22 replies to this topic

[deepsatdiver]

Hi, name is Len, ex commercial saturation diver, started SCUBA diving in 69.
Planning to get back into sport diving on a more regular basis, last dives off the Greek island of Mykanos. Rest of general info on my profile. Want to get back into U/W photography. Have strong interest in Hyperbaric Medicine and deep diving.

Forgot to add live in Aberdeen Scotland

Edited by deepsatdiver, 13 May 2004 - 06:46 AM.

[Diverlady]

Hi Len!

Welcome to SD! Glad you're here and I'm looking forward to reading your posts here in the future!

Diverlady

[Walter]

Hi Len,

I'm looking forward to getting to know you. I hope we get the chance to dive together soon.

Walter

[scubahoney]

HI!!! Welcome aboard

[DivingGal]

Hi there, welcome from across the pond.

[Bubble2Bubble]

Yes Yes Welcome Len!
To SD.com
I have a feeling you are going to be a Big help here !!!
Glad you swam in

Mike

[Oral]

Hi and welcome to the site. Prepare to experience the most entertaining exchange of mental and emotion teasers in and around the sport of _ _ _ _ _ _ _, ( hey, you fill in the spaces) It's all in fun.

Oral

[Marvel]

Len! I see we'll be picking your brain some! You'll be able to pick a few brains here too when it comes to photography- Grant & Dr Bill come to mind but be sure to check out the members gallery- some awesome uw photos on display there! What part of Philly?

[zendiver]

Len...glad you stopped by and hope that you will call this home. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here that are ready and willing to help in anyway, all you have to is ask.

Don't forget to take a look at our website at SingleDivers.com. We are constantly upgrading and would love to see you on one of our upcoming trips.

Again, welcome to our little place on the net where having fun is what it is all about.

-ZD

[WisconsinGal]

Hi Len,

to the board!


WG

[divecutie]

hey len. glad you joined!

[jextract]

Hey Len! Glad you're here. Anyone who's been to a depth of almost 1000 feet certainly commands my respect. What's it like diving so deep? What was the reason? What's there to see?

Jamie

[mischievous]

hey, len! welcome to the board.

[DandyDon]

Howdy



don

[deepsatdiver]

for all the responses, just goes to confirm my old thoughts about divers, that they are the friendliest people, I am sure everything you do, and say is done “in the best possible taste�.

A few responses to questions raised:

Marvel – lived just outside the North East border of Philly, in Bucks County, small place called Penndel.

Jextracr – All my saturation diving was in support of oilfield operations and you had to be a jack of all trades: welding; cutting (thermic rods); explosives; inspection (video and photo); high pressure water jetting ( 20-30,000 psi); construction and repair; lift bag operations etc. etc.

My deepest dive was in support of tying –in (connecting) a new pipeline to an existing oil platform was in Sat for 30 days for that project.

The longest period that I was in Sat was for 51 days at a depth of 180 m.

Physiologically I never really experienced any abnormal sensations from deep diving, discounting the facts that you sound like Donald Duck, (effects of breathing a helium/oxygen or a helium/oxygen/nitrogen mix.) The O2 % being around 2%. You always dive in Hotwater suits and below 100m, they have to heat your breathing mix; otherwise, your body cannot keep in thermal balance. When you get around 300m you do start to notice the breathing in and out can start to cause fatigue, even with a light gas like helium. I have friends who have been down to 450m and it was quite a problem, having to stop the work they were doing, take a few breaths then continue work.

We have tried Hydrogen / Oxygen mixes; hydrogen being even lighter than helium but that presents other difficulties explosive chance of Hydrogen. Got around that by only switching to the Hydrogen mix at about 350m, with the O2 % being so small the risk of explosion was mitigated.

The deepest experimental dive that I know of was carried out at Duke University and they had three people in Sat to 720m, if I remember correctly the decompression was around 24 days.

Diving has taken its toll on my body, hearing loss in left ear; five decompression incidents, four pain, 1 Neurological. slight Osteonecrosis around right knee and some small brain lesions. The latter is a common feature of deep sat diving and I know there are a number of studies looking at long term effects.

Still crazy after all these years - Life is toooo short not to try