Warning: I fought against using a bailout bottle for way too long

For years, I was convinced a bailout bottle was just extra gear that got in the way, especially on shallow harbor jobs under 30 feet. My old mentor drilled it into my head that if your main umbilical failed, you should just make a controlled ascent (you know, the classic training). That changed for me about eight months ago on a job in Tampa Bay. We were doing a simple hull inspection, and a passing boat's prop line snagged my main air hose, slicing it clean through. I had that bailout rig on my backplate as a company rule, and I went on it without a second thought. The calmness of just switching regulators versus the panic of a free ascent was a total game-changer. I still think for some dives it's overkill, but now I treat it like my hard hat, non-negotiable. Has anyone else had a specific job where a bailout actually saved you, or do you still think it's mostly for deeper dives?

3 comments

3 Comments

kellyw441mo ago

Yeah, that controlled ascent training is solid, but it doesn't cover the shock of a sudden failure. My wake-up call was in a murky river with zero visibility, not even deep. A piece of rebar punched a small but steady leak in my main hose. Having that bailout let me just switch and sort out the problem calmly instead of fighting the urge to bolt for the surface. It's not about depth for me anymore, it's about having a clear head to fix things.

gavine411mo ago

So you just reached down and switched to your bailout without even looking? That's the part I can't picture.

the_mary19d ago

My buddy's main hose froze solid at 45 feet in Lake Superior last winter. He just grabbed his bailout reg and finished the job, no big deal. That cold water changes your mind fast.