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I'm an absolute beginner welder, but I want to become an underwater welder more than anything I've probably every wanted in my life. I understand the risks, I understand the need to move around, I understand that you're usually gone for months on end, but I still.. reallllly want to do it. My question is, are the programs from this place:https://www.commercialdivingacademy.com/index.cmsrespected within the industry? Money isn't an issue right now, and I need somewhere that can take me from ground zero to employable within the field (entry level of course). I don't want to attend a program that will only sap my bank account without bringing me opportunity to work in the field. If anyone has worked with underwater welders, or employs them, can you tell me how respected these guys are, and if they help or hurt (aka MIT vs ITT) employment prospects. Again, I'm only looking to know if they're respected or not. I understand they're costly, but I'm not trying to nickle and dime my education.
Reply:As a underwater weldor you will go to school to be a commercial diver, my friend went to school for it and he said that they rarely ever did any underwater welding as it was a last resort. They started him at $15 an hour dive time. That is all the info I have.Miller Maxstar 200 SDPiperliner #10 Gold
Reply:So when you say, they started him at $15/hour, do you mean he landed a job after he got out of the program?
Reply:Didn't take too long for him to find a job. He quit it already though.Miller Maxstar 200 SDPiperliner #10 Gold
Reply:I worked with lots of divers over the years. Here in the Puget Sound area I'll bet there is only 3 or 4 divers who make a living at it, and a pi$$ poor one at that. Vast majority Pile Buck more than dive. I understand divers who go to work for Global Diving & Salvage work as a general labor for years before they ever get wet. Now if you head to the Gulf of Mexico you'll work more, but maybe for $10.00 an hour! https://www.gdiving.com/Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI worked with lots of divers over the years. Here in the Puget Sound area I'll bet there is only 3 or 4 divers who make a living at it, and a pi$$ poor one at that. Vast majority Pile Buck more than dive. I understand divers who go to work for Global Diving & Salvage work as a general labor for years before they ever get wet. Now if you head to the Gulf of Mexico you'll work more, but maybe for $10.00 an hour! https://www.gdiving.com/
Reply:I worked most of my life for one of the largest marine construction companies on the west coast. They would do anything in their power to keep divers out of the water! I was the rigging foreman on this job, stacking 300-ton anchors for a total of 1,500-tons in the water for a floating bridge. State had us set them in the wrong place. My company hired American Divers out of southern California to go down and rig them. Most of the divers had worked in the north sea. Amazing stories they had about diving there. Attached ImagesDont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:So I'm seriously confused now. I'm willing to put in my dues working entry level stuff like any other gig, but are you saying that I'll never be making a respectable ($60k+) salary doing this? I really want to get into it for the lifestyle more than the money. The thought of being able to get in the ocean/lakes/etc for A JOB, is something I'd take a huge pay hit for. I love the water, but I love danger more, and the idea that I'd be responsible for my own safety in a dangerous environment sounds absolutely thrilling to me. Like a life well lived, etc. But I don't think I can live on $10/hr for more than a couple years. I could live on maybe $45k'ish, but $10/hr just sounds bad/awful.
Reply:The stories are really why I want to get in it. It just sounds like such an amazing job to have. No one want's to hear my stories about writing software/code, but I'd imagine they'd be interested in my stories about welding underwater at 100+ft. It just seems like it'd be a remarkable lifestyle.
Reply:Around here it is a huge click! I know divers that go years, and years with out ever getting wet. Well other than their shower at home. Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPAround here it is a huge click! I know divers that go years, and years with out ever getting wet. Well other than their shower at home.
Reply:I'd say it is a horrible career choice! Around here it is all union, if it wasn't for the divers to be able to work out of the Pile Driver's union they would starve to death! All the ones I worked with, in time they just sell their dive gear, and Pile Buck full time. On that job setting anchors the deepest dives were 220-feet. The divers were on gas, it was all I could do to understand them on the intercom. They sounded just like Donald Duck! I was always asking the other divers what did he say. Because I had to phone in the singles to the crane operator.Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I just thought of something. In the picture I posted above. See the guy to the far right? He was one of the best divers in the area. See what he is doing? Now he did go to work for American Divers when we had to retrieve the anchors. Terry is a good all around hand, very good welder! He could work for me anytime. But he would go for years without getting wet.Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI'd say it is a horrible career choice! Around here it is all union, if it wasn't for the divers to be able to work out of the Pile Driver's union they would starve to death! All the ones I worked with, in time they just sell their dive gear, and Pile Buck full time. On that job setting anchors the deepest dives were 220-feet. The divers were on gas, it was all I could do to understand them on the intercom. They sounded just like Donald Duck! I was always asking the other divers what did he say. Because I had to phone in the singles to the crane operator.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI worked most of my life for one of the largest marine construction companies on the west coast. They would do anything in their power to keep divers out of the water! I was the rigging foreman on this job, stacking 300-ton anchors for a total of 1,500-tons in the water for a floating bridge. State had us set them in the wrong place. My company hired American Divers out of southern California to go down and rig them. Most of the divers had worked in the north sea. Amazing stories they had about diving there.
Reply:I've only worked from Alaska to southern California. And I've been retired for 13-years, so things may have changed. But a lot of my buddies are still running work up and down the coast, and I talk to them all the time.Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI just thought of something. In the picture I posted above. See the guy to the far right? He was one of the best divers in the area. See what he is doing? Now he did go to work for American Divers when we had to retrieve the anchors. Terry is a good all around hand, very good welder! He could work for me anytime. But he would go for years without getting wet.
Reply:Originally Posted by 12V71Lake Washington? Looks very familiar.
Reply:Yep, I remember hearing about the anchor screw-ups. and I have made many a trip across that bridge.
Reply:Originally Posted by goingunderWhat kind of money do welders make on average?
Reply:Originally Posted by 12V71Yep, I remember hearing about the anchor screw-ups.
Reply:Frankly you would have more fun and earn about the same becoming a scuba diving instructor - and you would be diving more
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI understand scale is $42.50 an hour now. When we did that anchor job, I forget the times, but a lot of times the divers would spend 8-hours in the chamber. Most days were $800.00 a day for them. And that was in 1992 or 1993 I think.
Reply:Originally Posted by RSDFrankly you would have more fun and earn about the same becoming a scuba diving instructor - and you would be diving more
Reply:Originally Posted by RSDFrankly you would have more fun and earn about the same becoming a scuba diving instructor - and you would be diving moreIt was a decompression chamber. We had two chambers on board. I didn't have a lot to do with that stuff. American Divers had a dive superintendent who took care of all the divers time. I know he went right by the Navy guide lines. He said in the Gulf of Mexico the oil companies had their own charts, and they screwed divers up all the time!Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by 12V71My youngest brother is a certified diving instructor, also a very accomplished weldor/machinist. 20 years with Crane valve company doing Nuclear turnarounds all over the globe. He also certified in underwater welding for the hell of it... The first offer he got changed his mind on the whole idea. That 100 dollar an hour thing is just a carrot on a stick.
Reply:Originally Posted by smilexelectricDidn't take too long for him to find a job. He quit it already though.
Reply:Listen to cep hes right. Become a pro muff diver instead, and stick to a normal welding career. Its hard enough as it is. I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeListen to cep hes right. Become a pro muff diver instead, and stick to a normal welding career. Its hard enough as it is.
Reply:Originally Posted by goingunderI'm not looking to get into it for the money. I want to get into it for the lifestyle. If I could make 50-80k doing the work, I'd be satisfied with it I think. If it's not too personal, would you mind sharing the offer he got and whether or not it was entry level or not?
Reply:[QUOTE=weldermike;4354851]Listen to cep hes right. Become a pro muff diver instead. Can you send me an application form please?
Reply:Originally Posted by goingunderI want an exciting career, wrought with danger
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI never got any deeper in the water than hip boots wouldn't care of. I rigged the majority of my life. Let me tell you that is dangerous enough. Making a pick one day, padeye broke. 30-feet long 1 1/2-inch choker, 17-ton shackle, and padeye hit me in the back. Drove me face first into the deck of the barge. Shattered my face, drove my forehead into my brain, then into 35-feet of water with the rigging wrapped around me. Partner had to jump in before I drown, and get the rigging off me. Got 7-plates in my forehead now! Find another way to make a living, PLEASE!
Reply:Yes, thank God for USL&H insurance! The number one injury to divers is head injuries, ask any of them, they'll tell you the same. I didn't know anything about brain injuries until I got one. Trust me they are no fun!Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by goingunderAnyone have any success stories working in this field to counterpoint the bleak prospects mentioned?
Reply:Here, maybe I can help you out. I'm 19 green, and I'll tell you what I've heard about all these underwater welding schools. It's hard enough getting on a construction site being green, I'd say it's much harder being able to be a underwater welder being green. I talked to a guy on a job site that went to school to be a underwater welder, he bailed out after his first job doing what CEP said "He spent his whole time moving stuff around not making any money." He also talked to someone who was a underwater welder, he was in his mid 30's and told the "Kid" to go be a combo pipe welder as fast as he could. That guy said he spent ALL his off time looking for another job so he didn't go hungry. The most success I've ever heard about a underwater welder was someone who worked in a Bay in Boston doing ship repair, he made 30$ a hour while he was diving and they laid him off within two days when they ran out of ships to repair, so from what I've gathered under water welders go hungry. Just go to the best school you can find, I don't know how good Tulsa is, I don't know how good any of those big name schools are, personally if you have the finances I'd find a local trade school with a veteran instructor, say someone who did it for AT-LEAST 25-30 years and tell him you want to learn how to become a X-ray quality Combination pipe welder my school gave me 6 months of welding instruction and all my tools I needed for 7,700, If you have the finances I'd ask the instructor if you can stay there for a year tell him you will pay him for the extra instruction, you might not need a year to get it down pat, but trust me if you tig/stick weld pipe for a year you should be a good enough welder to get a good job in a nuke plant or something, your first job won't be a nuke plant, It may be the worst dirtiest steel mill you have ever seen, but you need to learn how to weld on a job site first.Working on job sites is dangerous enough. My first job site on the first day I watched a overhead crane helper "The guy that holds the ropes to make sure what the crane is lifting doesn't shake" fall 30 feet because he wasn't watching and fell over the guard rail, he lived but I didn't even want to watch after he fell I went outside and threw up. Also the fitters were cranking a pad eye to line up some pipe, the pad eye flew off "I didn't weld it" and went through a thin steel wall. You will get plenty of satisfaction if you become a good tig welder. You get a good sense of accomplishment when you weld something and it looks good, people are always going to look at your welds in the future and seeing a beautiful cap on a piece of pipe is one of the most rewarding feelings you can get. So no I would not recommend being a underwater welder, but if you want to live a more dangerous lifestyle you can become a good welder.
Reply:Getting into it for the lifestyle is the WRONG motivation. I'm still not convinced this is not a spam post. Go have your midlife crisis elsewhere. You'll do better to keep your job and join a charitable organization that works with inner city kids to improve their lives. Plenty of danger there and more personal satisfaction. The Little Sisters of the Poor is accepting donations of time and or money. Give it a try. If that's not dangerous enough for you, join an NGA and pick any country in Africa, and try digging a waterwell or latrine while you hope to avoid kidnapping or friendly fire.Post #8 Originally Posted by goingunderI really want to get into it for the lifestyle
Reply:Somewhere else I read that 95% of the time, they pull the part out of the water, weld it on land, then take it back down and re-assemble. Bad enough to get a GOOD weld in air, next to impossible to get it in water! Don't get me wrong, it does get done when necessary but absolutely only when necessary!Might have been a year ago, even on this website(?)Wish I could remember where?Instead just get into Commercail Diving, Dangers are all there, you need to learn to use Tools and Rig underwater!
Reply:Originally Posted by goingunderI don't want a normal career though. I want an exciting career, wrought with danger and a modicum of hardship. I like tough challenges, and tenacity to never give up. I like the idea of swimming out into inky black darkness with a torch, in a shark ridden environment, to melt metal while breathing pressurized gasses. That sounds like it puts more hair on your face than even muff diving. And anyway, I hear paid muff diving is even harder to get into than this! Hah.
Reply:Concerning "crossing leads" under water.....what you pay real close attention to is that you never get yourself in a position between your electrode holder (stick or burning rod) and your ground clamp. You put your ground clamp as close as possible to where you're working making sure it's on the side opposite, away from where you're positioned. You also make sure that your hat, bail out bottle or any of the tools hanging off your harness aren't in contact with the work before calling for the current. It's important that your leads be in good shape and don't have any cuts in their insulation. If some where back behind you they cross over (or come in contact) that's not a problem. What you worry about is not being (or getting) in between the ends of those two leads when the current is switched on. There's a heavy duty knife switch in the lead to the electrode holder right next to the radio operator. After getting in position and making sure everything is good to go you put the rod in the holder and put the end of the rod in contact with the work (where you want to start) and flip your welding lens down before calling "Make it Hot". The radio operator then slaps the knife switch closed and comes back at you with "It's Hot". If you don't already have an arc lit off by the time you hear this some thing isn't right. But before checking any thing you need to call for it to be made "Cold" (and wait for a confirmation back that it is in deed "Cold"). If your stick welding what's probably happened is that you forgot to break the wax titty off the end of the rod. Stick rods for under water use are dipped in bee's wax to keep the flux covering from becoming water logged before it reaches the arc. They usually have a pretty thick drip of wax on the end that has to be manually broke off before you can get good electrical contact to the core wire. Reaching out to break this wax tip off while the current is on is a good way to get electrical bit hard. Immediately upon breaking the arc (and moving the rod end to far a way from the work) at the end of the weld or cut you call "Make it Cold" and wait before moving to do any thing else until you get a confirmation from the radio operator that "It's Cold". Then you can safely change rods, reposition, chip slag, etc. Another important part of your PPE you have to keep an eye on is your rubber gloves. You don't want any rips, tears or holes in them. A good habit to get into as part of your pre dive equipment check is to blow air into them, hold and watch to see if they leak down. If there's any doubt about their integrity get a new pair. Something along the lines of those yellow, mid forearm length, Playtex kitchen gloves are good. You just need to wear a heavier pair of work gloves over them to give them some protection.In "wet-stick" welding there's no holding an arc gap like you do on the surface. It's done with a drag technique with the rod tip kept pressed against the work. Even under good water visibility conditions it's hard to see your puddle clearly because of all the steam bubbles that are literally exploding into existence at the tip of your rod from the heat of the arc. And the closer you are to the surface the more of a problem this is. As you go deeper the water pressure acts to keep these steam bubbles smaller in the area around the arc. The hardest thing for people with surface welding experience to get use to (at least it was for me) when trying to wet stick weld is that you can't really depend on any visual feed back to tell you how your bead is looking or progressing. It's done way more by "feel" than any thing else. For instance, you can use the look and feel of your "lead angle" to maintain a consistent travel speed. If you've got any visibility at all you'll be better off watching your rod angle further back up the rod than you will be trying to read the puddle it's self visually. A good rule of thumb as a starting point for setting your amperage is to go with 150% of what you'd run the same rod at on the surface. So 1/8" 7018 runs decent some where in the 180 to 190 amp range.
Reply:Originally Posted by asdf I'm still not convinced this is not a spam post.
Reply:Thanks for the explanation 4956. You answered my question. Sounds like too much work for to little production and although dangerous, it doesnt sound like a thrill to me.
Reply:I don't know squat about the stuff mentioned here, but I did make an observation and a conclusion (like a dumb jury member). Remember that one single season of the Discovery channel TV show called "Alaska steel men?" It was on in 2013 and I've been wishing they'd do another season. Anyway on that show, the only "successful" underwater weldor (UW) was a guy that owned his own boat and one employee (besides himself) that actually welded under water. It looked like a crap, difficult job that wouldn't be worth the risk for such little "reward" the OP is seeking. Ive come to the conclusion now that unless you can cough up the money to start your own business with your own boat, welding equipment, insurance, overhead, employees and UW dive equipment; then move to Alaska or a coastal shore off the North Sea, one won't ever be a "regular" or full-time UW diver that the OP dreams of becoming. Then again, there's no guarantee of having that regular pay check coming in week after week for actual UW jobs. Maybe this is why the TV show never renewed for a second season. There wasn't that much UW to be had on the show as I recall. After reading all the info here from CEP (who worked side by side with some UW's), I can't for the life of me say that I've ever met or heard of a true and "full time" underwater weldor." I don't even know weldors that know any UW's themselves. Hell, i do know a real life NASA astronaut (Randy Bresnik), but not an UW! Sure, UW's are out there but I believe they're few and far between and probably don't make a living off of being a full time UW. The only exception I've heard is like when the BP pipeline broke in Alaska and even then, an "UW" came on TV to explain that direct human intervention couldn't be used to repair the issue in the first place. The guy was just being used as a spokesperson.Also, if being an UW was such a high paying job as claimed by the school's TV commercials I've seen here in California, I'd like to know why then are the "instructors" there stuck teaching at the school and not down in some ocean somewhere making all that supposed cash? I'm sure there truly is a (some) full time UW's out there making (some) "big bank." But then again, there are certain jobs in this country where only a select few are actually "hired" for the position and then there aren't any more vacancies to fill. The job of president, speaker of the house or a Supreme Court justice comes to mind. I think the number of actual full time UW's is right up in the same category.Last edited by SuperArc; 06-29-2014 at 03:02 PM.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller 625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:To the OP,All these commercial diving schools (not just CDA) seriously over hype and misrepresent the realities of being a commercial diver. And this whole "make big bucks" as an underwater welder is big part of that. The reality of it is, is that your average commercial diver does very little (if any) wet welding. The only wet welding that most divers ever get to do is the little bit of training they get at it in the tank in dive school. For one thing, wet welding is always the option of last resort. If any thing you'll get far more opportunities to cut under water than you ever will to weld.If you do make it thru school and managed to get a job with a diving company it will most likely be at least 6 months to a year before they even decide to take a chance on putting you in the water and letting you try and do something. And then it's only going to be some simple task along the lines of what a general laborer would do on the surface. So be prepared to be not much more than an underwater hole and ditch digger for a while who spends all his bottom time pig-wrestling around a suction lift or jetting nozzle. In general there's going to be a whole lot of unglamorous, menial labor type work involved before you ever (if even) get called on to try and weld something. As to your attitude of "I ain't scared of nothing so bring on the danger" bravado, bullsh1t, show off, bragging, well, you'd do well to lose it now (or at least learn to keep it to yourself and not verbalize it in front of others). On a dive job nobody that matters will be impressed with that in the least. In fact to much of that will get you looked at side ways and judged to be a poor risk. If you're not a little bit worried or nervous before getting in the water you (and every one else involved) will be much better off if you don't.Last edited by HT2-4956; 06-29-2014 at 03:41 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by 4956Concerning "crossing leads" under water.....what you pay real close attention to is that you never get yourself in a position between your electrode holder (stick or burning rod) and your ground clamp. You put your ground clamp as close as possible to where you're working making sure it's on the side opposite, away from where you're positioned. You also make sure that your hat, bail out bottle or any of the tools hanging off your harness aren't in contact with the work before calling for the current. It's important that your leads be in good shape and don't have any cuts in their insulation. If some where back behind you they cross over (or come in contact) that's not a problem. What you worry about is not being (or getting) in between the ends of those two leads when the current is switched on. There's a heavy duty knife switch in the lead to the electrode holder right next to the radio operator. After getting in position and making sure everything is good to go you put the rod in the holder and put the end of the rod in contact with the work (where you want to start) and flip your welding lens down before calling "Make it Hot". The radio operator then slaps the knife switch closed and comes back at you with "It's Hot". If you don't already have an arc lit off by the time you hear this some thing isn't right. But before checking any thing you need to call for it to be made "Cold" (and wait for a confirmation back that it is in deed "Cold"). If your stick welding what's probably happened is that you forgot to break the wax titty off the end of the rod. Stick rods for under water use are dipped in bee's wax to keep the flux covering from becoming water logged before it reaches the arc. They usually have a pretty thick drip of wax on the end that has to be manually broke off before you can get good electrical contact to the core wire. Reaching out to break this wax tip off while the current is on is a good way to get electrical bit hard. Immediately upon breaking the arc (and moving the rod end to far a way from the work) at the end of the weld or cut you call "Make it Cold" and wait before moving to do any thing else until you get a confirmation from the radio operator that "It's Cold". Then you can safely change rods, reposition, chip slag, etc. Another important part of your PPE you have to keep an eye on is your rubber gloves. You don't want any rips, tears or holes in them. A good habit to get into as part of your pre dive equipment check is to blow air into them, hold and watch to see if they leak down. If there's any doubt about their integrity get a new pair. Something along the lines of those yellow, mid forearm length, Playtex kitchen gloves are good. You just need to wear a heavier pair of work gloves over them to give them some protection.In "wet-stick" welding there's no holding an arc gap like you do on the surface. It's done with a drag technique with the rod tip kept pressed against the work. Even under good water visibility conditions it's hard to see your puddle clearly because of all the steam bubbles that are literally exploding into existence at the tip of your rod from the heat of the arc. And the closer you are to the surface the more of a problem this is. As you go deeper the water pressure acts to keep these steam bubbles smaller in the area around the arc. The hardest thing for people with surface welding experience to get use to (at least it was for me) when trying to wet stick weld is that you can't really depend on any visual feed back to tell you how your bead is looking or progressing. It's done way more by "feel" than any thing else. For instance, you can use the look and feel of your "lead angle" to maintain a consistent travel speed. If you've got any visibility at all you'll be better off watching your rod angle further back up the rod than you will be trying to read the puddle it's self visually. A good rule of thumb as a starting point for setting your amperage is to go with 150% of what you'd run the same rod at on the surface. So 1/8" 7018 runs decent some where in the 180 to 190 amp range.
Reply:If you are a U.S. citizen, don't have a criminal record, or any physical defects, then maybe becoming a U.S. Navy EOD diver is the job you were forged to be a part of. Its not for everyone, and there will be days that will require you to "embrace the suck," but it will be a part of your life you will never forget and the friendships you make will last a lifetime. Investigation and demolition of natural or man-made underwater obstructions, preparing coastal regions for amphibious landings, providing intelligence about potential threats both in the United States and abroad with expertise in the most conventional and unconventional of explosives, and ensuring the secure disposal of explosive weaponry. GarEmbracing the suck after a training dive, Operation Northern Edge, Sitka Alaska:More training, not so much suck, San Diego, CA:Lincoln Electric, Power MIG 256Hypertherm Powermax 45 Miller Dynasty 280DXSmith O/A torchGenesis of a welding table
Reply:Gar,Sounds like you have some interesting experience. While I never had any EOD training while in the Navy I have since worked on a commercial dive job that involved placing some shaped charges to take out reinforced concrete bridge pier legs. The blaster was making them up on shore as needed (up to half a dozen at a time) before we took them out in a boat and lowered them to the bottom close to where they were needed. My job was to then go down and place them up against the leg. I used rebar tie wire to hold them up tight against the leg in the right orientation. The bottom was pretty littered with concrete chunks that had fallen in when the were demoing the bridge deck and I'd gather up as much of that as was handy and use it to tamp the charge as best I could. After I came up we'd move off a couple hundred feet spooling out the det cord before he'd hook on the initiator and snap the cap. Oh boy did we ever kill some fish doing that. Every time we shot something we had to have the Dallas police launch there to keep all the other boaters a way because they were trying to get in close so the could rush in and scoop up the floaters. Finally the TX Fish and Game Department got involved and had a field day handing out tickets to people for picking up these dead fish. As I remember, the blaster was using around 2 gallons of 98% Nitromethane sensitized with Diethylenetriamine for each of these shape charges.
Reply:4956,Good times, good memories. Fun bringing the fish up, not so fun doing the verification dive after, seems the sharks really enjoy the easy feeding. Was "4956" a Navy nuclear welding NEC? GarLincoln Electric, Power MIG 256Hypertherm Powermax 45 Miller Dynasty 280DXSmith O/A torchGenesis of a welding table
Reply:I'm not an underwater welder, but have done a lot of full days diving, either rescue, salvage or repair. I don't know why, but it is exhausting work, even though it doesn't seem that physical. I have a friend who completed a commercial diving school in Washington, worked for several months and is no longer doing it, I'll have to ask him why. |
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发表于 2021-8-31 22:41:30