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onthecoverCanadaisanimmensegeographically-diversecountrywherethetemperaturecanvarywildlyfromseasontoseasonandfromcoasttocoasttocoast.TheweatherissoimportantthatevenourCanadianidentityisseentobeintricatelyinterwovenwithourrelationshiptotheoutsideenvironmentparticularlyduringthewintertime.Foradivingcompanythatworksduringthelongwintermonthstheextremecoldisnotjustadiscomforttoovercomeitprovidesadditionalchallengestooperationsthatareconsideredstrenuousunderidealconditions.ManeuveringmovingiceinQuebecWhileitistruethatthewintersarecoldinQuebecitisthetransitionfromwintertoearlyspringthatwillcausethemostconcernfordiversinlabelleprovince.InourprovinceweconsiderthatwinterconditionsstartinOctoberwiththefreezingcoldhumidity.ButwaterconditionsareattheirworstinFebruaryandMarchbecauseoftheicemovementswhichareextremelydangerousfordivers.AlsothewaterlevelsriseinthespringbecomingmuddyandtheflowisatitsmostpowerfulsaysYvesBecottepresidentofMVCOcanInc.Toavoidthepotentialdangersofmovingiceadivermustremainalertofhissurroundingsandbeabletoevaluatethechangesinweathertoavoidbeingcaughtunawarebyerranticeflows.Icedeflectorsmayalsobeusedtohelpdiverttheiceoutoftheworkareaandaroundthevulnerablediver.WhenwediveinthePortofMontrealandhavesomebacked-upiceflowingdownweneedtotakespecialprecautionsandinstallicedeflectorsordiveintotunnelstoensurethesafetyofthediversfrombeingdraggedawaybyicesaysBecotte.Anicedeflectorcouldbeabackhoesuspendingaplateofsteeltoblocktheincomingiceandprotectthediver.Itcouldalsobeasimplepipethatwouldensurethatiftheiceweremovingitwouldnotbreaktheumbilicalandplacethediverinjeopardy.Marc-AndrDesypresidentandownerofExpertechMarineInc.alsostressesthatextraawarenessandpreparednessarethetwothingsthatwillhelpkeepadiversafeduringthewintermonthsadvicethatringstruenotonlyinQuebecwinterconditionsbutinallcolddivingregionsacrossthecountry.Andwhilethereisalwaysthepotentialfordisasterwhencoldwaterdivingitisbytakingtheseprecautionsthattheprofessionitselfisverysafefordiversregardlessoftheseason.WearevigilantwithourequipmentandtakeintoaccountthecoldanditsimpactonthestaffandonthemachinerysaysDesy.Asafetyplanisdrawnoutandeachteamplayerhashistaskstoperform.Everyonehastodotheirpartinmaintainingasafeandcomfortabledivingenvironment.ByPaulAdairWinterDivinginCanadaTheSnowMustAwarenessandpreparednesshelpkeepdiverssafewhilecoldweatherdiving.PrecautionswithequipmentandmachinerylikeExpertechMarinesset-upbelowkeeptheprofessionalssafeineveryseason.12www.cadc.caFallWinter2013