Increased decompression stress will be experienced by divers remaining warm during descent and bottom phases and cool or cold during ascent and stop phases. Decreased decompression stress will be experienced by divers remaining cool or cold during descent and bottom phases and warm during ascent and stop phases. Dive computers measure water temperature, not thermal status, leaving it to the diver to consciously manage thermal status and risk.

It was the end of April, and it was supposed to be the end of winter. But once again, I had to refrain from putting my thick winter coat on the very top shelf of my wardrobe. I was already looking for the first barbecue party with friends, but the north was calling me—the Great Canadian North—and how could I say no to going back to the floe edge? So, I packed my winter coat, my diving and filming gear, and headed to a small village in the remote north called Pond Inlet. It was one of the isolated hamlets where the only road was the sea of either water or ice.

I was told all this by an old friend (and expert diver) because he was keen to entice me (just recently returned from a dive trip in the tropics) to take part in a dubious expedition somewhere far to the north and under the ice. But at the time, it seemed to me to be an extreme adventure, so I had some doubts.

Winter is long here, and I had already had my fill of warm water and colorful fish, so I listened to his authoritative comments and expert opinions and decided to test myself once again.

As is now tradition, the championship took place in Novik Bay in February. The ice on the sea is the most stable during this month. Preparation for the competition was carried out over several weeks. It was necessary to take care of the accommodation of Russian and foreign competitors as well as to prepare a "field" for the competition. This year, the organizers decided to form ice lanes in the shape of an infinity symbol, marked with checkpoints, and to place entrances to the ice lanes in the center of each ring.

To book your team for next year’s competition, go to: Icedive.me.

For more information, visit Aleksei Kondratuk’s website at: UWvision.com.