Under ice, if you become a lost diver, which action best ensures rescue by the standby?

• A. Relocate the hole immediately to reach the surface
• B. Ascend to the underside of the ice and thread an ice screw into the ice. Maintain your position and stay vertical in the water column so that the standby can snag you with the tending line.
• C. Remain at depth and wait for a rescue buoy
• D. Swim toward a known open water channel

Answer: (B)

Under ice, getting found quickly by the standby depends on giving them a clear, easy-to-reach signal and a stable target to grab. Moving up to the underside of the ice and threading an ice screw into the ice creates a fixed anchor point and a direct way to attach the tending line. By staying vertical in the water column, you present a predictable silhouette and minimize drift, which makes you easier to locate and snag with the line. This setup lets the standby pull you toward the hole and out safely, rather than risking disorientation or entanglement.

Relocating a surface hole, waiting at depth for a rescue buoy, or swimming toward an open-water channel all introduce delays, hazards, and opportunities to drift away from the standby or become entangled. A new hole under the ice doesn’t guarantee faster rescue and can complicate the environment; waiting for a buoy consumes valuable air and time; and moving toward a channel can separate you from the rescuers and from the line. The targeted use of the ice underside, ice screw, and tending line is the most reliable approach to a prompt and controlled rescue.