Vent: A new diver on the barge said he'd never use a bailout bottle on a shallow job

We were working a 40 foot bridge inspection in Mobile, and this kid fresh out of school said his instructor told him bailout was only for deep dives. I argued that silt can blind you or a hose can snag at any depth. He said the extra gear was a hassle and slowed him down. It got me thinking about where we draw the line on safety versus speed. What's the shallowest depth you'd still insist on carrying a bailout?

2 comments

2 Comments

susanh465d ago

His instructor must have taught in a swimming pool. Silt doesn't care how deep you are, it just goes black. A freeflow at 40 feet is still a long swim up if you're panicking and out of air. Calling extra air a "hassle" is a good way to become a lesson for the next class. I wouldn't get in the water without a bailout, period. It's not about depth, it's about having a plan when your main air quits.

jakewhite5d ago

Yeah, "lesson for the next class" is the scary truth.