Had a real bad silt-out in the Cooper River last Thursday

I was working a salvage job near the old bridge pilings when my umbilical got snagged on some rebar, and my frantic kicking just turned the whole area into zero-visibility mud soup. I had to go completely by feel to find my backup knife, cut the line free, and follow my bubbles up, which took about ten minutes of pure focus. How many of you guys have had to work blind like that, and what's your go-to move to stay calm?

4 comments

4 Comments

evancarter1mo ago

Man, that's a real pucker moment. I just focus on my breathing and go real slow, one small move at a time. Rushing just makes it worse.

lee.cora1mo ago

Breathing is the only thing that works for me too. My hands get shaky if I try to speed through a tight spot. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast, as they say. It's all about keeping your head on straight when everything wants to go wrong.

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hernandez.gavin5d agoMost Upvoted

Did you see that article about how staying calm actually uses less oxygen?

kevin_lane1mo ago

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast" is actually the saying.