That diving supervisor who yelled 'just pull harder' when my umbilical got snagged on a piling in Galveston Harbor nearly got me killed

I was at 80 feet with zero visibility and he wouldn't send down a standby diver until I stopped cussing, has anyone else dealt with a supervisor who treats every problem like it's your fault?

3 comments

3 Comments

blairtaylor2d agoMost Upvoted

@wright.lisa I get where you're coming from, but I don't think every supervisor who says "pull harder" is just being reckless. Sometimes they've been in the same spot and know when you've got plenty of slack to work it out without needing a full rescue drill. I've seen supervisors who acted way too fast pull guys up wrong and cause more damage than a snag ever would.

wright.lisa7d ago

That "just pull harder" crap would've made me surface and have a real conversation topside. Glad you didn't, because snagged umbilical at 80 feet is no joke. Some supervisors just don't get how fast a simple problem turns deadly down there.

jakel366d agoMost Upvoted

Eighty feet with a snagged umbilical isn't something you just shrug off, but I've seen guys get through way worse without needing a full topside meltdown. @wright.lisa makes it sound like every supervisor is a complete moron, but a lot of them have been in the water too and know when it's actually critical versus just an annoyance. Pulling harder isn't always the dumbest move, especially if you've got enough slack and you're not fighting a current. Snags happen, you work them out, and you move on. The real danger is when everyone panics and yanks you up without a plan, which is more common than a snag turning into a drowning.