The Deep By Johnny Snyman

The sea. A good servant, but a harsh taskmaster. Throughout the ages her beauty, her fury and mysterious ways have attracted man to a point beyond reason or understanding. He has set about to explore her vast expanses, and reaped from the wealth she so freely gives. She has inspired many a tale to be sung, woven and whispered. And alas, man too has discovered that he, who aspires to conquer her, becomes the vanquished.

Among the many different fields of commercial diving one of the most sought after and romanticized is the off-shore oil diving industry. But let us have a closer look at the realities, where the time and distance away from home join hands with the elements of the sea, often strenuous work coupled with the high risks and stakes of the job. Most divers work on a “freelance” basis. After accepting an often long-awaited contract, they would be flown out from the country of their origin to the far corners of the earth. From there onwards to be transported by marine vessel or helicopter to the oil fields. Then they remain there for the duration of the contract, months at a time.

What is the nature of their work? Divers often operate in teams, one team per shift. More than often they work from huge self contained vessels known as barges. Depending on the nature of the job, a barge would be positioned close to, or alongside an oil installation with the aid of smaller support vessels. Once everything is in position, it becomes time for a dive team to move in.

Under the leadership of a dive supervisor, a dive team would carry out maintenance on oil and gas lines, do repairs, or perform non-destructive testing on metal structures in order to determine corrosion. Be it a simple inspection dive, or a complicated installation, the many risks are always present. In the capable hands of the diving supervisor, any given dive is planned, controlled and executed under strict safety conditions. From within the control room, constant voice and camera communications are maintained until the job has been completed.

No diver is a complete specialist on all areas. A dive team is like a good toolbox. Open it, and you have special tools, meant for specific tasks! Divers aren’t supermen; they are only special men. They are individualists. The path they choose to travel is of their own choice. At times when a lack of experience prevails, as hard headed as they are, will make up for it with wits, courage and an attitude of professionalism. And that is the way it should be. All in a day’s work!

So what is a diver? He is that magical creature who is here today and gone tomorrow, who is equally at home on land or water, who is never around when you need him, and always around when you don't.

		The divers get dressed by tenants.
A chopper, nicknamed "Homebird", since it transports passengers back to shore.