Any dangers diving under an oil rig?

[captain]

I wonder why it is that the Calif oil rigs have such tight security while the gulf rigs don't seem to have any? Seems strange.

The best guess I can give is because we have had rigs since 1949. In the beginning it was the local fishermen and shrimpers who were hired by the oil companies to to haul crews and supplies to the rigs. When they weren't working for the oil company they would fish at the rigs. Then the recreational fishermen and divers joined in. It became part of the culture. After 9/11 there was some discussion between homeland security and the oil companies about limiting access but reaction from fishermen and divers prevented it.

 

[ReefHound]

I wonder why it is that the Calif oil rigs have such tight security while the gulf rigs don't seem to have any? Seems strange.

CA tends to get their panties in a wad over everything. They probably just haven't figured out how to get private boaters to file for a dozen permits and abide by 100 pages of regulations.

In the gulf, the shallow rigs are available unless the workers wave you off for some reason. Maybe they are expecting a supply vessel or conducting certain operations. I don't think they drop stuff very often. Maybe small nuts and bolts. I never find anything on the bottom (where I can reach the bottom) like tools.

 

[String]

We spent a long time recovering stuff not so much dropped but the helicopter downwash always blew lots of random objects over the side.

 

[ReefHound]

Maybe they secure things better here? In any event, doesn't sound like much danger to divers from falling objects. I'm sure a boat would be waved off here if they were expecting a helicopter.

 

[spt29970]

Gettting back to the original question, I wouldn't be too worried about things falling off the platform, but the structure itself has various hazards. On Platform Grace, there are a series of runners that scrape the sea life off the top of the drill tubes. These bounce up and down with the swell and present a very real hazard if you get too close to them. Unfortunately Grace has a series of these very closely spaced that divide the area under the platform into two regions. If you surface on the wrong side, you have to descend to go under them.

There is also the depth hazard. Novice divers who have any issues with buoyancy control should not attempt them. Grace is in 340ft of water, so if you are overweighted, or don't compensate properly for wetsuit/drysuit buoyancy change, you can't rely (as many novices do) on the bottom to arrest your fall.

The final hazard is current. The platforms off of the California coast are in deep water and can get pretty strong currents. If you get blown off, you will be awful glad you have a safety sausage and whistle. It is a big ocean out there.

That being said, they are very unusual and interesting dives. I highly recommend them. Here is an image from a recent trip I did. Click on the image for more details.



The whole set is at:
Platform Grace - a set on Flickr