PSA: Stop running your umbilical straight off the ladder like I did for 5 years

I used to just drop my umbilical straight down from the dive ladder and call it good, every single dive for years. Figured it was fine since the crew always had slack managed above water... but last month on a bridge pier job in Charleston, a boat wake yanked my line hard and nearly pulled my reg out. That's when I finally switched to a dedicated tending line clipped to my harness with a carabiner, running the umbilical through a pulley at the surface. Took me 30 minutes to rig up and cost like 40 bucks for some line and a block. Now my umbilical rides clean off my side and that tug from surface movement is way less jarring. Who else is still doing the ladder drop and ignoring the risk?

3 comments

3 Comments

lee.drew25d ago

Man, that wake story is scary! I rigged mine the same way but with a cheap snap hook instead of a carabiner and it's made a world of difference for keeping things steady.

williamb2925d ago

Damn, that snap hook ever slip or pop open on you when the line goes tight?

jamesm3823d ago

I've been running a coast lock snap on my setup for three trips now and not a single issue even with fish peeling drag hard. Just make sure it's rated for the line strength and you're golden.