Extreme Scuba Diving

There are those who think that scuba diving is too sedate to even be considered a sport, but I wonder how many of them have tried ice diving? This is just one of the extreme kinds of diving more and more people are trying out. It is no longer enough to don a suit, pull on some tanks and go for a leisurely swim in the warm Caribbean waters - admiring the fish and the coral then returning to the shore or the dive boat to drink a cold one. More frequently divers are pushing the envelope and looking for something challenging that will give them that incredible adrenalin rush.

Ice diving is one of those things. Instead of heading to warmer climes - which tend to be overpopulated by tourists of every inclination and increasingly overdeveloped - why not head north to the White Sea, in northern Russia. There are other locations - such as Newfoundland and Antarctica where you can also try this out, but the White Sea is the last "undiscovered" destination.

When you dive below the ice you will see ethereal, multi-hued comb jellies float by. Undulating blankets of large round anemones in salmon pink or ivory look akin to a fabulous art display. All of this is below the ice - which if you look up - appears to be an occluded window of glass, filtering the sunlight. Not what you would call sedate. Ice cold water holds many dangers. A possible danger is your valves that may freeze up, there is the chance you may lose your bearings as your air runs out, swimming along just below the ice, so close to salvation yet imprisoned below. These (and more) are very real risks to be considered, before participating in this kind of activity. For Ice Diving it is necessary to be in a group, where each diver is connected by a rope to a partner in the water and another above the ice.

But ice diving is not the only extreme dive you can consider – lets have a look at another one...

Perhaps you would be more interested in going cave diving? Luckily there are a number of locations you can consider. Please remember that you need to be an experienced diver and that this isn't for the faint-hearted. Extensive training is required before performing a cave dive and you (and your family) must be prepared to accept all consequences...

Top 10 most dangerous cave diving sites in North America alone:

1. Aussie's Black Holes - Andros, Bahamas - 2000ft and a definite no other than for scientific researchers.

2. Eagle's Nest Sinkhole - Weeki Wachi, Florida, USA - 315ft and only for the technically sound.

3. Diepolder II or III - Sand Hill Boy Scout Camp on Hwy 50 between Brooksville and Weeki Wachee Springs - 300 and 360ft. Guided dives only.

4. Conch Sound Diving Site - Andros, Bahamas - 90ft and part of the Blue Holes system. It alternately "blows" and "sucks" and dives need to take place at certain times. Light does not penetrate very deeply. This dive is only for very experienced and technically sound divers.

5. Thunder Hole - situated on a private property in North Central Florida, USA - at 460ft this is an offset sinkhole from the Withlacoochee River - permission is required from the owner.

6. Devil's Eye/Ear - Santa Fe River, Ginnie Springs, Florida, USA - 30,000ft of passageways that have been mapped. Risk here is a breakdown restriction at 200ft from the entrance - current blows strongly. This dive is only recommended for experienced divers.

7. Orange Grove - Peacock Springs Park, Florida, USA – This dive site is another offset sinkhole and has minimal flow until 800ft downstream, when it meets Distance Tunnel. At times there are no visibility as the spring becomes thick with algae. With no visibility it is hard to access the cave. Lower Orange Grove is another cave which is very advanced with lots of silt and a depth of 180ft. Remember, this dive is only recommended for experienced divers.

8. Challenge Sink - Across the street from Peacock Springs Park - caution is needed here with a precarious climb into or out of Challenge – We recommend that all divers must be physically fit for this dive.

9. Henley's Castle - part of the Peacock III system - 185ft and no solo dives are allowed here. Peacock III is a siphon and so water flows in - making the exit more difficult and the clarity not so good.

10. Temple of Doom - Tulum, Mexico - 60ft and the entry point is very uncomfortable. Cave diving here means entering half fresh/half saltwater. Not recommended for a novice diver.

Please let us know where you think the best cave dive is and what other types of dives you’ll consider as extreme.