Vent: The dive supervisor who told me to 'just hold your breath' on a surface swim

I was working a bridge inspection job in Charleston back in March, maybe 60 feet down, and after my first bell run I had a little CO2 buildup. Nothing serious, just breathing heavy. I told the supervisor topside I needed a minute before my next dive. He laughed and said 'just hold your breath for 20 seconds, it'll reset your lungs.' I stared at him waiting for the punchline. He was dead serious. I told him that's how you get a lung overexpansion injury or pass out. He waved me off and called me soft. I finished the day but I told the project manager I wouldn't work with that guy again. Has anyone else had a supervisor give sketchy medical advice like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

drewr1511d ago

That guy was wilding, straight up dangerous advice. I just told my sup I'd rather sit out a bell than risk an embolism, and they backed off after I showed them the manual.

sean85411d ago

Gotta be careful with that approach though. From what I've seen, safety manuals can be written by guys who never touched a regulator in their life. Not saying your manual is wrong, but some of those guidelines are more about covering the company's ass than actual best practice. I've had a sup show me a manual that was straight up outdated, like from before they even switched gas mixes on that rig. Your mileage may vary, but sometimes the old timers with decades in the water know a thing or two that the book doesn't cover. Still, better to play it safe than end up bent over a table, absolutely.

max22311d ago

Nothing says "I value my safety" like casually dropping the embolism word in a conversation with your supervisor. Bet that manual came in clutch, gotta love when the paperwork actually backs you up instead of being a doorstop. Honestly if they fought back on that, you'd know they either don't read their own safety docs or they've got a death wish for the crew. Good on you for standing your ground, some people act like skipping a bell is a cardinal sin until someone's getting bent over a table in the chamber. Glad your sup had enough sense to fold, not everyone gets that lucky.