During ice diving, the standby tending line must be at least how many times as long as the divers' distance?

• A. Equal to the divers' distance
• B. Twice as long as the divers' distance
• C. Half as long as the divers' distance
• D. Three times the divers' distance

Answer: (B)

In ice diving, the standby tending line is a lifeline from the surface to the diver, so it must be long enough to reach the diver and still have extra length to bring them safely back to the hole. The minimum standard is twice the distance the divers are from the opening. This safety margin ensures the surface standby can reach the diver if they drift or move away, and still have enough line to assist with retrieval, control, and bringing the diver back through the entry. If the line were only equal to the distance, there would be no spare length to pull or maneuver the diver safely. A longer length offers more margin, but twice the distance is the stated minimum.