Ice diving opens up a surreal, alien world that few people get to experience. From swimming with curious seals to exploring ice caves and shipwrecks, ice diving destinations around the world offer one-of-a-kind adventures. Here are some of the top spots for ice diving expeditions.
Tobermory, Canada
Tobermory is located on the shores of Lake Huron in Fathom Five National Marine Park. This ice diving destination is known for its shipwrecks, including the famous Sweepstakes schooner wreck. During the winter, the lake freezes over, allowing divers to explore the wrecks encased in ice. The sunlight shining through the icy turquoise water creates a magical scene. March is the best time for ice diving here when the lake is completely frozen.
Baffin Island, Canada
The Canadian territory of Nunavut in the Arctic is renowned for its polar bears, whales, and massive grounded icebergs. Operator Arctic Kingdom leads expeditions to Baffin Island for ice diving at the floe edge, where the moving pack ice meets the ocean. Divers can swim through cracks and caverns in the floating ice sheets and observe Arctic wildlife like ringed seals. May is the ideal month to see migrating bowhead whales, belugas, and narwhals in the watering holes at the ice edge.
Newfoundland, Canada
Newfoundland has epic iceberg diving from April to July. Operators takes divers offshore to meet towering icebergs drifting down from Greenland along the Labrador Current. The 15,000 year old icebergs come alive with loud fizzing and cracking sounds as they dissolve and break apart. Divers in dry suits can swim through the pieces and view underwater ice shards shooting toward the surface. It’s critical to carry lift bags for emergency ascent due to the extreme unpredictability of currents around crumbling icebergs.
North Pole, Alaska
Located above the Arctic Circle, Summit Lake offers spectacular glacial ice diving with mountain views. From October to May, the high altitude tundra lake has crystal clear ice up to 4 feet thick. The light penetration under the frozen layer allows unique photographic opportunities. Divers may encounter Arctic grayling and other coldwater species. Late April is ideal with longer days and the possibility of viewing migrating waterfowl stopping at this remote lake.
Hudson River, New York
New York’s Hudson River freezes over in sections during the winter months, revealing Revolutionary War artifacts in the ice and sediment. Divers have discovered colonial musket balls, wooden shipwrecks, and even a rare 18th century hand grenade while ice diving here. The river can have extremely variable ice conditions depending on location, ranging from 1 inch to 10 inches thick. An experienced guide is essential for safely navigating the changing ice conditions. February offers the most expansive and stable ice cover on the historic river.
East Greenland
The little-explored fjords of East Greenland allow adventurous ice divers to discover new dive sites every day. Operator Northern Explorers mounts expeditions to drift among free-floating icebergs and peer up at their glowing blue formations. The arctic waters here host a diversity of cold-water coral and sponges beneath the frozen ceiling. Divers should listen for cracking noises and watch for falling chunks of ice. Expeditions run during August and September when longer days allow for more dive time.
Antarctica
The Antarctic Peninsula provides an otherworldly ice diving experience with whales, seals, and hordes of penguins. The frigid water hosts a strange array of colorful invertebrates like sea squirts blanketing the seafloor. Playful leopard seals often swim up to divers out of curiosity. Above the surface, the landscape changes daily with shifting ice sheets, glaciers, and newly calved icebergs. Trips to Antarctica for ice diving generally occur from January to March.
Whether you’re looking to explore a legendary shipwreck or drift alongside a towering iceberg, these ice diving destinations offer once-in-a-lifetime thrills through a magical frozen world. As climate change continues to impact polar regions, the chance to scuba dive under the ice may become rarer in years to come. So take the polar plunge to experience these remarkable underwater realms while you still can.
