where we dive along ice-floes or
under small sheets of ice (approximately 30
ft) to shore diving, where we dive to
approximately 30 to 60 feet. The combination
of sunlight, seawater and the often
extraordinary formations of ice, create an
overwhelming, ever changing color spectrum,
with a fantastic variety of shades and
brilliance. Snorkeling or diving along
ice-floes is truly inspiring; you will never
forget the indescribably beautiful colors.
The Antarctica Peninsula has a fascinating
variety of marine life, such as sea-snails,
crabs, sea butterflies, fish, jelly-fish,
sponges and starfish. We also hope to meet
the Seals and Penguins underwater and maybe
even whales!

Divers must have advanced qualifications such
as experience with deep diving, night diving
and underwater navigation.
You will need to
bring the following equipment:

Dry suit or wet suit
2 sets of thermal underwear
Dry gloves or extra under gloves
2 pairs of mitts
2 separate (freeze protected if possible) regulators,
as we will have special tanks with two separate outlets (H or Y).
Submersible pressure gauge
Jacket-style BCD with low-pressure inflator
Depth gauge, watch and compass
Knife Snorkel, fins and 2 masks
Quick release weight belt or weight retaining
system with two release buckles
Dive tables
Whistle

On board you will have your own compressor
and a sufficient number of tanks.

The following items are also recommended:
Clothing for cold protection at the surface.
Sunglasses and Hat Wind-proof outer jacket
and pants

Long Underwear Since the first layer is next
to the skin, it should consist of materials
which will not hold moisture to the body.
Wool, Polypropylene or silk is recommended.

You need to keep out wind and precipitation
away with an outer Layer. Breathable fabrics
are good as they allow the passage of body
moisture.

Neoprene dry suits or wet suits.
6 mm thick neoprene mittens or dry gloves are
preferable, as the hands are very susceptible
to freezing. It's a good idea to put Vaseline
on exposed skin before entering the water.

Freezing or free flowing regulators are the
most common technical difficulties faced by
ice divers. For that reason we recommend
divers bring two regulators, each having
freeze-protected first and second stages. The
tanks that are supplied are fitted with "Y"
valves so that if one regulator free flow you
can continue to breathe with the second one.

We recommend using a standard mask
and regulator. You can use a full face mask
if you prefer but keep an extra face mask
handy in case your regulator free flows.

You will practice handling free flowing regulators
during the check-out dive.
As we will not have access to a decompression
chamber, maximum dive depth is 60 ft. It's
extremely important to stick to the dive
plan. It is very important to follow the
dive guide's safety rules.

Ice diving in Antarctica is no more dangerous
than normal SCUBA diving so long as you stick
to one important rule: Safety First. Divers
who are looking for thrills are asked to stay
at home! You are asked to remain with the
group at all times. Safety is First

We will start off with a check-out dive so
divers can acclimatize to the cold water and
to the special Antarctic conditions. Note
that ice isn't static but is always in
motion. This means that actual underwater
situation varies according to formations &
ice conditions.

Warning: These voyages are not for beginners.
You will have to be an experienced diver
(advanced) and must be familiar with ice
diving (at least 30 dives).You will have to
show an internationally accepted diving
certificate, diver's log book and a statement
of your doctor (not older than two years)
stating that you are physically healthy to
practice scuba diving.

Ice diving aboard SANTA MARIA AUSTRALIS in Antarctica
Visibility can be excellent under the ice, over other times
of year, due to good light penetration and lack of wind and
water movement, allowing particulates to settle
and remain undisturbed. Directly under the ice
surface, sometimes called the "crystal ceiling" is
an awesome sight. It?s usually smooth and the ice
may be transparent enough to see fairly well
through it if there is no snow cover on top.

The first time I heard and felt the ice cracking
all around me it was kind of eerie. It's not
dangerous. There is pressure buildup in the ice
surface as it is forming and the stress is
relieved periodically through cracking. It
produces a cracking sound and sometimes kind of a
"bonging" sound like a tympani drum would make and
it's way cool!
There is a certain camaraderie while you are ice
diving that also makes it special. It is something
literally impossible to do on your own. Ice diving
requires cooperation and teamwork from an entire
group of people. And it is equipment intensive.
Ice diving is really more of an excursion than
just a casual recreational dive.

Extra layers of underwear in your
dry suit can make it a little harder to do even
the simple things by yourself like putting on your
fins and your hood and gloves. Your buddies help
you don your gear.

Your face and mouth does get a
little cold, but that goes away quickly as you
acclimate to the water temperature.

Ice diving and doing it safely sounds like a lot
of work, and it is. But the experience of plunging
in and swimming around under the ice
is really a thrill!

If you can get your regulator (first stage)
environmentalized if possible, for cold water, 32
degrees, it will tend to work better and not free
flow.

Special gear: Clothing:
Being in the water is fun, standing outside taking
your turn topside , can get a bit cool. Need to bring warm
clothing and a good pair of warm waterproof boots
to do all the preliminary work. A change of dry
clothes. Several pairs of warm gloves and pants.
Rain slickers or rain pants work great. Warm hats,
skull cap like.

Special gear: Dry suits. Dry suits work best, but
divers with wet suits do this too. Any dry
suit will work fine, you may want to bring
something to wear under it for added insulation
while standing topside.

Undergarments: you will want to have an extra pair
of wool socks or some heavier undergarments on.
We've had a number of divers with a dry suit and
they have reported being perfectly warm. The
extremities (hands, feet, nose) tend to get the
coldest.
Sun and Burn: The main thing to remember is that
after you spend your time under the ice, you're
going to be standing around on the ice for a
while. Sunglasses and sunscreen are critical; if
it is a bright day, we will all get sunburnt from
the neck up! Bring attire appropriate for a cold
winter day outside. What is the approximate
temperature of the water you're diving in?
The particulate matter in the locean during the
winter freeze up tends to fall to the bottom,
and the water tends to become very clear.
We go down in buddy pairs.
One of the interesting things under the ice is the
ice water interface. The ice adjacent to the water
tends to remind one of a large ice cube, with
bubbles trapped in the ice.
For fun we invert ourselves, standing upside down
with our fins on the bottom of the ice.
How long does an actual dive last for?
For purposes of instruction, we like to stay down
20 minutes, but due to cold it is usually less
than that. The dry suits are sometimes a bit chilly.
With a Viking dry suit and undergarment
some stay down for 40 minutes or so.
Except for comfort during changing a dry
suit is really not required and a 7mm wetsuit is
sufficient. A hood and three fingered mitts are
also needed to remain comfortable. Other items
needed are ropes, harnesses, carabiners.
More people are also required for ice diving than
other scuba diving activities. One person should be
safety diver (suited up and ready to go).
Two people can be down under the ice. Everyone can
rotate through so that all get to experience one
of the best parts of diving. An extra air cylinder
needs to be on hand because you will need to have
a safety diver ready to go even on the last dive
of the day.