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Finally figured out why my umbilical was always getting snagged
I was working a salvage job off the coast of Pensacola last month, and my tender kept having to stop me to untangle my lines. After the third time, he got on the comm and said, 'Viola, you're swimming in a straight line and turning your whole body like a truck.' He was right, I was pivoting from my shoulders instead of just turning my head and letting the hose follow. I started making smaller, smoother movements and it was a total game changer. Anyone else have a simple habit they had to unlearn down there?
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patricia426mo ago
Oh man, that is SO relatable! I had the exact same problem with my comms cable on a long survey dive. My supervisor told me I was moving like a robot, all stiff and making these big, jerky turns. He made me practice just moving my eyes and my head first, and letting everything else flow after. It felt silly at first but it made everything so much smoother.
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webb.linda6mo ago
My buddy did the same thing with his welding torch hose.
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patricia_hayes5mo ago
Drag your feet and look down at the ground every time you have to move the hose, that's the trick. Keeps you from tripping over it or yanking the torch out of position. Make sure your buddy is wearing heavy leather boots too, not those flimsy sneakers that'll melt if a spark lands on them. The hose should trail behind you, not loop around your ankles like a snake. And always, always test the connections before you start - nothing worse than a gas leak mid weld because the hose got twisted.
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