Had a disagreement with a diver on a job in Galveston last week about surface supplied bailout

We were on a 150 foot dive doing a pipeline inspection. My partner wanted to run his bailout bottle with a 40 foot hose, said it gave him more freedom to move if the umbilical snagged. I argued that a short hose, maybe 7 feet, keeps the bottle tight to your body and way less likely to get caught on anything down there. He said the long hose is standard for some North Sea ops. I think it's a huge snag risk in tight spaces. What's your take on bailout hose length for dirty water work?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_linda20d ago

Honestly, your partner is nuts for wanting a 40 foot hose in Galveston. Tbh, that long hose is a total trap waiting to happen in that murky water. I got my own bailout hose, just a standard short one, hooked on a piece of rebar last year in similar conditions and it scared me straight. Couldn't see it until I was already stuck. A long hose just gives you more line to tangle up in the dark. Keep it short and clipped tight, no question.

joel_butler20d ago

Seems a bit overblown, people dive with long hoses all the time.

keithbutler20d ago

Read about a guy who got his long hose caught in a wreck and had to cut it free. Your buddy's right about some standards, but snagging is a real worry in zero vis. Keep it short and tight for that kind of work, seems way safer to me.