Mastering Ice Diving in Iceland: Expert Guide to Thrilling Cold-Water Adventures

I have lived in Iceland for the past 10 years, diving all over the island during the famous summer diving season. However, of all the dives I’ve done here, it’s the ice diving that stands out as the most memorable—exploring beneath frozen lakes, venturing into flooded glacial ice caves, and diving in lagoons formed by frozen moulins atop glaciers.

Ice diving is tough—make no mistake about it. It requires a lot of equipment, heavy weights, long walks, and dealing with cold temperatures. Thick, restrictive hoods and bulky gloves leave your fingers with little sensation. Even once you’ve overcome those challenges, the water presents its own difficulties: you’ll need top-notch line-laying skills, proficient light handling, and effective communication techniques. However, with practice and a little guidance from this article, you can experience some of the most unique dives of your life. There’s truly nothing else like it.

Ice diving involves specific skills, planning, and equipment beyond the scope of recreational diving. This article outlines the key prerequisites, safety protocols, and top destinations for ice diving.

Understanding Ice Diving

Ice diving is classified as an overhead environment dive, which means divers cannot make a direct ascent to the surface in case of an emergency. Instead, divers rely on a single entry/exit point, which requires a surface team, tethering systems, and rigorous safety protocols. These unique conditions make ice diving both technically demanding and deeply rewarding.

In Iceland, we often have areas near the shore that remain ice-free due to clear glacial water flowing up from underground. These spots provide convenient entry points and allow us to use the ice shelf as a platform for preparing equipment and organizing gear.

There are two main approaches to ice diving. The first involves a team of three: one person remains on the surface while the other two dive. The surface team member manages a floating rope, which is secured to the first diver's harness and then tied to the second diver. This system allows the surface person to control how much rope is fed out, ultimately determining how far under the ice the team can go. It also facilitates communication between the surface and the divers through a pre-determined series of rope pulls. For example, a short, sharp pull might signal for more rope, while two long pulls could indicate that the divers are returning and for the surface person to take up the slack.

The second method is similar to wreck penetration or cave diving. A continuous guideline is laid underwater, starting with a tie-off at the entry point. As you progress further under the ice, you lay new line, which is then retrieved as you retreat back to the entry point. This approach allows for greater exploration and flexibility but does not provide direct communication or a physical connection to the surface.

That said, even with this information, ice diving should never be attempted without the guidance of a professional instructor experienced in these conditions. Learning from someone who dives in extreme environments regularly is invaluable—they can share essential tips, tricks, and techniques that only come with hands-on experience. Moreover, they will ensure all safety protocols are followed, making the dive not only safer but also far more enjoyable.

Prerequisites for Ice Diving

Given the complexities of ice diving, it is not an entry-level activity. Divers must meet specific requirements to ensure safety and competence.

Advanced Certification and Experience: Most operators require at least an Advanced Open Water Diver certification, as divers must be proficient in buoyancy control, navigation, and deep diving techniques.

Dry Suit Training: Icelandic waters are frigid, typically hovering around freezing. A dry suit is essential for ice diving, but it requires proper training and practice to manage buoyancy effectively and avoid cold-water-related hazards. Ice diving is not advisable for those new to dry suit diving—it takes time and experience to become fully comfortable. Take the time to log as many dives as necessary to feel confident in your dry suit before attempting ice diving.

Cold-Water Diving Experience: Familiarity with cold-water conditions is crucial. Regulators can freeze, and exposure to extreme temperatures affects both gear and physiology.

Ice Diving Specialty Certification: This course teaches skills such as line management, communication, and emergency procedures specific to ice diving. One of the main parts of the course will also teach you about gas management underwater, using the rule of 3rds as used in both cave and wreck penetration diving.

Pre-dive Preparation

When ice diving, the cold air temperature often poses more challenges for your equipment than the water itself. Proper preparation is crucial to minimize these issues. When air temperatures drop below -5°C (23°F), moisture can freeze almost instantly. To avoid complications, it’s essential to ensure that all critical parts of your equipment are dry and free of water before you arrive at the dive site.

Regulators require special handling in cold environments. Never use them outside the water under any circumstances. Breathing through them on the surface, as you might during a traditional buddy check, introduces moisture from your breath, which can freeze and cause the regulator to free-flow. To prevent this, ensure your regulators are completely dry before the dive—hanging them near a radiator the night before is a good option.

When it’s time to test them, do so in the water. Enter the water fully inflated to stay on the surface, then submerge the second stages. Keep them underwater at all times and bring your face to the regulators to breathe. When removing the second stage, do so while it’s still submerged before raising your head above the surface.

For your BCD, fully inflate it the night before the dive and ensure the LPI (low-pressure inflator) is completely dry. Moisture can sometimes accumulate behind the inflator button, and if it freezes, the button may become unusable. To avoid this, double-check that the inflator is dry before heading out.

Once in the water, handle the BCD with the same care as your regulator. Do not lift the inflator hose out of the water. If you need to deflate the BCD, keep the inflator underwater while pressing the button.

Essential Equipment

Safety is paramount in ice diving, as the overhead environment leaves no room for error. Divers must adhere to strict protocols, and teamwork is non-negotiable. But even when you are using all of the correct protocol and safety measures you will still need to have the absolute best equipment needed for this type of diving.

Regulators - You must use environmentally sealed cold-water regulators. Personally, I use Apeks MTX-RC regulators, which I believe are the best choice for this type of diving. Additionally, a DIN connection is essential; yoke-style regulators are not suitable for ice diving.

Gloves – I use the Waterproof Ultima dry glove system, which is excellent, as is the Kubi system and the new Fourth Element dry glove system. However, the under-glove is the most critical part of the setup. Personally, I haven’t found anything better than the Fourth Element Halo glove—it’s outstanding. While you can use neoprene wet gloves, I recommend at least a 7mm semi-dry glove, preferably in a lobster-claw shape.

This setup works well underwater, but the real benefit of dry gloves comes post-dive. Since your hands remain dry, they won’t freeze when exposed to the air, and you won’t suffer from evaporative cooling afterward. For these reasons, I highly recommend dry gloves.

Hoods – I use a 10mm Fourth Element hood, which I find excellent, as is the Waterproof 10mm hood. Both are highly recommended for this type of activity.

Undersuits -  I use the Fourth Element Halo AR along with the Fourth Element X-Core vest and J2 baselayer. With this setup, I can comfortably dive in 1°C (34°F) water for about an hour before needing to take further steps. I don’t recommend adding more layers beyond this, as the compromise in flexibility becomes too significant. It’s better to limit dive times than to add extra layers. If, after a season of ice diving, you still find the need to extend your dive times, then it may be time to consider heated suits.

Heated suits – I have a heated suit, but in all honesty, I don’t recommend them for most divers. I only use mine for extended range and decompression dives in cold water, where they become critical. However, these types of dives are not common for most divers. Heated suits are expensive and come with the hassle of large batteries, wires, and additional setup. I don’t use mine for recreational ice diving, but I understand that everyone has different tolerances for cold water. What I don’t see as essential, others may find necessary.

The suit I use is the Santi BRZ 400 heated suit with gloves, and it works very well. It does exactly what it’s supposed to do.

The Ice Diving Experience

The process of an ice dive begins long before you enter the water. Divers gear up meticulously, double-checking every piece of equipment. Once prepared, you descend through the entry hole into a world that feels both alien and serene. This is a unique experience, one that few people on earth will ever have, placing you in the realm of true exploration. You are the first to witness these conditions, knowing they will change every day.

The colors and shades of blue and white are breathtaking. The textures and shapes of the ice, combined with the calmness of the water and the solid surface that eliminates waves or movement, create a truly enchanting environment.

In Iceland, where we ice dive, we also benefit from underwater visibility exceeding 100 meters. There is nowhere else in the world that offers such incredible light and visibility for ice diving. For me, this creates some of the most amazing photographic opportunities.

Best Destinations for Ice Diving 

Iceland - In Iceland, the underwater visibility of over 100 meters (300 feet) makes the ice diving experience exceptional. Additionally, it is easily accessible compared to other ice diving locations.

Greenland - Ice diving in Greenland is quite different, as it takes place in the sea. Compared to Iceland’s freshwater diving, it primarily involves diving with icebergs and ocean pack ice. It’s a truly inspiring experience, but it’s harder to access and is likely to be step two of your ice diving journey, after gaining experience in lake conditions like those in Iceland.

Antarctica - The mecca of ice diving, Antarctica offers sea ice and icebergs. While hard to access, it provides the opportunity for ice diving alongside incredible marine life encounters, such as leopard seals. To fully appreciate this experience, it’s best to have practiced and trained in other locations first.

Conclusion

As climate change continues to impact global ecosystems, opportunities for ice diving may become more limited. This makes responsible diving practices and environmental awareness more important than ever. Divers must minimize their impact on these fragile environments to help ensure their preservation.

Preparation is key to a successful ice dive. Train in advance to become comfortable with the drysuit, heavy undergarments, and dry gloves. Invest in high-quality thermal gear, as staying warm is essential for both safety and enjoyment.

Trust in your team is paramount. Find a local guide who regularly dives in these conditions—do not take ice diving instruction from an instructor accustomed to warm-water environments. Practice line signals, emergency drills, and team communication before entering the water. Familiarize yourself with the dive site, and always have a clear plan for handling contingencies.

Ice diving in Iceland is not just a dive—it’s an expedition into one of the most challenging and awe-inspiring environments on Earth. For those with the experience, training, and mindset to take it on, the rewards are unmatched. If you're ready to venture beyond traditional diving and into the frozen world, the adventure of a lifetime awaits.