That old saturation diver who told me to slow down on my first bell run

Back in 2018 on a platform in the Gulf, I was rushing through my pre-dive checks on a sat system. This crusty old diver named Hank grabbed my arm and said, 'You miss one valve and you're breathing soup, kid.' He then showed me his personal checklist he'd used for 25 years, all worn and laminated. It stuck with me because he wasn't angry, just matter of fact about how serious the job is. Has anyone else had a mentor who made you rethink your whole approach?

3 comments

3 Comments

carr.luna5d agoTop Commenter

Holy shit, that Hank guy sounds like a legend. The fact he carried the same checklist for 25 years says it all. But heres what Im wondering - did you ever actually see that checklist yourself, or did he just tell you about it? Ive met old timers who talk a big game about their systems but then you find out theyre just winging it half the time. Not saying Hank was like that, but theres a difference between telling a good story and having the real skills to back it up. Ive seen guys who can recite all the safety rules but freeze up when something actually goes wrong. So was Hank the real deal, or just a good storyteller?

caleb_bell55d ago

Saw that beat-up checklist myself once, totally changed my mind.

rowanw915d agoMost Upvoted

Nah, stories get better every time they're told.