On Saturday February 6 a small group of brave (or crazy) individuals from Mid West Diving Specialist made the trek up to Haigh Quarry to go where few dare to explore.  The weather for the dive was a balmy 25°F on the surface with gusting winds and a wind chill of 5°F.  Occasionally the sun would pop its face out from behind the scattered clouds and provide the illusion of warmth.

The divers ventured out onto the 7 inch thick sheet of ice that covered the old rock quarry.  After choosing their spot to step up they proceed to cut a equilateral triangle shaped hole (10' each side) in the ice. Others on the lake choose to use eardrum rattling, smog producing, high powered gas chain saws. While the MDS team prefers the simplicity of an old fashioned hand held ice saw.  And to no surprise to the MDS team their hole opened up the the quickest. Along with cutting holes the team also prepped the ice by shoveling radiating vectors in the snow around the hole extending out 100' in every direction.  These lines will serve as reference lines to the divers when they are under the ice allowing light to penetrate the darkness and provide them a guide to help them find their way back to the hole.

After prepping the ice surface the divers then began donning gear.  First and second only to air supply in importance were their dry suits. More like space suits than swim suits the dry suits keep the divers and their layers of insulation just that, dry.  In addition to their standard diving gear each diver wears a harness which is used to attach a safety tether that will be manned by a surface team while diver is under the ice. 

 In 2 person teams, linked together with a safety line, divers plunged in to the icy 37°F water.   Their bodies are protected from the cold with the exception of the skin on their faces not covered by mask or hood.  Their lips turned blue and once numb from the cold they disappear into the darkness of the hole in the ice.

Under the ice the divers are rewarded with 40' visibly and are able to see what most people never see, the world under the ice.   Bubbles from the divers exhaust rise an get trapped under the surface of the ice and resemble liquid mercury inverted on the ceiling above. Fish move in slow motion almost as if they were in suspended animation.  The divers spend up to 20 minutes under the ice exploring hidden wrecks and wildlife before tracing their way back to the hole in the ice into which they plunged. 

In between dives the divers warm up with hot chocolate, warm soup and chlli.  They tell fish stories that will make any fisherman green with envy.  After a short break the brave ones start suiting up to take the plunge again. 

Click here to view all of my picture from the day.