Back in the Gulf, we had a real issue with silt blinding us during a pipeline survey.

The current would kick up the bottom and you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. After a couple of dives going nowhere, I tried something my first dive boss mentioned years ago. I brought down a small, empty plastic jug with the cap on tight and gave it a good squeeze about ten feet upstream of my work area. The little burst of water pushed the silt cloud away just long enough to get a clear look and mark the section. It was a simple trick, but it saved us half a day. Anyone else have a low-tech fix for working in zero visibility?

3 comments

3 Comments

wesley38518d ago

Ever try just using a big turkey baster? I keep one in my kit for blowing silt off small spots. Works way better than your hand for a direct blast. For bigger areas, a small bilge pump with a hose can clear a whole section if you've got power topside. Sometimes the cheap stuff is just the right tool.

the_susan18d ago

My dive buddy brought a turkey baster on a wreck dive last year and I laughed until I saw it work. That little squeeze cleared a date stamp on a bottle I'd been waving my hand over for ten minutes. The bilge pump idea is wild but honestly, if it looks stupid and it works, it's not stupid. I've spent way too much on fancy gear that does the same job as stuff from the kitchen drawer.

the_simon18d ago

Next we'll be raiding the kitchen for dive gear.