Author Archives: International Scuba

Scuba Dive into the Legendary 8th Annual Ice Hole Festival at Lake Okoboji, Iowa

LAKE OKOBOJI, Iowa, Jan. 9, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — International Scuba proudly announces the highly anticipated 8th Annual Ice Hole Festival. Bringing scuba divers and enthusiasts together to assess their ice diving skills. From January 30 to February 2, 2025, the lake will be transformed – featuring events for both instructors and certified divers.

Image caption: Ice Hole Festival Participants.

Legendary in the scuba diving community. Over the years, it has drawn certified divers from Canada, Mexico, Florida, Arkansas, Texas, Illinois, and California. What began as a whimsical idea on a Texan’s bucket list has evolved into a thrilling annual gathering of adventurous scuba divers from across the continent.

As Richard Thomas, Owner of International Scuba in Dallas, TX explains, “The Ice Hole Festival aims to bring together scuba divers eager to expand their skill set and foster collaborative relationships with Scuba Dive centers throughout North America.”

The festival has become a platform for scuba shops to sponsor Ice Diving Instructors, establishing themselves as stakeholders with yearly benefits.

PADI has generously stepped up as our headline sponsor providing unparalleled access to ice training for both Instructors and divers. Our other generous sponsors are Avelo, Fourth Element, PADI, and Waikiki Dive Center. PADI will be primary the certification delivered on-site. However, all shops and agencies are welcome to participate and use our ice diving logistics.

For inquiries, contact the shop at 972-416-8400. International Scuba offers scuba diving certifications for all experience levels.

IMAGE LINK for media: https://internationalscuba.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DSC03878.jpg

NEWS SOURCE: International Scuba

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7th Annual Ice Hole Festival Ticket Sales Hit Record Numbers

LAKE OKOBOJI, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- International Scuba is thrilled to announce the success of the 7th Ice Hole Festival. The event celebrates the unique thrill of ice diving while promoting scuba diving certifications. The festival is hosted at the Arrowwood Resort in Iowa but draws attention from across the world.

Ticket sales hit record numbers. Along with new sponsors and media outlets wanting to cover the festival. Excitement was felt among participants and organizers. In what started as a Texan's bucket list entry. With a diver walking into International Scuba in Carrollton, Texas. He inquired about scuba diving under ice. Everyone knows there is no ice in Texas. So, Richard Thomas, owner of International Scuba, called his friends in South Dakota, which is known for its ice.

Meeting up with Colonel Echols of Land Shark Scuba in Sioux Falls, they organized the first weekend of ice diving. Locals showed up to watch the crazy Texans willing to risk freezing on a -20F day. It turned out the joke was on them. Everyone had so much fun and bonded while completing an extreme sport that a pact was made to repeat it again next year with the locals. So became the legend of the Ice Hole Festival.

The event has grown every year. It now draws certified scuba divers from Canada, Mexico, Florida, Arkansas, Texas, Illinois, and California.

According to Rich Thomas, Owner, and Operator of International Scuba, "The unique nature of the environment seems to really attract the southern scuba divers that want to test their skill in a harsh environment. And the Friday Night Ice Hole Cutting and bon fire has become legendary. It includes pizza, drinks that warm your heart and toes, and a bonfire on ice."

Thomas adds, "Our mission was to create ice divers from the top down, and I believe this festival has a very strong group of Instructors and Course Directors, ready to take us forward every year."

Next year's event is already in the books. Dive Shops reach out to receive promotional materials. Early bird shops will benefit with links to sign up in our ice hole shop locater, posters, and a minimum of one industry wide press release.

You can sign up online here: https://internationalscuba.com/travel/us/ice-hole-festival

You can also call the shop at 972-416-8400. Divers that have gear rental needs please call the shop or email rich@internationalscuba.com. We have tanks at the event for those flying in.

International Scuba in Dallas provides scuba diving certifications for all experience levels, small classes, flexible schedules, and year-round diving. https://internationalscuba.com/

International Scuba is thrilled to announce the success of the 7th Ice Hole Festival. The event celebrates the unique thrill of ice diving while promoting scuba diving certifications. The festival is hosted at the Arrowwood Resort in Iowa but draws attention from across the world.

Related link: https://internationalscuba.com/

7th Annual Ice Hole Festival in Lake Okoboji, Iowa Creates Waves, with the Thrills and Chills of Scuba Diving

LAKE OKOBOJI, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- International Scuba proudly announces the return of the much-anticipated Ice Hole Festival. An event that has become legendary in the scuba diving community. What began as a whimsical idea on a Texan's bucket list has evolved into a thrilling annual gathering of adventurous scuba divers from across the continent. The annual Ice Hole Festival will be Held Feb 8 - 11, 2024.

The unique environment attracts divers seeking to assess their skills in harsh conditions. Over the years, the festival has drawn certified scuba divers from Canada, Mexico, Florida, Arkansas, Texas, Illinois, and California.

As Richard Thomas, Owner of International Scuba in Dallas, Texas, explained, "The Ice Hole Festival aims to bring together scuba divers eager to expand their skill set and foster collaborative relationships with Scuba Dive centers throughout North America."

The festival has become a platform for scuba shops to sponsor Ice Diving Instructors, establishing themselves as stakeholders with yearly benefits.

An added benefit is the collaboration between Scuba Dive shops on various events throughout the year. Ocean Impact from Arkansas hosts a spearfishing tournament, and other shops eagerly support such events, creating a larger following for each participating shop.

PADI has generously taken the role of headline sponsor, providing unparalleled access to ice training for both instructors and divers. Fourth Element will also be attending as a title sponsor. They will provide special gifts to all divers. We are happy to announce our new shop and sponsor Y-KIKI from the great state of Missouri.

Sign up online at International Scuba. For inquiries, contact the shop at 972-416-8400. International Scuba offers scuba diving certifications for all experience levels.

Don't miss the chance to be part of the 7th annual Ice Hole Festival.

Learn more: https://internationalscuba.com/travel/us/details/?trip=ice-hole-festival

International Scuba proudly announces the return of the much-anticipated Ice Hole Festival. An event that has become legendary in the scuba diving community. What began as a whimsical idea on a Texan's bucket list has evolved into a thrilling annual gathering of adventurous scuba divers from across the continent. The annual Ice Hole Festival will be Held Feb 8 - 11, 2024.

Related link: https://internationalscuba.com/

Enthusiasm Filled the Lake as Scuba Divers Came Together for International Scuba’s 6th Annual Ice Hole Festival on Feb 6, 2023, at Lake Okoboji, IA

LAKE OKOBOJI, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- Scuba divers from Canada, Mexico, and the USA joined International Scuba's 6th Annual Ice Hole Festival. The week started off with pro level scuba diving training. There were several people to help gear up. As soon as you are out of the water, our hospitality team takes over, with a cup of hot soup, drinks and more food. All while other divers help take your kit off.

Once you are warmed up you rotate into a support position. This is the secret that brings everyone together. The amount of coordinated teamwork is nonnegotiable, and everyone takes their job seriously.

Instructors and even a course director got their certifications on site. International Scuba showed how training agencies can work well together with PADI and SSI both sharing the hole to create new ice diving professionals. With our new instructors and the group's experience, they had things running smoothly all week.

PADI, one of our title sponsors has stepped up big for several years. On loan for the weekend is Charles Dupont, ice diving expert and PADI Rep for much of Canada. SSI also showed up to represent. Mark R Scott III has been a large portion of our program. It took a year to fully embrace this PADI and SSI effort, but it works, and all of us are winners for it. Fourth Element was our first sponsor and a serious asset to the Ice Hole Festival. International Scuba also welcomed Boji Divers. They conducted most of the salvage on the lake by cutting the hole. Cutting ice is no easy chore.

"Our mission was to create ice divers from the top down, and I believe this festival has a very strong group of Instructors and Course Directors, ready to take us forward every year," says Rich Thomas, Owner and Operator of International Scuba.

Next year's event is already in the books. Save the date: February 8 through 11, 2024. Lake Okoboji, Iowa.

Dive Shops: reach out to receive promotional materials. Early bird shops will benefit with links to sign up in our ice hole shop locater, posters, and a minimum of one industry wide press release.

If you are interested in getting involved with shops that want to build scuba, visit International Scuba here: https://internationalscuba.com/. Or call 972-416-8400.

Scuba divers from Canada, Mexico, and the USA joined International Scuba's 6th Annual Ice Hole Festival. The week started off with pro level scuba diving training. There were several people to help gear up. As soon as you are out of the water, our hospitality team takes over, with a cup of hot soup, drinks and more food. All while other divers help take your kit off.

Related link: https://internationalscuba.com/