Got chewed out by an inspector for skipping a pre-dive equipment check on a job in Corpus Christi

I used to think I could skip the full gear look-over if I was running late. Then an inspector watched me pull on my gear without checking the valves and lit into me for a solid five minutes. He said 'every hose and seal can fail, you're betting your life on a glance.' Now I take 10 minutes every morning to check everything from my drysuit zipper to my regulator. Has anyone else had a close call because they got lazy with prep?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray2101h ago

Took a hit in the Gulf once because I rushed my drysuit zip check. Felt the water start seeping in right as I went over the side. Not full flooding but enough to spook me. I was 30 feet down and had to abort the whole job cause my suit was filling up. That 10 minute check sounds about right, I do the same now even if my foreman is yelling at me to hurry up.

alicebarnes1h ago

Respect that, changed my mind about skipping the full check.

grant_torres1h ago

...except I still think you guys are overthinking this. I've been diving for like 15 years and I've never once done a full 10 minute gear check. Maybe I'm lucky or whatever but I just do the basic zip pull and a quick look at my tank gauge. If something's gonna fail it'll fail no matter how long you stare at it. Plus half the time I'm in a hurry to get in the water before the tide changes. That gulf story sounds scary but it also sounds like a one off. You can't plan your whole life around the worst thing that might happen.