Nuts, just nuts (OK - huge ones)
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Nuts, just nuts (OK - huge ones)
I feel pretty strongly that with 14 dives to should **not** be penetrating a wreck. There's too many other places to gain experience that are far more forgiving. I hope you're at least diving doubles (and a drysuit if they're steel!), a 7ft hose (for your buddy if you go OOA), cutting devices for cables, backup lights, primary reel, safety reel, etc....Yes I can manage a safety stop in open water. Yes I always carry an SMB. So far I feel like everyone is saying its not a good idea but I'm missing the why? I'm still not seeing what is so different and more dangerous about diving at the Oil Rigs as opposed to something like penetrating a wreck at 90 ft? None of the skills have been all that difficult so far. Maybe this is just one of those questions I should answer for myself and not ask the board. Thanks anyways people...
I had over 600 dives before I felt I was ready for the rigs. It was mostly nerves, but there are some real dangers. Strong currents came come through, sweeping you off the rigs. It's difficult to tell you're in a current when you're in mid-water with no visual references. Buoyancy control is a must, as the bottom is 800 feet at the outer rig. While many people on Scuboard claim to have mastered buoyancy at only a few dozen dives, I've never met a diver with less than a few hundred who could hold their position perfectly.
Surface conditions can change while you're underwater. Ask Drifting Dan about fog. Wind chop and large swells can make it difficult to swim to the boat. The boat cannot come close to the rigs to pick you up, so you may have a difficult surface swim as well.
I hope I didn't scare you too much, as the rigs can be a beautiful dive, but they must be taken extremely seriously. I would pass this trip and get in a lot of offshore dives on the local wrecks first if I were you.
Hi everyone,
Sorry for digging up this old thread but this topic interests me. I am just curious, is it true that rig divers stay for days underwater? Couldn't remember where I heard it but is that possible??
Thanks...