Ran into an old mentor on a job off Galveston last spring

He told me about the first time he dove the old rigs back in the 80s with just a hardhat and a lead line. No comms, no hot water suits, just him and a tender pulling rope. Has anyone else had a senior diver drop a story on you that really stuck?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancy8241mo ago

Is it really that romantic though? I've heard plenty of old stories that conveniently skip over how dangerous and lonely those early days actually were.

walker.hayden1mo ago

It's not like they were climbing Everest in a blizzard, people act like every old-timer was one bad knot from dying but half of them probably just sat on a wreck in 40 feet of water and called it a day, @nancy824.

riverm481mo ago

Must be nice having those stories about the good old days when they were basically one bad knot away from being fish food. Nancy has a point though, probably leaves out the part where they were freezing and couldnt hear anything but their own breathing for 8 hours. Sounds romantic until you remember your face is turning blue and you're trying not to panic because your tender is 60 feet up drinking coffee. I'd take the hot water suit and comms any day, at least I can complain to someone while I'm down there.