Got tangled in a fishing net 40 feet down off the coast of Galveston last Tuesday

I was doing a routine hull inspection on a shrimp boat when a loose net wrapped around my legs. Took me a good 5 minutes of spinning and cutting to get free, and my dive buddy just laughed over the comms the whole time. The worst part was the smell of old shrimp guts stuck to my suit for the rest of the day. Has anyone else had a close call with fishing gear or debris on a job?

3 comments

3 Comments

piperwhite1mo ago

Bet that old shrimp smell actually saved you because it forced you to get topside fast to scrub off instead of lingering to check for more hazards. A clear sign you're done for the day can keep you from pushing your luck on the next dive. Sometimes the gross stuff is the universe's way of telling you to pack it in early.

patriciap521mo ago

Old shrimp guts are the least of your worries, honestly (not to downplay the smell, it's foul). A 40-foot tangle with that net could have been your ticket to a real headache if you'd panicked or run out of air faster. Your buddy laughing instead of helping sounds like a safety hazard waiting to happen (not a great teammate move). I'd argue you got off easy with just a stinky suit.

the_lee4d ago

Wait, "buddy laughing instead of helping"... that's the part that's got me shook. You're telling me you're wrapped up in a net at 40 feet and your dive partner is just cracking up? That's not a buddy, that's a liability. @piperwhite had a point about the gross stuff being a sign, but I'd argue that buddy of yours is a bigger red flag than any shrimp guts could ever be. Honestly, that kind of reaction could get someone killed on a more serious snafu. You definitely got off easy with just a stinky suit...