offshorediver.com

The Stack
News, info, stuff that doesn't fit in elsewhere.

March 6th 2008 from D Tiefenauer

Kirby Morgan

Safety Bulletin #6 of 2007

October 9, 2007

New flex knobs for SL's

Revised Pressure Requirements

KMBDSI Superflow and Superflow 350 Regulators

Aug 6th 2007 - Here is a notice that just went out to the KMDSI dealers and KMDSI trained technicians & operator users. This notice deals with using Low Pressure Compressors when diving KMDSI Helmets or Full-Face Masks equipped with the SuperFlow® and SuperFlow 350® demand regulators. The SuperFlow® is standard on the SL-17 B and the SuperFlow 350® is standard on the SL-27, 17-K, KM-37 and KMB18/28 BandMasks. The notice was done to help alleviate confusion on supply pressures and to help the shallow water divers that use compressors that put out pressures as low as 90 psig. This chart is going to be put in all KMDSI manuals that cover the SuperFlow® regulators. The chart starts at 40 RMV and goes up to 75 RMV. Providing the compressor being used can make the required volume at the required pressure, the chart will let you know what the capabilities are. The inhalation effort is based on a maximum of 15 millibars. --Ward, Dive LAb

Download the new chart - PDF format

July 2007 - Deep Marine Technology snagged the #6 spot in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Annual Ranking (August issue) of the Hot 500 Companies; considered to be the fastest-growing businesses of the year. Founder and CEO Paul McKim established Deep Marine Technology in 2002 with two Directly Operated Vehicles and 25 years of subsea industry experience. Six years later, DMT is poised to achieve the status of becoming a $100 million company and is a full service, Subsea Construction Company encompassing a deepwater group, commercial diving group, and subsea intervention group. On DMT’s inclusion in the top 10 of the Hot 500 companies, Paul McKim, Chief Executive Officer, (photo) stated, “We are delighted and grateful for this prestigious recognition. On behalf of the Executive and Management teams of Deep Marine Technology, we wish to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of each employee in the company and extend our thanks. It is truly a team effort.”

For more information, please contact Tracie Ross, Deep Marine Technology, Inc., 900 Jameel Rd, Suite 190 Houston, TX 77040. Telephone: 713-896-8555; Fax: 713-840-4021 E-mail: tross@deepmarinetech.com or Wade Abadie at wabadie@deepmarinetech.com.

The ADC's getting sued:

Press release from Delise and Hall, April 2007

The law firm of Delise & Hall filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of their clients, Karen and Michael McGrath, against the Association of Diving Contractors International in connection with the death of their son, Chandon McGrath on August 29, 2006. Chandon McGrath died while employed as a commercial diver for Chesapeake Bay Diving when his helmet malfunctioned on a gas dive from the DSV GLOBAL EXPLORER.

The claim maintains that the ADCI engaged in deceptive trade practices in the issuance of ADC certification cards. The claim also names the Commercial Diving Academy of Jacksonville, Florida, where Chandon trained.

Bobby Delise, attorney for the McGraths, stated "the certification card protocol calls into suspicion whether 'certified divers' in fact secure the necessary training and experience to represent themselves as entry level divers. The ADCI has much to answer for with respect to how the certification cards have been issued and whether the appropriate safeguards were established to ensure the industry standards".

Kirby Morgan

Safety Bulletin #1of 2007

March 1, 2007

Helmet Shell Repair Caution

Lessons I've learned in the GOM!
Posted on the Diver's Forum by chick_tender on 10/4/2006

1. Never trust any type of valve or hose, HP or LP. They are not your friends and are just sitting on go, ready to blow and beat the shit out of you.
2. That teasing little mist coming out of the water blaster hose will cut your finger off.
3. A shackle can sting you
4. Duct tape is truly man's greatest invention
5. Never be stingy with the duct tape or the zip ties.
6. Never believe that you are going home until you are actually physically in your house and your cell phone is OFF
7. "Jodie" exists offshore, too, that little *(&£$(*&^£"$"£$)*&
8. The food is pretty good, until you've had the exact same thing, 4 times a week, for three months straight.
9. Every day is so similar that little differences make life oh-so-exciting, like getting a new pair of gloves!
10. Never hook up with someone on the boat (well...I'm a girl, so this applies to me...as for the rest of you guys....well I dont want to know!)
11. Coffee and cigarettes...necessary for sustaining life. They should invent them in IV form.
12. Never say anything to anyone that you don't want the ENTIRE boat to know within 20 minutes (and I do mean everyone....even the cook, the stewards, the opposite shift, and the guys in the can)
13. Don't drink the water
14. Privacy is a non-existent luxury
15. Everyone you meet is either ex-military or ex-con
16. Always wear shower shoes
17. When things go wrong, they go wrong VERY fast
18. Anything left alone on a table becomes community property after 2 minutes
19. Never walk into a grocery connex box immediately after it is opened. I promise...you wont stay in there long!
20. Never sleep on oil absorbent cloth
21. If you cant find a tool, it's because the diver lost it
22. Eat fast, taste it later
23. TENDER: no thinking allowed! It does what it's told or it gets the hose again!
24. Jet hose, PFD, life bags, bell umbilical, sand/3-1 bags...all great napping places.
25. If anything is hard to come up on, always blame the current
26. It's always the red hat's fault
27. There are a 1000 ways to rig a flange, but none of them will be the way the LT wants it done

Retired Navy Diver Now Modeler Needs Some Info

I'm a retired Navy 2nd class Diver (air only). I qualified on the Mk5, served in the diving
community for thirteen years, and saw the transition to the plastic MK12 rig. I've recently been commissied to build miniatures and offer technical advice for a Producer who's putting together a documentary for the Discovery Channel about the civil war era submarine, ALLIGATOR.

I'm looking for information dealing with the kind of diving hats in use during the Civil War.
Specifically, hats that would have been used without a dress - open at the neck.

The submarine ALLIGATOR had a lockout chamber forward for Diver access to the sea, but this space had no room for dressing or tending of a fully dressed out diver using a Sieb type hard-hat diving rig. It's my reasoning that a single hat, worn over the head and terminating at shoulder height, would have been used aboard the ALLIGATOR.

What types, commercial and government, of hard-hats that fit the above discription, would have been available to the Federal Navy in the 1860's?

Oh ... the proposed diving operations would have occured in inland waterways in the mid-east in summertime, so hyperthermia was not an issue.

Any pictures, sketches or referrences would be most appreciated.

Some sites where some of his model work can be seen:
http://www.vabiz.com/d&e/ & http://culttvman.com/david_merriman_s_flying_sub.html

email: David D Merriman lll TM2SS/DV USN(RET.)

Jan Miller Says Hi
And she would like to sell a few
Miller shirts she has laying around...

Miller Pro-Diver Logo T-shirts
I have 12 in size small only
$16.00 each (includes postage)
email her here:
jan7425@ktc.com

Oops Goddamn it!

One reason to keep an eye on red hat tenders.
Told specifically not to put anything in the yellow paint around the crane.
Hat owned and photographed by a pissed off Spirit Gebbia

Parker 14 sinks - September 2003
Pictures from E Syrdahl
No loss of life.
The rig was lost in about 30 feet of water, so it didn't actually sink.
This was one of two, four independent leg rigs still operating in GOM.

Why Lexan:

Lucite Face Plate
9/5/2003 - Dive hat with lucite face plate. It turns out that lucite is a type of plexiglass and as such is very brittle. Not suitable for face plates. Lexan is what you want. Not Lucite .

Click here to see more GOM comics...

Stolen:
Superlite 17B, Yellow
Ser.# 92054 from Dive boat located in San Diego, Ca.

Superlite 27B, Yellow
Ser.# 0A049 from Dive boat located in San Diego, Ca.

CONTACT:
SEAWARD MARINE SERVICES, INC.
1-800-486-8163 or 1-619-474-8163

4 Lessons Learned by an Old Diver

From GL Harris

1. In the words of the Cowboy philosopher, Will Rogers: "It isn't what you don't know that will hurt you, its what you think you know that ain't so."

2. Luck will eventually run out on you, professionalism won't.

3. Russian proverb: "While God is sleeping the Devil is awake." In other words, the cautious diver, the safe diver, is the most productive diver;

    because he is not constantly looking over his shoulder to wonder about his equipment and support crew: He's already taken care of these

    things before he entered the water.

4. My first diver (whom I served my apprenticeship under back in the early 1970s) once told me: "If you are injured or dead you can't finish the job.

    You gave your word to the contractor that you would finish the job. If you don't finish you are being dishonest to the contractor, dishonest to

    your trade, and worse, dishonest to yourself.

Then and Now
The Bowman Dive Hat Collection
These guys are are looking for dive gear to buy, so if you have something old
you'd like to get a few dollars for and maybe see preserved,
you can visit them at www.bowmandiving.com

LIFE OF AN OFFSHORE DIVER

A Rant From The Giggler, October 2002

GOING BACK AND FORTH FROM WORK
PEOPLE THINK THAT DIVERS HAVE IT MADE OFF SHORE! LET US THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT, YOUR AVERAGE PERSON DOESN’T GET 30 MINUTES NOTICE TO GO TO WORK. THEY DON’T HAVE TO LEAVE HOME AT 0300 IN THE MORNING PACKING ENOUGH PERSONAL ITEMS FOR AT LEAST 14 DAYS. ALSO THEY DON’T HAVE TO CROWD INTO A VAN WITH 6 OR MORE PEOPLE TO RIDE @ 3 HOURS TO GET TO WORK. WHEN THEY GET TO THE DOCK, SOMETIMES THE M/V IS NOT ALWAYS THERE SO YOU HAVE TO WAIT ON IT. AND WHEN IT IS THERE, IT IS A MAD RUSH TO FIND A RACK, IF YOU ARE ON A CREW BOAT THERE IS NO FOOD OR DRINK FOR YOU UNTIL YOU GET TO YOUR DESIGNATED LOCATION. THE BOATS ARE SO COLD THAT YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE TO GET WARM EVEN IN THE WINTER. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO RIDE THESE NIGHTMARES FOR 3 OR MORE HOURS. SO YOU HAVE ALREADY SPENT @ 8 HOURS TRAVELING AND JUST GETTING ON LOCATION. NOW YOU ARE ON LOCATION, FUCKING STARVING, AND HAVE TO GO THRU SOME STUPID SAFETY MEETING FOR AN HOUR OR SO. THEN THEY LET YOU EAT, OH BOY, FOOD! ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY HAVE SET OUT A GOD DAMN SHITTY ASS LUNCH MEAT TRAY. THE TRIP HOME IS JUST AS BAD IF NOT WORSE, YOU USUALLY HAVE AT LEAST AN EIGHT HOUR BOAT RIDE TO THE DOCK. ONCE IN A WHILE IT WILL BE SHORTER, OTHER TIMES IT WILL BE A LOT LONGER. WHEN YOU GET TO THE DOCK, YOU ARE USUALLY WAITING ON THE VAN DRIVER WHO IS NEW AND LOST AS HELL. HE COULDN’T FIND HIS WAY OUT OF THE BATH TUB IF HIS FUCKING LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. THEN YOU HAVE THIS LONG ASS RIDE HOME WITH THE CREW THAT YOU RODE TO THE JOB WITH. ALL EVERYONE WANTS TO DO IS GET HOME HAVE A BEER AND GET LAID(NOT EVERYONE GETS LAID EVERY TIME THEY COME HOME). DID I MENTION THAT THE DRIVER IS GETTING PAID BY THE HOUR AND DRIVES 5 MPH UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT, THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO STOP FOR FUEL AFTER THEY PICK UP THE CREW. WE HAVE SEEN SOME DRIVERS THAT ARE SO TIRED THAT THEY SCARE THE HELL OUT OF EVERYONE AND WON’T ADMIT TO BEING TIRED. SOMETHING ABOUT BANGING THEIR HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THEIR EYES CLOSED MAKES ME THINK DIFFERENT. THERE HAS BEEN AN OCCASION OR TWO THAT THE DRIVERS SNORING WILL WAKE YOU UP AS YOU SPEED 65 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY NEARLY MISSING THE GUARDRAIL. WHEN QUESTIONED THEY ALWAYS DENY BEING ASLEEP.

THE FOOD
LET US TALK ABOUT THE FOOD A LITTLE MORE, BREAKFAST REALLY SUCKS! ALWAYS SO DAMN GREASY THAT IT JUST SLIDES DOWN YOUR THROAT WITH OUT HAVING TO SWALLOW. BISCUITS SO HARD THE NHL COULD USE THEM AS PUCKS. EVERY DAY AT LEAST TWICE YOU WILL FIND RICE ON THE STOVE, AND LET US NOT FORGET THE GOD DAMNED FRIED FOOD WE ARE SERVED AT LEAST 3 TIMES A DAY. IF DOC SERRIO WOULD SEE THE FOOD, HIS CHOLESTEROL WOULD JUMP 50 POINTS. I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU ATE SWEET CORN AND DRANK A GALLON OF WATER TO GET THE FIRE OUTTA YOUR DAMN MOUTH. HOW ABOUT THE LAST TIME YOU FOUND A FUCKING HAIR IN YOUR BREAKFAST! I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THEY THINK BROILED STEAKS ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE ONES YOU BBQ!! IF YOU WANT AN IDEA OF HOW BAD TRY CHEWING ON AN OLD BOOT. I THINK IT IS WRITTEN SOMEWHERE THAT THEY HAVE TO SERVE YOU PORK AND OR CHICKEN AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES A WEEK. NO WONDER WHEN I GO HOME MICKEY D’S AND BURGER SLUT TASTE SO FUCKING GOOD. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SOMEONE WORK SO HARD AND STILL FUCK UP AN ENTIRE DAMN MEAL. ALL ONE HAS TO DO IS LOOK AT IT AND GET THE SHITS!!! THE SALADS HAVE BROWN LETTUCE WILTED TOMATOES, AND FUCKING ONIONS. SOMETIMES YOU GET LUCKY AND FIND HOT POCKETS OR FROZEN PIZZAS, OTHER TIMES YOU ARE CONDEMNED TO FEIGN FOR YOUR SELF. YOU KNOW THE SHIT IS BAD WHEN THE COOK MAKES A PB&J FOR HIMSELF.

THE RACKS
LETS CONTINUE WITH THE RACKS, AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT THEY CALL THEM. I AM A RELATIVELY SHORT PERSON, AND I HAVE TROUBLE STRETCHING OUT IN SOME RACKS. I HATE TO THINK ABOUT HOW TALL OR SLIGHTLY HEAVY PEOPLE GET ANY SLEEP IN THESE DAMN TORTURE CHAMBERS. I KNOW THAT MOST UPPER MANAGEMENT HAS NEVER SLEPT IN ONE OF THESE FUCKING THINGS. OH I FORGOT THEY GET THE BETTER RACKS. THE MATTRESSES ARE WORN SO BAD IN THE MIDDLE THAT THERE IS NO PADDING LEFT, PILLOWS THAT ARE NO LONGER ANYTHING IN RESEMBLANCE OF ONE. THEY GIVE US SHEETS AND BLANKET THAT LOOK LIKE THEY CAME OVER ON THE FUCKING MAYFLOWER. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THEY EXPECT US TO SLEEP IN THESE DAMN THINGS FOR FUCKING DAYS. TRYING TO GET YOUR DIRTY CLOTHES WASHED IS SOMETHING ELSE. THERE IS ONE FUCKING MACHINE AND 20 PEOPLE TRYING TO USE IT ALL THE TIME, DID I MENTION THAT THIS IS A REGULAR WASHING MACHINE THAT SHUTS OFF WHEN IT IS UNBALANCED, GREAT FOR THE HOUSE BUT NOT WORTH A SHIT ON A BOAT IN 1’-2’ SEAS. THE MUTHER FUCKER WONT KEEP RUNNING AND DON’T GET CAUGHT TRYING TO DISABLE THE SAFETY SWITCH. GOD FORBID THAT WE GET ANY ROUGHER WEATHER, CAUSE NONE OF THE SHIT WOULD GET WASHED.
DID I MENTION THE SHEETS ARE ALWAYS COVERED WITH ABOUT A MILLION LINT BALLS!
HOW ABOUT THE OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR ROOM, USUALLY 5 THAT HAVE SMELLY ASS BOOTS OR CLOTHES THAT ARE JUST FUCKING FOUL! DID I MENTION THAT THERE WAS ONE WASHING MACHINE ON BOARD. HAVE THESE PEOPLE NEVER HEARD OF A FUCKING TRASH BAG FOR THEIR DIRTY CLOTHES!

TV
LET’S TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE TV SITUATION, WHAT THE FUCK OVER!!! WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW THE SAME GOD DAMN MOVIE 20 TIMES IN ONE FUCKING WEEK! OR MAYBE YOU HAVE SATELLITE AND IT IS STILL THE SAME OLD SHIT. USUALLY WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WATCH WHAT WE WANT. SO WE HAVE TO SIT THERE AND WATCH SOME FUCKING STUPID PROGRAM THAT MAKES NO GOD DAMN SINCE AT ALL. I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I CAN ONLY WATCH MOVIES SO MANY FUCKING TIMES.

THE HEAD
LET’S BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE “HEAD” SHITTER OR MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE BATHROOM. MOST TIMES THERE ARE TWO, A LOT OF TIMES THERE ARE ONLY ONE AND 20 FUCKING MEN HAVE TO USE IT ALL THE TIME. AFTER TRYING TO EAT AS LITTLE GREASY FOOD AS POSSIBLE, IT IS INEVITABLE THAT EVERY ONE HAS TO SHIT SOONER OR LATER. USUALLY THERE ARE THREE OR FOUR THAT HAVE TO SHIT AT THE SAME TIME. SO YOU HAVE TO STAND IN LINE TO SHIT, YOU USUALLY HAVE TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH OUTSIDE ON DECK BECAUSE OF THE GREEN AIR IN THE HEAD. BY THE TIME EVERYONE IS DONE, IT LOOKS LIKE 20 SEAGULLS HAVE JUST DIVE BOMBED THE DECK OF THE BOAT. HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO JUMP AROUND YOUR SHOWER TO GET WET CAUSE THE WATER PRESSURE IS SO LOW THAT IT JUST DRIBBLES OUT. I PERSONALLY HATE THE LINENS, I USED A TOWEL ONCE TO SAND DOWN AN OLD CABINET I HAD. I AM VERY SERIOUS, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY WASH THEIR TOWELS AND WASH RAGS WITH. ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT WILL REMOVE ALL DEAD AND SOME LIVING TISSUE WHEN USED. ONE LAST THING BEFORE I GO. WHO IN THE HELL DESIGNED THE TOILETS AND STALLS ON LIFT BOATS ! I HATE TRYING TO SHIT ON THESES DAMN THINGS. IF YOU ARE SHORT THE DOOR WILL CLOSE. IF YOU ARE AVERAGETHE DOOR HITS YOUR KNEES AND CLOSES. THE TALLER PEOPLE HAVE TO SHIT WITH THE DOOR ABOUT ¼ OF THE WAY. I FEEL LIKE I AM USING A TOILET MADE FOR GRADE SCHOOL KIDS, HONESTLY. I HATE TRYING TO SHIT WITH MY KNEES ALMOST AS HIGH AS MY FUCKING SHOULDERS. A PERSON ALMOST HAS TO GET ON THEIR KNEES, BEND OVER AND WIPE THEIR ASS BECAUSE OF THE HEIGHT AND DON’T FORGET THE FUCKING DOORS.

WHAT THE FUCK OVER ! ! ! !

AND THAT’S ALL I GOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT !

---The Giggler

S T O L E N !
A white Superlite 17b Commercial Diving Helmet was stolen from vehicle located in Terrytown, LA.
The helmet is originally white but now is crude oil brown (stained from use).
The cam assembly for the neck dam is damaged and difficult to operate.
The serial number is: 92833
Reward Offered
If you have any information regarding this hat
and want to see the thieving bastard get caught, contact:
Dedra La Sauce @ (504) 251-6980

Kirby Morgan Safety Notice
-Oral Nasal Valves-

Posted by on the Diver's Forum by William Bev Morgan on 9/13/2002

Our dealers in the GOM area have found many hats with the oral nasal valves installed backwards. The rubber mushroom valve must open into the oral nasal from the helmet or the diver cannot breathe from the steady flow valve. Go to to the www.kmdsi.com website (or any dealer) to read the notice.

Miller Diving
New Home
New Web Site
Same Bad Ass Dive Hats

F F

Yet another
Alternative Cutting Device
No rust - Never needs sharpening
Difficult to misplace - Stores easily in your purse

From the Field:
"We are on the cutting edge of oilfield safety with this device."
"With 40 of them, you can make a TV stand."
"When the accountants in the office said they liked it, I knew it was right."
"I smashed the holy shit out of my thumb, but it didn't break the skin!."

The
Alternative Cutting Deivce
At Work

Here, the operator is using ACD with the cutting motion directed away from himself to avoid injury.

Note the hand holding the rope is well clear of the cutting zone. This technique requires safety glasses and a face shield.

Available with smooth...

...and serrated edges

Divecon Aquires UTS
- or -
Old West Coast Stolt Buys Out Old West Coast Oceaneering
December 2001 - download PDF file press release here

SL 27 Comms Tip
From Sean Whitney, GOM Diver, Sept 2001
Hey man, I have a superlite 27 and everyone knows how hard that damn comm module is to change out. So hard that I have put if off for the past 8 weeks. I found a way that you can expand your working space in that little area.

I have placed a piece of paper inside the comm module so you can see the cut I made.

The wires have been connected to the terminals, then put into the correct slot.

The finished comm module.

You know how the comm module has that "little" slit for you to feed the two ear pieces and mic through. Well, it is a VERY tight squeeze, unless you do what I did. I took my dremel took and cut a small slit just wide enough for the gray wires to slide through. Now you can have the black and white wires come in from all directions to help you work. when all your wires are connected at the right place, you can feed the ear pieces and mic down the small slit (the one I cut with my dremel tool) and put them in the original (horizontal) slit.
When all three are where they should be (and if you don't make the slit to large) the three wires should hold themselves in place. Instead Of my usuall 4 hours (plus) and countless swear words to do this, I got my com posts, com posts wires, both ear pieces, and mic done in just over an hour and half. I don't see any structural defects or weakness in doing this, but if anyone sees something I don't please inform me. Inform him here.

A Message to Miller Divers from Jan Miller
October 2001
It has been six months since Ben went on to his next adventure. So much has happened. I feel like it was only yesterday and yet it seems like a lifetime. I think the divers and diving industry is about the greatest bunch of folks that have ever come down the pike. I want all the divers who have Miller Helmets to know that all is well. I did my best to keep the harness business going and found (once again) that Ben's shoes were too big for me. I have sold the harness business to Bev Morgan of Kirby Morgan Dive Systems of Santa Barbara, California. For all you worry worts out there I want to assure you that the rumors about changes to the product or discontinuance of the line are not correct. Spare parts and support for all of the Miller products, past and present will continue. The Miller products will continue being manufactured and sold by Miller Diving Equipment, Inc.

The Miller Company has been moved to Santa Barbara where Morgan plans to continue production of the Miller 400 Diving Helmets and the full line of commercial diving harnesses. In an agreement with Bev Morgan and myself, Miller Diving Equipment, Inc. will continue on in the same direction that Ben Miller established with Ben's motto, "Keep it rugged and simple, the way life should be". I have been assured by Bev that there are no plans to change the materials or designs of the equipment. Although Ben's unexpected death has presented some minor problems in manufacturing and supply, every effort is being made by the folks at KMDSI to have all the products and spares back on line as soon as possible. The move of Ben's factory from our ranch in Texas to a building in Santa Barbara has been the most time consuming part of the project. That move took place last week and soon things will be moving again.

Bev Morgan says, "Ben Miller's equipment has always been known as high quality professional gear. Although we were competitors, we were also friends. We worked togehter where possible. I had a great respect for Ben Miller and have a great respect for his Helmets and Harnesses. It is my wish to continue on in Ben Miller's tradition, manufacturing his designs in materials of his choosing. In other words the bronze Miller helmets and harness designs will continue." Bev Morgan and all of his associates at DSI have been helpful, sensitive and professional in the purchase and transfer of the business, and I consider myself to be fortunate to have been able to "continue Ben's business" in this way.

Temporarily, Miller Diving Equipment, Inc. can be reached at 805-965-8538 (Kirby Morgan Dive Systems) in Santa Barbara or Jan at 830-864-4022 in Harper, Texas. Any of the regular Miller Dealers can also be contacted for spares or ordering new equipment. I hope this information will settle any concerns you might have.

My best to all of you.
Jan

Submarine Kursk Lifted October 8th, 2001
www.kursksalvage.com

Jet Hose Fitting Failure
September, 2001. This fitting came apart during normal jetting operations on a small lift boat while using a 6x6 jet pump producing about 300 psi. It was tied off with 1/4" poly which parted like string when the fitting blew. The live end of the hose whipped back and forth through an area of about 200 square feet before getting stuck between a crane pedestal and the hand rail. As the jet hose was coiled on deck right next to the jet pump, it was impossible to get to the kill switch until the hose end trapped itself. Nobody was hurt. Never seen the Titan hose fail before. Have to say it scared the shit out of just about everyone on deck.

Inspection of the fitting shows that the gasket is cut from being pinched. The small flange lip on the female side of the fitting, the side the nut is supposed to be on, is deformed; it is uniformily tapered in from being squeezed out the back of the nut. And here's something to bear in mind next time you're putting jet hose together: the lip inside the nut which holds the whole thing together is only a milimeter wide to start with.

What we learned: For sure, 1/4" poly is not strong enough to secure jet hose with. Overtightening of a fitting will cause it to fail. Racking the jet hose alongside the kill switch on the jet pump is not a good idea.

Benjamin Arthur Miller

Dec 4, 1942 - April 8, 2001

Benjamin A. Miller passed away on April 8, 2001, while vacationing in Lima, Peru. The cause of death was encefalopatia aguda, a rare genetic condition, which causes the brain and body systems to suddenly shut down. He was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. When he was 9 years old his family moved to Riverside, California where Ben finished his elementary, middle, and high school education. In high school, Ben bought his first motorcycle. This provided what Ben often called his "apprenticeship in metal". His greatest pleasure was to design and chop motorcycles, which remained a lifelong passion. graduation from high school, Ben joined the US Army and was stationed in Germany for 2 years. Before returning stateside, Ben traveled extensively throughout Europe and North Africa.

In 1965, Ben returned to the US, where he visited his brother Gene Miller (1933-1999), who was a commercial diver living in Morgan City, Louisiana. Ben first worked as a tender for his brother and later broke out in 1966, thus beginning an eleven year career as a diver in the offshore industry.

In 1967, Ben went to work for Ocean Systems Inc. where he had the opportunity to try many helmets and masks. This experience led Ben to design and build his own fiberglass helmet, and set him on the path as a manufacturer. In 1969, the bronze 100 Series helmet was built, followed in 1970 by the Miller quick release weight belt buckle. In November 1971, Ben designed the Miller Diving harness which remains today as the industry standard worldwide. The Miller 200 Series and 300 Series diving helmets followed respectively in 1972 and 1977. The current 400 Series diving helmet is truly a culmination of 30 years of experience. Ben left Morgan City in 1978 and relocated to Harper, Texas. He wanted a place in the countryside away from crowds and pollution. He built his own house in the Tunisian style of North Africa and grew most of his own food.

Over the past 14 years, Ben and his wife Jan raised sheep, goats, donkeys, llamas, emus and more. They really enjoyed a life together full of freedom and independence. Today, Miller diving helmets, harnesses, and weight belts are used worldwide throughout the commercial diving industry. They remain as a testament to the ingenuity and hard work of Benjamin A. Miller.

The Miller Diving Equipment Company will continue on with Jan at the helm. This was Ben's wish. He is survived by his mother, Lida J. Miller and his second wife Jan.

John R. Kane / Historical Diving Society USA

Ben on the train to Macchu Picchu

The Legend Will Go On

MILLER DIVING EQUIPMENT, INC. was Ben's baby and he dedicated his life to giving the professional diver the best quality and durability. He maintained a reputation for making each piece of equipment his personal creation.

I have done my best to keep the harness, backpacks and weight belts coming in the same manner, but the helmets are beyond my expertise. In the best interest of the Miller Divers both present, past and future, I have sold the helmet business to Bev Morgan.

Ben and Bev have been friends for 35 years and Ben had told me that if anything ever happened to him to trust Bev. Ben had a great respect for Mr. Morgan and I can understand why. He has taken the Miller Helmet with respect and sensitivity to both Ben's design and his wishes to keep it going. He has declared that the helmet will continue on as if Ben were at the helm (or behind the drill press). He has been very kind in his business arrangements so as to help me in every way possible.

I am certain that the Miller divers will welcome Bev Morgan as the new owner of Miller Diving Helmets, and I know that he will take care of your needs and produce new helmets each year for those who wish to work with a legend on their shoulders.

The Miller Diving Equipment Company which produces the harness, backpack, weight belt line as well as the Miller Quick Release Weight Buckle, will continue under my leadership. I plan to give you the same quality that Ben demanded.

I want to thank each one of the divers, retailers, and those associated with this great industry for being so kind during this difficult time.

Jan Miller, May 2001

New Miller T-shirts and ball caps are ready if anyone is interested. T-shirts will retail for $18.00 and ball caps for $10.00.
Send Money Order to Miller Diving Equipment, Inc. and add $4.00 for shipping.

Miller Diving Equipment, Inc.
HC11 Box 334
Harper, Texas 78631

An Open Letter From Jan Miller
April, 2001

Jan Miller,
MILLER DIVING EQUIPMENT, INC

To all the customers of Miller Diving, past, present and future, I am sending this to notify you of the passing of Ben Miller on April 8th. As I’m sure you can understand this sudden event has caused considerable turmoil at Miller Diving Equipment, Inc.. A man like Ben has cast a large shadow over the commercial diving industry and because of this, the outpouring of condolences and offers of support as been overwhelming, and so much appreciated. I would like to request your patience as we evaluate and structure our plan to move forward.

Ben used to laugh at the way rumors would move so swiftly around the industry and I’m sure he is amused now. The truth is that no offers have been made, no negotiations have taken place, no decisions will be made until I have worked through some of the pain of losing him. THE MILLER 400 DIVING HELMET WILL CONTINUE.

Many wonderful people have called to offer their condolences and their help, but no one has offered to buy or pressured me. I am truly grateful for the kindness of the people in this industry.

I have asked Jack Vilas to help me out by distributing helmet parts, as I know that helmet parts are essential to the diver with a Miller Helmet. There is no reason for choosing Jack Vilas other than his kind offer of help and my knowledge that he had been trained by Ben to work on helmets. If you have helmet part needs or questions, Jack will be willing to help you.

If you have questions concerning an order placed with us you can leave a message at 1-830-864-4022 or email at benjani@ktc.com.

If you have technical questions concerning any Miller Diving equipment you can contact:

      Jack Vilas
      1-800-255-4643
      985-384-8012
     JackVilas@aol.com

Thanks so much for your support and for being part of what was Ben’s passion. We look forward to providing the quality of equipment you demand and to upholding the standards of excellence established by Ben Miller.

A NOTE ABOUT BEN’S PASSING: We had gone to Peru for the adventure of a lifetime. We did the tourist thing for three weeks and saw it all. He laughed, raced up and down the temple steps at Macchu Picchu, was strong and full of fun. He died on Sunday after returning to Lima. He lived his life as a natural person, eating only natural foods, exercising both his body and mind. He was always inquisitive and thinking of something to create. At the time he left us, he was making plans about a Miller Poster. He was full of fun ideas and excited about getting together with the artist that afternoon.

While my grief is deep and personal, I will share that I want to celebrate his life and be thankful for beautiful memories.. He was quite a guy. His ashes were placed on his ranch and a strong young oak tree was placed over them. I believe the oak tree will serve as his monument....a strong, natural, living memory.

My thanks to all of you,

Jan Miller

Off on another adventure...

From C. Preston, A North Sea Diver with too much time on his hands
Simplify your life as an offshore diver.
Read these wise and philosophical tips and apply as appropriate.
-Shit happens on a big job.
-You might hear some guy say to you one day; "Take up divers' slack easy!" Well, taking up divers' slack is never easy.
-The first time you really need your knife underwater and you don't have it might be the last time you ever need it. Take two sharp ones.
-It's usually the same old faces on the bell skid, and it's always the same old faces in the coffee shack.
-If you have a real problem: procrastinate for a bit, delay things for a while, do some serious prevaricating, hum and ha periodically, discuss it at length, and then it will miraculously become a night shift problem. Go to your bunk and sleep like a baby.
-Don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the good times, don't blame it on the moonlight - blame it on the nightshift.
-Don't lark around on the deck of a diving ship. It's not big, it's not clever, and it's not funny until someone loses an eye.
-If you are sailing out to a job and you drop your keys in the sea, forget them man, because they are fucking gone.
-If you have this idea that one day you will be a sat diver and the company will respect and admire you, I'm sorry but you are wrong. You will be a sat diver my friend, but they will still treat you like shit.
-Murphy keeps a special eye on divers. So does the taxman.
-More kip, less trip.
-Carry some electrical tape in your pocket. When you need to cut a piece of rope, turn a few wraps of tape around the rope and make the cut in the middle of the tape. The diver will not have to deal with shaggy ends of rope, and frankly not to tape is just the height of laziness. If you are underwater and a rope comes down, it will have shaggy ends because some slack, lazy bastard couldn't be bothered to wrap a couple of turns of tape around it before he cut it. You will have to deal with this.
-Remember that in addition to your dayrate you are provided with a free bed and all you can eat. Take advantage of that.
-If you are struggling to do a job, you are probably doing it wrongly. Try and ease some of the load onto the multimillion dollar DSV that is floating above you.
-If a guy does a really good dive, just say "Hey man, good dive." He will lie in the chamber thinking you are a really cool guy, and he will make you cups of coffee and stuff.
-If some wisearse is writing bullshit tips to an internet site, the chances are he is sitting at home waiting on weather, and trying to get some stickers.
Cal

3/2001
New DSI flip up covers most of your hat
Takes a 4 x 5 lens
and it's only got 31 parts...

click here to visit DSI

Life Saving Equipment of Morgan City, LA. introduces burning chaps made of 1000 denier
cordura. If you are into chaps, these are probably the best you can buy.
Visit LSE's web site

...this is soooo exciting...

A few tips for tenders:
Courtesy of Driftpin@lycos.com:
Keep your dirty greasy hands out of the inside of my nice clean hat.
If you want to dive my gear, clean it well while I'm in the chamber.
Dive hats have handles - use them.
DO NOT leave a big loop of comm wire hanging off the side of the hat.
No drumming on the chamber while I'm inside or I'm gonna drum on your head when I get out.
Waiting at the top of the ladder with a lit cigarette for me scores big bonus points.
Don't be tieing bullshit lanyards on tools - always arm's length and always with a loop that's just big enough for your hand to go through.
Put shackles on downlines the right way - shackle in the left hand, pin in the right to keep friction on the downline from spinning the pin out.

There you are; a tender just finished yanking every wire out of the back
of the video unit and says, "You know where these go, right?"

12/15/2000
Regarding the ADC cards,
Ross Saxon writes:
    Yes, I do know that some find the card questionable but, that's always the way with change that is perhaps not fully understood. And, it is a COMMERCIAL DIVER CERTIFICATION CARD and NOT a membership card. The entire card application and system is on our website by clicking on ' Certification Card '. It has to date proven to be very beneficial and in fact, there are quite a few users - more increasing all the time - of diving services who are coming to state a requirement that divers used for operations on their projects must hold such a card and NOT Padi, Naui, Ymca, SSI recreational cards. That then develops an atmosphere of professionalism and helps to take the untrained recreational person out of the contracting loop.
     With respect to liability issues, these have been thoroughly considered. The card itself is only issued based on reasonable verification that the individual does in fact qualify for issue - with that verity offered by his/her employer or, by the individual in terms of submitted information upon which ADC can reasonably ascertain that he/she is who they state and have done what they state. Our legal counsel assures us that liability is not an issue if reasonable measures are taken to ascertain the facts!
     After 1 February 2001 there will be a mandatory requirement that the individual have a valid Diver Log Book and we will also furnish members with a package of test questions they may use to actually examine divers for their knowledge - on a voluntary basis.
     I, just like you, realize there will never be a perfect system and that almost everything we say or do can be criticized. But, I don't believe that we should stop trying to promote safety and our profession just because of fear of criticism.
     Another thing about the card that should be kept in mind is the fact that IMCA is trying to keep American divers and divers of many of our overseas members out of the overseas waters because they are not trained to their HSE scheme, do not have some third party bureaucrat "in charge", or don't speak the Kings English. This is of concern to both the offshore and even inshore diver and represents another reason for raising the "bar" regarding who is or who is not a commercial diver. We contend that our member company divers are highly trained and extremely competent and that there should be no artificial mechanism in place anywhere to suggest they are not as good as the U.K. trained type of individual. U.S. and ADC member company divers from anywhere in the world should and must not be treated as second class citizens but rather, as the professionals they are!

Ross Saxon
President ADC

To keep things in perspective, "mandatory" applies only in as much as the ADC can kick your ass out of the ADC. This stuff may or may not become law. If you are into the legal/political issues check out the ADC website: http://www.adc-int.org/.There's a great deal of info on other diving related stuff on the ADC site too. There is also a site called NAOCD which seeks a voice in political issues.

December 2004 - Updated info - The NAOCD is now apparently defunct. Their URL leads to a porn site these days. The NAOCD site was administered by an individual named Francis Steppe who never seemed quite to accept the notion that inland divers are fags - an opinion most of us oilfield hands cherish greatly. At any rate, the NAOCD will be missed by the inland community I am sure and, to her credit, Ms. Steppe ran a good site which sought to advocate the diver's rights. Here at offshorediver.com we also advocate the diver's rights, but we are more concerned with the underwater-miracle-worker aspect of diving than all the political BS.

A case of fiber-ass
Following email received while I was offshore:

Subject:         "Sell your Superlite, etc"
    Date:           Sat, 22 Jul 2000 23:18:36 EDT
       To:           rackmonster@offshorediver.com

I think Ben Miller makes a good hat too. Why slam my Superlite hat on your
"neutral" website?

William Bev Morgan

Just a little friendly bashing, Bev.
Ford/Chevy, Budweiser/Coors, etc.
How about contributing a pictorial history of the development of the Superlite?

Brasshat
Crawfish pot diver

9/16/2000
Bev Morgan has kicked in a pictorial history of the Superlite.
You can find it in the hat gallery .

Stolt California Closes Doors
Spring 2000. Stolt's diving operations in Oxnard California have been sold. Ex-VP Ted Roache laid out the duckets and bought it. The joint is now called DIVECON SERVICES. They are wrapping up what remains of Stolt's contracts and then are likely to involve themselves in civil engineering work.

Oceanering CA. Resurrected
Spring 2000. But now it's called UTI for Underwater Technical Services (or so the rumor goes). This was a management buy-out.
Of course Cali is still probably going to be a bitch to get into.

DSV Balmoral Sea Burns Dockside

The Cal Dive sat boat Balmoral Sea caught fire and burned at the dock a couple of weeks ago (July 2000). Rumor has it that the fire began when a welder caught some wall insulation on fire. The fire was extinquished, or so was thought. It later rekindled.
The vesssel was a total loss. Oops.
See pictures of the salvage operation...

**M/V Tobias**
Crewboat hit a small well off Fourchon in Bay Marchand and capsized.
Three hands on board: two thrown overboard and rescued.
Captain turned up the next day in a shrimper's net.
These pics are of an Aries lift boat attending the

wreck a few hours after it happened.

Got news? Tips for tenders?