Learning to Scuba Dive Under the Ice! (Exploring Alaska)

[@TritonsRealm]

Go to TritonsRealm.com/Videos to search our dive map for more videos. Thanks for watching.

[@jeffconley6366]

Brings back memories. It's been 45 years since I was ice diving. It's an experience to walk upside down on the ice. I remember the being able to swim up and hold a fish in your hands. If the water is deep enough the temperature at the bottom is the same temperature all year long. It's just very cold at the surface. My instructor made us make our first dive in a wet suit. He said so we would appreciate the dry suits. I have never felt anything as cold as when that cold water entered my wet suit.

[@TritonsRealm]

I love the cold water diving, but I’m not brave enough to try ice diving in a wetsuit. I appreciate my drysuit and my new heated undergarments. I tried to do some ice diving on a shipwreck this year in Michigan, but the lake didn’t freeze over. So we opted to dive a wreck from shore in Traverse City. Hopefully we’ll have that video out in a few weeks. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@jeffconley6366]

@@TritonsRealm Totally understand. You live in the Bahamas after all. I grew up in Michigan and was living up north when I learned to ice dive. I have now lived in the south eastern US for 43 years. Don't think I would do it now either.

[@WMCLComputers]

Off the charts, awesome video, inspirational, another one for the bucket list. Thanks for creating all that great content.

[@TritonsRealm]

Thank you!! Alaska is like a giant outdoor playground. I’m hoping to get back there again someday and do some more diving. 👍😀

[@benjaminhawkins1129]

I watched you guys removing the ice like 5 times... SO Pretty

[@TritonsRealm]

😀 Lots of work, but it was a blast.

[@watercrow9766]

I always love how quiet and still it is diving under ice. There's some white noise in open water that isn't there under ice. If it weren't for the logistics and support needed, I'd do it a lot more during the long Wisconsin winters.

[@brucecheung8304]

You’re such a brave person to dive under the ice! Definitely something on my bucket list

[@TritonsRealm]

It was an incredible experience! You won’t be disappointed when you check it off your bucket list. 👍

[@benjaminhawkins1129]

One thing I've always disliked about minnesota, isn't the freezing cold... its all the dang snow. I haven't had an activity that makes me happy in deep minnesota winter. I have not ice dived yet... but holy cow... so beautiful. Looking up at the ice... that's gonna be one of my favorite things I can tell already. Thanks for making this video!

[@TritonsRealm]

We totally understand. Growing up in Chicago we dealt with a lot of snow. Give ice diving a try f you have the chance. It’s a ton of work, but fun and rewarding. It is very beautiful looking back up at the ice. In February next year I’m hoping to dive a shipwreck under the ice in Lake Charlevoix, Michigan. Thanks for watching!

[@bensilver5656]

Jeff this is insane. Incredible editing, excellent video, spot on narration. GREAT JOB!

[@TritonsRealm]

Thank you! Alaska is like a giant outdoor playground.

[@deancook7589]

Fantastic video! Thank you for sharing this experience, one that most people will never have a chance to do....... or desire (haha). I'd love to see the ice caves and I'm totally inspired now to go just for the Northern Lights. But pretty sure I'm sticking to the Caribbean for all of my dives. By the way........when did you learn to snowboard??

[@TritonsRealm]

Thank you! Alaska is like a giant outdoor playground. Even if you don’t jump in the water under the ice there is so much to do. The glacier and ice caves were insane and I totally recommend it, and the northern lights are totally worth the effort. It took me 2 long nights to get the right conditions to see the northern lights, but so incredible. It’s been a long time since I’ve been snowboarding, learned as a kid, but it was like riding a bike. Came right back to me, and I spent 3 days of my trip going down the mountains. If Alaska’s not on your bucket list, you gota add it. 👍😀

[@davelundergoesunder]

My second time watching this video. You did a great job as always. What an incredible amount of work to get through that ice! That would be well out of my comfort zone. I am definitely a fair-weather diver.

[@TritonsRealm]

Wow. Thanks for watching twice. It certainly was a lot of work to setup the dive site, but it was a ton of fun. Everyone helped out and the work went quick. I’m looking forward to doing it again in 2023.

[@petethehandyman9185]

What a great adventure, good for you to take the challenge

[@TritonsRealm]

Thank you! I didn’t know what to expect, but now I can’t wait to do it again. 👍

[@carllafrance5510]

Hi Jeff another awsome video ! I didn't know you were a snow boarder ? do you have any video going down a triple black diamond? When I first heard of ice diving Alaska I thought you might be hooking up with somebody from bearing sea gold ! "Hats off !" those guys push the limit every time they get in the water ! The glacier shots were awsome ! One again you are living the dream ! and sharing experiences in places I will never be able to go ! You did it right ! you hooked up with a dive shop with local knowledge ! What was neat watching you putting your snow covered tanks in the sleigh ! Only thing you have to really trust your tender ! If you had an emergency and your tether got caught on some thing and the tender was unable to get your signal or if you froze up and were unable give a signal Is there a time limit on no signal? Does he wait a half hour then pull in the body ? More scary if you were at depth you give a emergency signal and he yanks you in and you get an embolism . Well done! I will round up pictures of when I chainsawed a hole in the ice and e mail them to you Have a great day!

[@BAMFSQUAD]

Bro crazy I love it but I hate the cold hahaha

[@TritonsRealm]

🤪. I hear ya. It’s a ton of work in the freezing cold, but it was so much fun. 👍

[@BAMFSQUAD]

@@TritonsRealm I might have to add this to the bucketlist but way at the bottom hahahha

[@jessicafernandez2585]

wow!!!!! great experience

[@TritonsRealm]

Thank you! Alaska was amazing. I didn’t know what to expect, but it passed my wildest expectations. Can’t wait to do it again.

[@toddchannell1890]

Super video Jeff! Really liked the ice caves and blue ice, just beautiful. We are warm water divers so we will be watching to see how you adventurers dive in Alaska. Looks like a lot of planning and work goes in to making a dive but I get the rush. The viz looks very good for a lake. Is it a worry that other divers tether lines get tangled? It was great visiting with you in STX a few weeks ago and we will stay tuned in

[@TritonsRealm]

Thank you! The glacier was other worldly. Doing cold water dives does take more planning and preparation. Just getting all the gear and equipment together takes a ton of time, but it was certainly worth all the effort. We’ve got some more cold water dives planned for 2023, but for the remainder of this year I think we’re back in the warm water. Our next video series will be on wreck diving in St. Thomas. 👍 Getting tangled up with other divers is a concern, so we paid close attention to our position relative to each other to minimize entanglement. One of the nice things about ice diving is the viz. Because everything is freezing, alge isn’t growing, so the lake water is really clear and not green like in the summer. It was great seeing you on STX. Thanks for watching and for all the support.

[@diveclyde]

Epic video and that looked like a cool course.

[@TritonsRealm]

Thank you! Loved every second of it. 👍

[@kerrypatton8557]

That’s a cool jacket! Looks about 24lbs!

[@TritonsRealm]

Lol. 😀 Thanks for the assist.

[@lydialeigh4]

There is a lot of preparation that goes into ice diving - but that ice is so beautiful, both above and below the water! Congrats on pushing your comfort zone to be able to experience it - not easy to do! I also noticed you are wearing a Santi drysuit. WhT made you choose them? How do you like it? It is a brand I am seriously considering. Appreciate any feedback!

[@TritonsRealm]

Diving under the ice definitely took a lot of work and was a team effort for sure, but it was absolutely worth it. Next year I’m hoping to dive the wreck of the Keuka in Lake Charlevoix in Michigan. Have you been there? I did get a custom Santi E.Lite Plus and love it. In general I chose it for the quality and durability, but I also liked their dry glove system, brass waterproof zipper with secondary zipper over it, flex sole boots, and Kevlar knee pads. I also ordered custom heated undergarments, but they haven’t arrived yet. Custom orders with Santi seem to be taking 6-9 months. Thanks again for watching and for all the support!

[@lydialeigh4]

@@TritonsRealmThanks for the info on the suit, Jeff! If you don’t mind one more inquiry here - did you go through a dive shop to buy it? If so, did they also carry Santi drysuits? How did you get measured for it? I ask because we don’t have any Santi dealers in MI. The closest dealer is Dive Right In Scuba in Chicago. Not sure if my local dive shops will measure, order and service a brand they don’t carry. DUI seems to be the main brand of choice up here. All feedback is appreciated! That wreck looks like a pretty cool dive! I had not heard of it until now. It has an interesting backstory too. Going to dive it under ice? If not, let me know when and maybe I can join you guys! Thanks for the great content! I always look forward to seeing what new adventures you all are up to!

[@TritonsRealm]

@@lydialeigh4 I worked with Tim at Dive Right In Scuba to get measured for my drysuit. He’s a friend, but also a wealth of knowledge about every drysuit currently on the market. We worked together over phone and email to get the measurement process down, then I had my wife measure me. She measured me 3 times in something like 27 different spots, then I sent him all the data. It was time consuming to do, but he made the process easy to do remotely. When everything was all said and done the drysuit fit perfect. Next year I’m hoping to dive the Keuka as an ice dive. I’d love to get some video of a shipwreck under ice. When we know our plans, I’ll be sure to reach out. Let me know if you have any other drysuit questions. You can also get my email from the About page on our KZbin channel. All the best -Jeff

[@arqcm]

You have two leaks: 1 on the 1st stage and the other on the 2nd stage!!!!

[@TritonsRealm]

Yep, but it was determined the small bleed was not a problem and was not getting worse. So I continued on with the dive and did not abort. Good eye and thanks for commenting!