White Bear Lake Dive on March 6, 2010

[mermaid]

You're absolutely right DQ, Terry does   

[scubafreek864]

Is that all you two can talk about/think about? : ;D

[Shooter]

Nice find! Looks like you had great weather.

I often use the same safety line attachment point!  ;D

[rcojr]

Terry said he likes to stop a few inches short of the water so everything stays dry.  How do you know how close to the water you are getting so you know when to stop cutting?
[/quote]

Michelle
If you auger a hole 5ft away from where you want to cut the hole, you can measure the ice thickness.
Then subtract 2 inches and mark that on the chainsaw bar and don't go deeper than that.
Bob

[mattd]

We would augur a hole to check for depth.  That also lets us see how thick the ice is.  If the spot looked good, then the hole would be cut a few feet from the test auger hole and it works like a vent.

Terry does have the bar on his saw marked.

If you are diving pretty close to the hole, the vent really helps.  At Minnetonka over one of the wrecks, the main hole was like a hot tub there was so much air bubbling up after a few divers.  When we cut a vent, the amount of trapped air actually shot water several feet in the air.

[mermaid]

Michelle
If you auger a hole 5ft away from where you want to cut the hole, you can measure the ice thickness.
Then subtract 2 inches and mark that on the chainsaw bar and don't go deeper than that.
Bob
[/quote]

Thanks Bob, I appreciate it. 

[mermaid]

Thanks Matt.  Too bad you guys didn't get some pics of that scene on Minnetonka, it would have been cool to see!!

[popolarbear]

not exactly the same but when I'm cutting 40 holes to study a structure on tonka. i put on giant plastic bags over my legs and tie them down. that way i don't get wet when i punch thru. i can also almost drill holes as fast as i walk.
when I'm done its like the surface of the moon. ... and one or two holes will be spot on!

[grumpie]

when we put out thin ice signs we use a 1 inch bit with a battery drill and sometime a extenion for it to make vents. if you use a tra. hole and shovel a snow path out from it, you drill the holes in the path. this will also keep the warm water from eroding the ice arround the hole. you have to remember that some of us do not dive from a ice iglo or shelter, we are out there working and its not a choice.
happie

[popolarbear]

ohh and by the way. I like the photo with the big dive flag in the back ground.
I'm sure the locals would have nothing to say!