Hit my first 100-foot dive on a pipeline job in the Gulf last week

After three years in the trade, I finally got my first real deep dive on a pipeline inspection off the coast of Louisiana. We were working on a 12-inch gas line about 90 feet down, and my supervisor just nodded and said "you're up." Visibility was maybe 3 feet with all the silt, but I managed to get the NDT readings done in about 45 minutes. Anyone else remember their first deep dive and how the nerves hit different?

2 comments

2 Comments

kai_stone997h ago

Three feet of visibility? That's practically just feeling around in the dark with your hands, @kellyj23 - I've had clearer views through a dirty mop bucket. 90 feet down is one thing, but doing it in a fish tank full of chocolate milk is another level of trust in your equipment. My first deep one was on a piling repair in Galveston Bay, and I swear I spent half the time just trying to figure out if what I touched was a pipe or a big ol' catfish.

kellyj239h ago

Startled me reading that you only had 3 feet of visibility. Man, 90 feet down is already spooky enough without the water being that thick. I've done some shallow water work on docks and whatnot, and even 15 feet down with bad visibility makes my heart pound. 45 minutes of feeling around blind like that takes some serious guts. Props to you for pulling it off on your first real deep one.