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Comms went dead on a 60-foot dive off the Jersey coast last spring
I was working a bridge inspection job in the Delaware River and my through-water comms unit just quit halfway through the bottom run. Had to fall back on rope pulls and hand signals with the tender. Anyone else have a backup system that actually works when your primary fails?
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kim96317d ago
That backup system thing is a real pain point. I had a similar issue on a bridge inspection in the Delaware River where my through-water comms just died on a deep run. We ended up using a simple diver recall line with pre-arranged tugs for emergency signals, it worked but felt real raw. What finally worked for me was switching to a hardwired comms system with a waterproof connector on the umbilical, it never let me down after that. The key is having something that doesn't rely on batteries or signal strength, just pure copper and a good connection.
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sullivan.finley17d ago
That hardwired setup sounds solid, but how do you handle the cable management on a 60-foot dive with current and debris? I've seen umbilicals get snagged on wreckage or wrapped around pilings more times than I can count, especially in murky Jersey water. Did you have to add any extra strain relief or tether points to keep the connector from taking a beating during the job?
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