Remember when we had to hand-signal everything from the bottom

I was thinking back to my first dive job back in 2000 on a rig in the Gulf. We didn't have any of those fancy comms headsets, just rope pulls and hand signals for everything. Now I hop in with a full comms system that lets me talk to the supervisor like we're on a phone call. It's a world of difference for safety, but I kinda miss the simplicity sometimes. Anyone else feel like the old methods made you a sharper diver?

2 comments

2 Comments

max3887d ago

Man you gotta understand it was a different mindset back then. Every buddy check meant something because if you missed a hose routing or valve position underwater you were screwed. We had a system of pulls for emergencies - one for help, two for OK, three for something wrong. I remember a rookie got his line tangled on a crossbrace and we sorted it out in like 45 seconds with rope taps. Comms are great don't get me wrong but when you can't just say "hey I'm stuck" you learn to stay aware of your whole surroundings. That awareness doesn't go away once you get a headset in.

the_leo7d ago

Whoa wait you started in 2000 on a rig in the Gulf? That's wild man. I woulda lost my mind with just rope pulls and hand signals especially on a busy rig. How did you even manage emergency stuff with no comms? Respect for surviving that.