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TheCanadianAssociationofDivingContractors13InordertofurtherprotectthediverfromtheelementstheprovinceofQuebecontherecommendationoftheCommissiondelaSantetdelaScuritduTravailCSSThastakentheadditionalstepoflegislatingthemandatoryuseofhotwatersuitswhileconductingextremecoldwaterdivingoperationswithintheprovince.Whenthethermometerdropstosub-zerotemperaturesitisoftenthediverinthewaterwhohastheenviablejob.OntheGreatLakesinthedeadofwinteritisthecrewleftontheicewhoaremostaffectedbythecold.AsfarasthedivergoesheslaughingsaysGordHaychiefdivinginstructoroftheCanadianWorkingDiversInstitute.Inthewateritsabovefreezingthereisnowindchillandmostlikelyheiswearinglongunderwearifnotthatthanahotwatersuit.Theguysontheicewhoareholdingthehosearetheonesthatreallyfeelit.Butweareatoughindustryandwedontputupwithalotofwhining.Thefactissometimesyourecold.Notonlydoesthecrewsufferthefreezingconditionsonthesurfacethecoldalsotakesatollontheequipmentusedtosupportthediverslowingthepaceofthedivingoperations.Onceyougetunder-20IwouldsaythatyouaredoingabouthalftheworkyouwouldnormallydoinwarmertemperaturessaysHay.Thereisjustafairbitmoretodoandalotmorepreparationtoconsiderwhendivinginthecold.Ittakesalotlongertogettheequipmentgoingsometimestakinguptothreehoursbeforeeverythingisupandrunning.Youwillgoouttostartthecompressoranditwontevenwanttoturnoverunlessyoukeepitconstantlypluggedin.AsidefromthecommoncomplicationsthatarisewhenworkingunderfreezingconditionsthereareGoOnIntheextremecoldthecrewsuffersfreezingconditionsonthesurfaceandthecoldtakesatollontheequipmentusedtosupportthediverslowingthepaceofdivingoperations.PhotoprovidedbyExpertechMarine.AnO.D.S.MarineLtd.diverpreparingforcoldweatherdiving.