In recent years the world’s thirst for oil has led the oil companies to explore in
deeper and deeper offshore waters. This search has been made possible by
improved diving techniques and has itself generated further developments.
The topics covered include:
The increased pressure underwater and the reasons for slow decompression on
the return to the surface
Decompression tables and surface recompression
The problems of buoyancy and the threat to divers of all water movements
The use of the wet bell
The problems of breathing air underwater and the reasons for using heliox
The problems of breathing heliox
The theory and practice of saturation diving
The use of the diving bell
The remote controlled vehicle
Diving emergencies
What steps should be taken by people working near divers to ensure the safety of
the diving operations
Divers are professionals. They are an essential but vulnerable part of any offshore
team. They are strangers in a totally hostile environment. With the aid of technology
and training they are able to work there. They do not need unnecessary hazards.
Everyone on an installation has a contribution to make to keep any diving operations
as safe as possible.
THE ROLE AND DUTIES OF THE TENDER AND STAND-BY DIVER
Code No 923
Time: 17 Mins
In surface-orientated diving operations the roles of both stand-by diver and tender
are vital to the diving team. In the very rare incidents that occur, the life of the diver
may well depend on how the other members of the diving team react in the first few
minutes of the emergency. This will depend on their training and how well prepared
they were before the dive began. This film illustrates proper working practices.
An exercise involving the recovery of an unconscious diver is shown in detail,
illustrating correct recovery procedures. The priorities of ensuring air supply and of
reporting progress to the supervisor are emphasized. The exercise shows the
casualty being brought to the surface and being resuscitated in a deck
decompression chamber. Methods of expired air resuscitation (EAR) are illustrated
and discussed. In every instance the film seeks to give a practical illustration of the
techniques required and a realistic appraisal of the best way of proceeding.
The video stresses that there are no short cuts in diving safety. Diving is only safe
when you remember that it can be dangerous.
The video looks at the role of the Bellman in bell diving operations. It stresses that
the basis for safety is good training, keeping alert and keeping strictly to the
established procedures.
It covers an exercise of the recovery of an unconscious diver by the Bellman.
Underwater cinematography shows the correct procedures and emphasizes the
importance of restoring the gas supply and the need for speed. The casualty is seen
being received and resuscitated inside the diving bell. In any real emergency the
Bellman will need to think and act rapidly, making decisions based on his knowledge
of diving medicine techniques. This film deals at length with a real diving incident
involving the recovery of an unconscious diver. R.O.V. (Remotely Operated Vehicle)
pictures of the actual rescue are shown and the two individuals involved, casualty
and bellman, discuss their experiences and what they learned from them.
This film is intended as a general introduction to the subject of saturation diving and
the principle audience would be divers, construction and maintenance engineers
involved in underwater operations.
What do we mean by saturation diving? All divers know that, under pressure, gas
dissolves in the bloodstream. The greater the depth and time the more gas will be
dissolved and the longer the decompression time. This is all explained in the film.
The equipment used when diving in great depths is shown and the operation of
same. Dangers of hypothermia are covered. A complete operation is staged thus
bringing to the attention of all concerned that, if all precautions and safe practices
are taken at each stage, the possibility of an accident is greatly reduced.
Time: 22 Mins