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ICE DIVING
£ 100 / PERSON
The sport of Scuba-diving will not let a little thing like snow and ice stop people from enjoying this amazing sport.
Experience pure escapism beneath the surface of an ice covered lake, marvel at the ice formations and shafts of light penetrating through the frozen surface that create a kaleidoscopic array of colours when day-light is refracted through the ice above. Admire the beauty of this subaqueous world as the bubbles of air dart and dance before getting trapped between the water and ice above.
| Ice Diving - Operation times |
| DIVES HELD DAILY - EXCEPT WEEKENDS AND MONDAYS |
| BEGINNING DECEMBER - LATE MARCH |
| 1100HRS - 1500HRS (TWO DIVES EVERY HOUR) |
The dives are held every day (except Mondays) from the beginning of December - 31st March Dependant on Conditions. Ice Diving is open from 1100hrs to 1500hrs whihc is the last dive of the day. There are two dives every hour with the two participants diving one after the other - each dive lasts about 15-20 minutes.
Weekends are reserved for club dives - Closed Mondays for Dive School.
| Ice Diving - location |
| TIGNES LE LAC - ESPACE KILLY - FRANCE |
Le Lac, Tignes Altitude 2100m, Espace Killy, France.
Situated beside the village for those who ski its possible to ski to the dives or it is a short walk for anyone not so confident.
| How to get there from Meribel |
- Self Drive / Taxi
Tignes is not connected in anyway to Meribel other than road or by air. To drive to Tignes it is necessary to drive down the mountain from Meribel to Moutiers. From Moutiers you need to head up the valley road towards Aime and Bourg St Maurice. After about 35-40 minutes driving you will enter Bourg St Maurice. You will need to drive through Bourg crossing over roundabouts until it is time to start making your way back up the mountain towards Tignes and Val d'Isere. The whole journey from Meribel to Tignes takes approximately 1hour 20minutes depending on traffic and weather.
- HELICOPTER
Catch a Helicopter from the helipad at the Altiport in Meribel to the Ice Diving activity in Tignes. A taxi will be organised to collect you at the Helipad in Tignes which will be awaiting your arrival ready to escort you and the participants to the lake for your Ice Diving Experience. Once you have finished the Ice Diving activity the taxi will again escort you back to the Helicopter where you will catch it back to Meribel.
| Ice Diving - Operation / duration / format |
| 10-15 MINUTE - ORGANISATION OF EQUIPMENT |
| 20 MINUTES - INSTRUCTION |
| 15-20 MINUTE - DIVE |
| 10 MINUTES - HANDING IN EQUIPMENT |
Danger is nominal
After 20 minutes instruction you are then attached by rope to a qualified instructor/guide and tethered to the surface before trying five short dives.
Most dive sessions last about 15-20 minutes with a maximum depth of about 2-3m of which most of the time will be spent at the surface mesmerized by the beauty above. Even at depths over 15m visibility is usually better under the ice because there is less algae and microscopic life forms to cloud up the water.
When the hole is left unattended it must be marked and guarded as well.
| Ice Diving - Restrictions / WHO SHOULDN'T ICE DIVE |
| 'No' diving experience necessary |
| Under-18s must have written consent |
| No Pregnant Women |
| Need to Fit, Agile and taller than 1m60 |
Novice to Experienced - Accessible to all.
People who do not like the cold, Scared of Silence, the dark (although light does penetrate the ice) Claustrophobics (due to the formations of the ice the space can be quite tight) should not dive.
| Ice Diving - Equipment Supplied / ITEMS TO TAKE |
| Dry suit * Full-face mask * Air cylinder * Regulator * Insulated gloves |
| round neck close fitting / tight T-Shirt |
All the necessary equipment is provided for the safe and warm operation of the activity.
IMPORTANT: A close fitting/tight T-Shirt with a round neck (not with a collar) + very warm socks. When Diving you will only wear a T-Shirt and the insulated thermal suit that comes as part of your Dry Suit.
| Ice Diving - Suggested items |
| WARM CLOTHING - SKI CLOTHING + AN EXTRA JUMPER |
Ski Clothing - Jacket, Ski Pants, Hat, Gloves + an extra jumper
| Ice Diving - staff / NUMBERS |
| 2 INSTRUCTORS |
| 2 people / hour |
The number of clients the activity can cater for at any one time Maximum - One diver at any one time - 2 people / hour.
Have catered for a group of 150 people in one day - Extra Dive Instructors have been brought in.
Ice DIVING and Scuba Diving LINKS
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