President’s Message

A MESSAGE FROM THE ADCI PRESIDENT ■ BILL CROWLEY

Women in Diving

A C URIOSITY WHEN I FIRST started in diving, an interesting topic for discussion while on breaks, not as rare as the first decade of the 21st century comes to an end, as I am writing this the company I work for Cal Dive International has a woman in saturation. Also, throughout the offshore fleet, we have female Tenders, Life Support Technicians, a Vessel Captain and a Saturation Technician. I am sure this is the same or similar in other diving companies. I am a proponent of the idea for many reasons, but let me state a personal obvious truth: it is just nice having women on the job.

The majority of the women I have met in the commercial diving field were ex-military or post diving school entry level diver/tenders who had been the field for about a year or two. They impressed me with the basic knowledge and attention to details like the meticulously coiled hoses and the ship shape dive stations. They struggle on a daily basis to not only make the grade, but to excel in the commercial diving world. And, the ones (male and female) that are still working in the industry have the same attributes in common: they were focused, determined and competitive. Regardless of gender, all entry level divers/tenders face a difficult first few years in the work force while they learn the craft and hone the required skills.

Experience and how an entry level diver/tender conducts him or herself on the deck or dive site is the preamble to when the company paying you decides to put you in the water or handle your own shift. If, like most in this field, you are living the dream and your heart is in it, a lifetime of diving isn’t such a bad thing. “If you are earning your living doing what you love, you will never really work a day in your life.” (Someone who lived it said that.) If your heart is not really into the life and struggle, the motivation is faulty and the dream goes away. I am thankful the diving profession found me and I found diving as a young man. Stay focused, it is worth it.

The blowout disaster in the Gulf and the massive media blitz surrounding the unfortunate “Deep Water Horizon“explosion, fire and resulting ‘spill’ have been an eye opener for the industry as well as the general public. We will get through this and the industry will be better for it.

The ADCI has been busy sending Safety Notices to help inform and share operational safety advice and information surrounding the blowout and the resulting leaking oil and gas. We are committed to inform, educate and share knowledge throughout the duration of this event.

Take the high road, be safe and always do the right thing.

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ■ PHIL NEWSUM

THIS ISSU E OF UNDERWATER MAGAZINE focuses on Women in the Commercial Diving Industry. It is my hope that every sector of the underwater industry fosters and embraces the importance of diversity in the workplace.

Much has transpired in the offshore sector of our industry, especially in the Gulf of Mexico. With the disaster of the Deepwater Horizon Spill come new challenges for both contractors and operators. Like Katrina and Rita, our industry will discover new ways to address obstacles that have not been experienced to date. The Deepwater Horizon Spill has brought new meaning to the term “Lessons Learned.” The one most glaring issue that will need to be examined when we look back and evaluate the response to the spill is the lack of centralized communication available for both contractors and operators. I expressed my concern to the United States Coast Guard on this point, and they understood the disconnect between those that possess the necessary real time information and those that require it, before they deploy for operations. In all fairness to the Coast Guard, like everyone else, they, too, have not experienced a situation such as this. “Lessons Learned” extends to all parties who make their living on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, USCG included.

For this Association, it means finding new ways to assist its members in getting real time information and publicizing those recommended guidelines that will allow them to still conduct operations in a safe and efficient manner. There was no more frustrating of an experience by this office than the inability to provide contractors with the information that they needed to safely deploy for operations. Within days after the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon and the subsequent spill that ensued, contractors were in a virtual state of suspended operations. Jobs set to go out were literally put on hold because of the unknowns associated with the spill. What specific areas were affected? What areas are either restricted or recommended for vessel travel? Is it safe to dive in an assigned area for work? When combined with hydrocarbons and seawater, what hazards do the dispersants being deployed have on personnel conducting underwater operations? These were just a few of the questions that were posed by members, which this office had no immediate response to. It’s situations like this that require all parties to view things through a clear lens. All of the contractors that I have had direct contact with reinforced such things as “Stop Work” authority with their personnel and took the necessary time and effort to examine the safest ways to approach operations.

Greater attention was given to: • Evaluation of site plans for dealing with a contaminated diver • Evaluation of whether five minute surface intervals can be met, if diving Sur ‘D’ O2 • Possibly limiting dives to “No Decompression” • The need for hydrocarbon monitors in saturation diving bells • The need for a dedicated decontamination/wash down station on vessels for surfacing divers

As the effects of the spill impact us in the months and years to come, there will also be new challenges and issues facing contractors. One major item will be mitigating the hazards of divers working on bottom, after all of the oil has settled on and below the mud line. One very important dynamic that is very reassuring is the understanding on the part of contractors to openly share incidents and best practices. For our industry to progress in a positive direction, we need to continue to reinforce the culture of safety first and profit second.

Be safe.