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Diving in the Gulf without a comms box back in the 80s
I got my start diving in the Gulf of Mexico around 1984. Back then we used hardwire comms from a topside box that weighed maybe 40 pounds. You had to run a physical cable down the umbilical and if it snagged on a platform leg, you lost communication for a few minutes until you sorted it out. Now I work mostly inland and use a wireless diver communication unit that clips right onto my harness. The unit costs about $300 and works clear for a hundred feet underwater. The old way taught you patience but I sure don't miss hauling that heavy box around. Has anyone else seen the switch from wired to wireless on their jobs?
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jones.grace1mo ago
Oh man, I remember hauling those 40-pound boxes around, not fun at all. My biggest tip for anyone making the switch to wireless is always carry a backup battery pack, because those units can crap out right when you need them most. Once you get the hang of the lighter setup, it feels like a whole different job underwater.
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