Freediving
8 ice diving tips for exploring the earth’s frozen underbelly
Ice diving is quite literally one of the coolest adventures you can have. Freediver Magali Côté guides us through the depths of her obsession.
Having been born in Rimouski, a small coastal city in Quebec, Canada, Magali Côté was destined to develop a passion for cold water adventure. Whether it’s heading out in search of tuna as a commercial fisherwoman, or diving to the depths of remote lakes at altitude, these days her life is dedicated to exploring the ocean.
Magali Côté isn't your average freediver
© Magali Côté
Here, she talks us through everything ice diving has taught her, and what you can learn from it, too.
1. Ice diving is all about serenity
“I grew up in Québec, where lakes are covered with a thick layer of ice during winter. Early in my teens, I discovered a passion for diving and underwater exploration. Without any boat traffic, I ended up appreciating the quiet and clearer waters under the ice. Later, as a freediver, I had the desire to go back to my first passion and explore on a single breath of air. The quietness is absolute and serene. Being able to witness such beauty without any noisy breathing apparatus is amazing."
2. Find your spot
“Often, we dive in places that we've spotted in the summer. It’s important to have clear water, so you have good visibility on the dive. It’s also important that the ice is between 4-6 inches thick, so it’s strong enough to stand on while you’re walking out to the dive spot."
3. Choose your tools
“How we cut a hole in the ice depends on where we are. If we’re up in a mountain or somewhere accessible only by foot, we'll carry an auger and an axe. If it's accessible by car, we'll most likely bring a chainsaw. It's faster, which also means we don’t get as cold. It’s important to wear your wetsuit when you cut the hole because you’ll get wet doing it."
4. Freediving under ice is a whole different ball game
“Freediving in warm water is much easier for most people. Cold water makes your muscles tense and it's harder to relax and 'breathe up' before a dive. Bringing yourself into a zen state to slower your heart rate is an important part of freediving and doing it in ice cold water adds a challenge to it. You may not want to freedive at all, and do it with a scuba, but for me nothing beats it."
5. It’s vital to control your brain
“Freedivers tend to keep it very simple before a session. I relax as much as I can. I eat little, or not at all, beforehand. I try to bring my brain to a very relaxed state. I stretch slowly, to prepare my muscles and organs for the pressure and temperature change.
"I also prepare myself mentally for the cold shock. I know my body will tense up with the drastic change in temperature and this will make me want to breathe fast. I try to control my breathing and slow it down by controlling my thoughts. Everything starts in the head, the power lies within. Once you control your brain, your body is capable of amazing things, like tolerating being in this environment for much longer then you'd expect."
6. Deep dives, deep breath
“The freediving breathing technique I use is fairly simple and comparable to that of yoga and meditation. Basically, you take a deep breath, without forcing it too much. Then you keep it in for a second and you let it go very slowly. This type of breathing will allow you to stock up oxygen more than you would do with regular breathing, and it also slows your heart rate at the same time. Just close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let it go slowly. Again, you may want to use scuba apparatus, but this is my favourite way to dive.
You never know what you're going to find down there
© Paul Zizka
7. Put the focus on the 'now', not the 'what ifs'
“Freediving under the ice has its own risks, just like base jumping or any other extreme sports. When managed properly, one can reduce the risks and make it safer. The danger doesn’t give me a thrill, the danger makes me concentrated and calm because I have to keep a slow heart rate and a clear mind. My goal is not to die, my goal is to enjoy every moment I can spend on this earth by pushing my body’s limits and exploring this amazing playground."
8. Follow the light
“Getting back out of the water once you’ve dived beneath the ice is obviously very important. We can either tether ourselves to the surface, or we can keep an eye on the opening. If the visibility is clear it will be easy to find the opening, as the sun goes through the hole and it looks like a chimney made of light. It feels nicer to dive without a rope; it's a more enjoyable experience. But obviously, the risk is much greater.”