Just realized hot water diving might not be worth the hype after a 90 foot weld job in the Gulf

I tried running hot water during a deep repair on a platform off Grand Isle last month. The suit kept me warm but the umbilical got so tangled in the current I spent half the dive fighting it instead of welding. My buddy was running ambient water and finished his part way faster with no drama. Now I'm wondering if hot water is more of a comfort crutch than a real tool for certain jobs. Anyone else had a job where hot water made things worse instead of better? Or am I just missing something about how to rig it right?

2 comments

2 Comments

caseym4817d ago

Right, because nothing says "efficient workday" like wrestling a fire hose that's actively trying to drag you to Louisiana. Sounds like your comfort crutch turned into an anchor. Guess the real tool was the ambient water you made friends with along the way.

norag6617d ago

Oh man, you hit the nail right on the head with that one. Had a similar mess up in the North Sea a few years back (freezing cold water, lots of current) and the hot water umbilical turned into this giant snake trying to drag me along with it. Spent more time untangling myself than actually cutting the bolts I was there for. The guy next to me in ambient gear was just chilling and got done an hour ahead of me. It's a real crutch when the conditions are already fighting you, you know? Makes you wonder if all that extra gear is worth the hassle for certain dives.