Antarctic Dive Guide ASC-17-022 Version 1 July 2017 Antarctic Dive Guide ASC-17-022 Version 1 July 2017 Version History Section Version # Date Author/Editor Change Details (if applicable) This document is derived from a former July Steve Rupp 1 All NSF document, Antarctic Scientific 2017 Dean Hancock Diving Manual (NSF 99-22). The document library holds the most recent versions of all documents. Approved by: Signature Print Name Date Supervisor, Dive Services Approved by: Signature Print Name Date Supervisor, Dive Services All brand and product names remain the trademarks of their respective owners. This publication may also contain copyrighted material, which remains the property of respective owners. Permission for any further use or reproduction of copyrighted material must be obtained directly from the copyright holder. Page i Antarctic Dive Guide ASC-17-022 Version 1 July 2017 Table of Contents Forward ......................................................................................................................... vi 1. Introduction to Antarctic Scientific Diving................................................. 1 2. United States Antarctic Program Scientific Diving Certification ............. 4 2.1. Project Dive Plan Approval ............................................................................ 4 2.2. Diver Certification ........................................................................................... 4 2.3. Pre-Dive Orientation ....................................................................................... 6 3. Overview of Antarctic Dive Sites ................................................................ 7 3.1. McMurdo Diving: ............................................................................................ 7 3.1.1. McMurdo Dive Sites: Maps .......................................................................... 7 3.1.2. McMurdo Dive Sites: Descriptions ............................................................. 11 3.2. Palmer Station Diving: .................................................................................. 13 4. The Antarctic Diving Environment ........................................................... 19 4.1. Ice Formation ............................................................................................... 19 4.2. Underwater Visibility ..................................................................................... 21 4.3. Cold .............................................................................................................. 22 4.3.1. Symptoms of Hypothermia: ....................................................................... 22 4.4. Aridity ........................................................................................................... 23 4.5. Fast Ice ........................................................................................................ 23 4.5.1. Access through Fast Ice ............................................................................ 26 4.5.2. Fast-Ice Dive-Hole Maintenance ............................................................... 29 4.5.3. Fast-Ice Diving Hazards ............................................................................ 31 4.6. Thin Ice ........................................................................................................ 32 4.7. Pack Ice ....................................................................................................... 33 4.7.1. Access through Pack Ice ........................................................................... 33 4.7.2. Pack-Ice Diving Hazards ........................................................................... 34 4.8. Open Water .................................................................................................. 35 4.9. Blue Water ................................................................................................... 36 4.10. Ice Edge ....................................................................................................... 36 4.11. Remote Sites................................................................................................ 37 4.12. Contaminated Water and Specialized Diving areas ..................................... 37 4.12.1. Contaminated Water .................................................................................. 37 4.12.2. Specialized Diving Areas ........................................................................... 37 4.13. Marine Life ................................................................................................... 38 4.13.1. Southern Elephant and Antarctic Fur Seals ............................................... 38 4.13.2. Crabeater Seals ......................................................................................... 40 4.13.3. Leopard Seals ........................................................................................... 40 4.13.4. Weddell Seals ............................................................................................ 42 4.13.5. Killer Whales .............................................................................................. 43 5. Dive Operations and Procedures .............................................................. 44 5.1. Down Line .................................................................................................... 44 Page i Antarctic Dive Guide ASC-17-022 Version 1 July 2017 5.2. Other Hole-Marking Techniques .................................................................. 47 5.2.1. Snow Removal .......................................................................................... 47 5.2.2. Benthic Lines ............................................................................................. 47 5.3. Extra Dive Holes .......................................................................................... 47 5.4. Pre-Dive Safety Checks ............................................................................... 47 5.5. Buoyancy Regulation ................................................................................... 48 5.6. Computers and Dive Tables ......................................................................... 48 5.7. Air Management ........................................................................................... 49 5.8. Safety Stops ................................................................................................. 49 5.9. Tending ........................................................................................................ 49 5.10. Tethering Systems ....................................................................................... 51 5.11. Surface-Supplied Diving ............................................................................... 54 5.12. Surface Cold Exposure ................................................................................ 56 5.13. Environmental Protection ............................................................................. 56 5.14. Initial Orientation and Checkout Dives ......................................................... 58 5.14.1. Orientation for McMurdo Dive Groups ....................................................... 58 6. Transportation ............................................................................................ 60 6.1. Modes of Transport: McMurdo Station and Vicinity ...................................... 60 6.1.1. Fixed-Wing Aircraft .................................................................................... 60 6.1.2. Helicopters ................................................................................................. 61 6.1.3. Tracked Vehicles ....................................................................................... 62 6.1.4. Trucks: ....................................................................................................... 62 6.1.5. Snowmobiles: ............................................................................................ 62 6.1.6. All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs): ...................................................................... 63 6.1.7. Icebreakers and Other Research Vessels: ................................................ 63 6.2. Equipment Transport Requirements: McMurdo Vicinity ............................... 63 6.2.1. Equipment Protection ................................................................................ 63 6.2.2. Hazardous Cargo Requirements ............................................................... 63 6.3. Modes of Transport: Palmer Station and USAP Vessels ............................. 64 6.3.1. Sleds.......................................................................................................... 64 6.3.2. Inflatable Boats .......................................................................................... 64 6.3.3. Icebreakers and Other Research Vessels ................................................. 64 6.4. Equipment Transport Requirements: Palmer Station and USAP Research Vessels ........................................................................................................ 65 6.4.1. Protection of Equipment ............................................................................ 65 6.4.2. Hazardous Cargo Requirements ............................................................... 65 7. Communications ........................................................................................ 65 7.1. Communication Requirements for Diving Operations .................................