Scuba-diving on North Pole 99

Diving in the high Arctic have been performed before, but never close to the Pole. The interest of various enterprises to sport, tourist and advertising events in the Arctic and particularly on the North Pole has greatly raised recently.

Some enthusiasts crossed Arctic from Russia to Canada via the North Pole on ski; for several years commercial parachuting on the North Pole has been performed.

Developing worldwide industry of underwater tourism draws attention of diving structures to such activity. In April of 1998 a team of Russian divers made an attempt to dive on the North Pole. The author of the project and the leader of the expedition was Andrew Rozhkov, a chief officer of the Central Rescue Air-group, Russian Ministry of Emergencies (RME). The expedition was conducted under the cover of RME. Also three divers from the Diving Club of the Moscow State University took part in the expedition. During the dive Andrew Rozhkov died of heart attack. He was the person whose name had to be placed in Guiness record. The expedition was stopped with the programme not finished. Afterwards, for the courage in testing new rescue equipment Andrew Rozhkov was rewarded with the "Hero of Russia" title.

Diving Club of Moscow State University plans a new expedition, dedicated to memory of Andrew Rozhkov.

The date of carrying out of program: April 15-23, 1999.

Project organizer: Diving Club of Moscow State University.

The team.

Diving Club of Moscow State University plan to send six members under the leadership of Michael V. Safonov, the Club's Vice-president.

The opportunity of joining the expedition can be discussed. Maximum number of extra places - 4.

Significance of the project

Underwater expedition to the North Pole is a unique action for the whole planet. Its meaning for science and sport is also high.

The Club considers diving on the Pole as a good opportunity to promote SCUBA-diving, marine biology, and environmental education. Furthermore, diving is one of the most technical sports, it reflects the level of technical progress in general, while the North Pole is one of the most unreachable and remote places on earth. From experience of all the previous scientific and sport expeditions to the North Pole it is known, that in these conditions only the highest class equipment works properly. Test by the Pole is the best exam for every part of equipment used and may serve as good advertising.

Until the moment, there were no successful dives on the North Pole in the history of mankind. Environmental conditions on the Pole are extremely complicated and dangerous in comparison with obvious ice-dives. Every potential participant should submit a copy of certificate and brief resume with 10 ice-dives minimum. We strongly recommend to do training ice-dives in lakes near Moscow in January-February or on the White Sea in March prior to the Pole expedition.

There are two options of the programme:

Option 1. Total cost of $12.000 (20,040 DM) includes transfer to the Pole, all organisation of diving under supervision of experienced ice-diving specialists, tanks and weight belts. The plan is to make one dive in the closest area to the Pole and probably more dives near the ice-camp through the specially made hole in the one-year ice 1.5-2 m thick or through a natural crack in old ice 5-12 m thick. In the fisrt case a warmed tent might be settled above the dive site, while in the second - just near by. Filling up tanks shoud be done in the camp only, because a different humidity of compressed air brought from any other place will cause regulator freezing and mulfunction in extremely low temperature on the Pole.
Two air-compressors are to be in the ice-camp. All dives are conducted in buddy pairs with descent lines 25 m long, hold by the watch-divers on the ice. Personal equipment are to be brought or rented by participants. Maximum diving depth is 20 m.

Option 2.Total cost $20.000 (33,400 DM) includes everything stated in Option 1 plus:

• for everyone:
  

  • dry suite;

  • two unfreezing regs;

  • jack;

  • computer;

  • full-face mask with the diving communication;

• for group:
  

  • portable recompression chamber and oxygen, diving physician;

  • underwater photo- and videocameras (Hi-8 and digital camera with lighter)

  • two generators for battery charge.

Maximum diving depth is 20 m, descent lines 30 m long.

In both options all participants can to take part in all stages of preparation for diving and carrying out of diving.
All intermediate options might be discussed.

We invite all interested persons to send preliminary requests, questions and proposals: