Got my first real bell dive done in the Gulf last month

I been doing surface supply for 3 years. Finally got a chance to go down in a bell off a rig in the Gulf of Mexico. 120 feet, 40 minutes on the bottom. That chamber ride is something else. Felt like I was back in training but the visibility was better than I expected. Made a small repair on a cathodic protection anode. The supervisor gave me a nod after. That felt good. Anyone else remember their first time in a bell?

2 comments

2 Comments

holly_reed5514d ago

Was the visibility as clear as the training tanks or better?

riley_wood8414d ago

Oh, good question. I've spent a fair bit of time in both the training tanks and open water, and I'd say the visibility in the tanks is actually too good. They're crystal clear, almost like swimming in a pool with perfect lighting. Real lakes and quarries are never that clear. You get silt, floating stuff, and the water often has a green or brown tint. My advice is to practice in the training tank but then go to a local quarry or lake on a calm day. That's a much better test of what you'll actually deal with. You'll learn to trust your instruments and lights a lot faster when you can't see the bottom.