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End 2011 and beginning of 2012

So it happened that we celebrated the end 2011 and beginning of 2012 twice. First more than 30 participants (20 divers) got together on the 24^th of December on the lake shores to congratulate Baikal with New Years celebratory dive. BaikalTek’s New Year’s tree this year was “green”, ecological; not to litter Baikal and cut down life fur-tree – we put together New Year’s tree out of wooden planks and used masks, flippers, snorkels and lanterns as decorations.

Participants were of different levels, from AOWD to trimix-instructors, and all were able to participate in a dance around the tree. We all played “pull-rope” and took lots of pictures next to the tree. The most successful competition was speed champagne drinking – one of the teams even asked for the second bottle! And at this time on the shore in kazan real Uzbek pilaf was being cooked!

After the party on the 24^th we certainly didn’t expect that we will want take-two. But there were seven people obsessed with diving. We divided into 3 groups – trimix (100m – Tatyana Oparina and Gennady Misan) – techno (60 m – Aandrey Shirobokov, Vasily Yaroshenko), and recreational (30 , Tatyana Grebenyuova, Aleksye Bormotov, and Maxim Skripnik). We dived not at “X TIME”, but at 19:30, when it was completely dark. We didn’t put another fur-tree, just dove and congratulated each other with champagne at 12 meters. Water cooled down significantly in seven days, from +4 to +1,8. And outside the water was complete still and light snow – like fairy tale.

Even though we have been diving at Baikal almost every day we have never seen so much fish. It was a present from Baikal itself! Bottom of the lake at 100 meters was covered with fat (deep-water) bychki, omul and gammarus (Baikal-shrimp). But at about 50 meters all the fish got scattered away and the recreational divers saw only few. But even that was fantastic, such things can rarely be seen during night diving. At 97 meters we exchanged gifts, and at 30 – met rest of the group. Unfortunately, this time we were not allowed the champagne. But champagne and fireworks were waiting on-shore. I wonder if anybody else dives at night, in ice-cold water to 100 meters? If anybody knows – let us know (for experience exchange sake)

As usual, beginning of January was busy with OWD course. Aleksey Bormotov and Andrey Shirobokov completed ER TDI courses. Dmitry Rogovoi continued his education for Adv. EAN and dive-master IANTD. And of course BaikalTek members and our guest simply enjoyed diving. We dove with one tank, on air and nitrox, on spark, with stage, without stages and with site-mount. All skills counted!

Fall and winter of 2011 we devoted to cave diving. We dove in caves of France, Cuba and in Orda – the largest gypsum cave in the world, located in Perm Oblast. 

Gennady Misan – cave instructor of BaikalTek taught in Orda courses Cavern, Intro to Cave and Full Cave Diver TDI. Next cave courses will take place in Orda in Mid-May 2012.

In the fall and winter of 2011 we also had a lot of technical diving and instructor courses. The fact that Baikal freezes only after New Year’s facilitates great technical diving. We prepared two instructors IANTD and three instructors CMAS. We also graduated several ER divers TDI and technical divers IANTD. We prepared Advanced Trimix Diver TDI and Gaz Blender.

Now ahead of use is Ice Jeep Diving safari – a program of best under-ice diving in the world. Such statement is not made by us, but by our guests.