Course Announcement
Diving in the Arctic Environment
Sponsored By: Thelma AS (http://www.thelma.no)
23-30 March 2006
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, 1 February 2006
For further information, please contact:
Michael Lang
E-mail: langm [at] si.edu
For a complete course description, please go to:
http://www.si.edu/marinescience/Svalbard2006.doc
For the past 16 years, Thelma AS, an engineering company specializing in
extreme cold weather gear, has arranged courses on health and survival
in the arctic environment. A course on "Diving in the Arctic
Environment" will be conducted from 23-30 March 2006. The number of
participants is limited to 15.
The Arctic is of increasing commercial, scientific, and recreational
importance. This results in the need for proper diver training and
specialized equipment for conducting ice diving operations. This course
is mainly aimed at:
- individuals working in extreme environments, in particular personnel
in leadership positions responsible for diving operations in the Arctic;
- personnel responsible for development, testing, production, and
maintenance of equipment to be used in ice diving environments;
- medical personnel and physiologists interested in working on problems
related to cold and extreme environments, including accident management
and cold injuries; and
- scientists, commercial, and military personnel participating in diving
expeditions in cold and extreme environments.
Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and practical work
participants will gain a working knowledge of ice diving operations and
pre-/ post-dive equipment maintenance. There is a screening process for
participants to ensure appropriate diving experience.
LOCATION
The course will be held in Ny-Alesund, located on Spitsbergen, the
largest island of the Svalbard group. This settlement is a permanent
international research station, accessible only through special permits.
Originally a mining town where many famous polar explorers (Amundsen,
Nobile, Ellsworth) have started their expeditions to the North Pole,
this station now performs important biological, astrophysical, and
meteorological research. The station is accessible using boats in summer
and by small plane from Longyearbyen in winter. There is regular air
service from Tromso, Norway. In March, the average temperature is -15 C.
COURSE CONTENT
The following topics will be covered:
- The arctic environment
- Cold injuries and hypothermia
- Influence of cold on work performance
- Nutritional requirement in the Arctic
- Clothing for the cold
- Hygiene and prevention of injuries
- Diving emergencies and accident treatment
- Hazards, how to prevent and survive them
- How to face a polar bear
- Medical and physiological aspects of cold water diving
- Diving procedures
- Specialized diving modes
- Preparing scuba equipment for -1.8 C
- Diving operations
Participants are encouraged to bring their own specialized equipment to
the course. Tanks and weights will be provided. A limited amount of
other equipment will also be provided. Time for discussions and
demonstrations has been scheduled. Course size is limited to 15 diving
participants. The course language is English.
COST
The cost of the course is NOK 27.000 (approximately 4,000 USD). This
covers all travel and subsistence from Longyearbyen, rental of snow
scooters, all necessary top-side equipment, as well as course material.
Divers must bring their complete set of ice-diving equipment, except for
weights and cylinders.