This document discusses the problems posed by the organization of continuous diving and the limits of such operations. 1. Description 2. Comparison of the methods of decompression 3. Necessary additional equipment and personnel 4. Assess whether the continuous diving operation is economically realistic 5. Summary of acceptable and not acceptable solutions
Documents Diving & ROV Specialists
The following studies and manuals explore various techniques for carrying out diving and ROV operations, as well as analyze certain publications. It is essential to clarify that we have no affiliation with the organizations mentioned in these documents. Therefore, our decisions are impartial and not influenced by any third party. Consequently, the analysis, procedures, and guidelines proposed in these publications are those we have considered the most pertinent for the matters discussed. Readers have full autonomy to assess whether our recommendations align with their needs and interests and if joining the organizations mentioned above would be beneficial. Click on each document's cover photo for downloading purposes.
- Study CCO Ltd No 1 - “Organize air & nitrox continuous diving operations”
- Study CCO Ltd No 2 - “Organize the maintenance of diving cylinders”
This document discusses the problems posed by the maintenance of diving cylinders. 1. Incident reports linked to bail-outs 2. Fabrication of diving cylinders 3. Valve connection to cylinder 4. Valves 5. Inspection of diving cylinders 6. Improve the durability of diving cylinders 7. Find competent technicians and select suppliers 8. Manage other standards than ISO
- Study CCO Ltd No 3 - “Implement a drug and alcohol abuse policy”
This document discusses the problems posed by drug and alcohol in a company. Note that it promotes procedures that are the opposite of a lot of company policies regarding the methods to be in place to manage such issues. 1. Main substances involved in drug abuse 2. Means of detection and cut-off levels 3. Organize and implement preventive measures 4. Testing following incidents and accidents 5. Reporting 6. Bibliography 7. Useful websites
- Study CCO Ltd No 4 - “Strengthen the US Navy saturation diving procedures”
This document demonstrates that a proper reinforcement of the US Navy procedures is possible using publications from recognized competent bodies and that reinforcements made empirically are not suitable. 1. Presentation of the US Navy saturation procedures 2. Elements of the US Navy saturation procedures reinforced and justifications 3. Gas, chamber, and bell monitoring 4. Pressurization 5. Excursions 6. Decompression 7. Emergency procedures
- Study CCO Ltd No 5 - “Implement NORMAM-15/DPC saturation diving procedures”
NORMAM-15/DPC procedures allow safe hyperbaric exposures up to 350 m and are adopted by the Brazilian Navy Directorate of Ports and Coasts which published them in the official document “Maritime authority norms for subaquatic activities”. Deep diving operations are successfully performed in Brazil and other countries using these procedures that are considered safer than the US Navy procedures. Normam-15/DPC saturation procedures are the improvement of those published with the diving tables Comex MT 92 that are still promoted by the French Ministry of labour. This study CCO Ltd takes into account the revision of these procedures published in 2021 and also indicates the latest standards that can be implemented to reinforce this table.
- Study CCO Ltd No 6 - “Reflections regarding umbilical lengths when diving from a DP vessel”.
The rules described by IMCA and ADCI regarding the safe distance of divers from propellers and other hazards when diving from a dynamic positioning vessel have probably saved numerous lives. However, these guidelines do not indicate elements that may corrupt the initial calculation, such as the possibility to adjust the draft of the diving support vessel, the fact that new ships are equipped with azimuth thrusters that rotate 360 degrees, and that currents and a sudden loss of position can impact the position of the bell. This document explains methods of calculation that solve these problems and are easy to implement.
- Document Diving & ROV Specialists - “Description of a saturation diving system”.
This document describes a saturation diving system in full and indicates the management system to be in place to maintain it and be accepted by clients such as IOGP members. This description is based on two existing modern systems fitted with equipment such as a diver monitoring system, automatic oxygen injection system, and others. They are installed in two new sister ships that have been put in service in 2018. In addition to the detailed description of the saturation system, topics such as: Certification process, Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA), Planned Maintenance System, and audit s are explained. This document has been updated in August 2021
- Saturation diving handbook
This Manual, which comprises four documents and an appendix, is a compilation of elements from three publications, which have been considered suitable for their purpose by recognized diving specialists in addition to diving contractors and their clients. - The saturation diving manual CCO Ltd, which was 1st published in 2014. - The diving study #5 CCO Ltd “Implement Normam-15/PDC saturation diving procedures. - The document Diving & ROV specialists “Description of a saturation system”. It has been written to provide elements that can be introduced in company manuals and give information regarding the organization of saturation diving to people who are not lucky enough to work on such systems or people who have been involved in such operations during a period of their life but need to refresh their memory. For this reason, it is designed to be accessible to people with limited diving knowledge. This manual has been updated to the latest standards in August 2021. To download the documents, click on the photos of their covers.
Book #1 - Definition and elements for preparation. This book describes the scope of saturation procedures, the reason for NORMAM 15 PLC saturation procedures, and some elements to consider when organizing a saturation diving project, such as: - Team size and responsibilities - Maintenance of the diving system - Weather and currents - Means of communications - The surface supports that can be used - Diving procedures with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) - Documentation and certifications
Book #2 - Gas supplies and chamber management This document describes safe practices and emergency procedures to manage the chambers and their supplies for safe and successful operations. It is composed of the following chapters: - Categories of saturation systems and elements controlled by the Life Support Technicians - Gas management - Chamber management - Chamber emergency procedures
Book #3 - Bell procedures This book describes the main rules for the organization of safe bell diving operations. It is composed of the following chapters: - Description of the bell and of the elements to control it - Diving operations - Emergency procedures
Book #4 - Diving accidents This document indicates and explains the accidents linked to saturation diving procedures and how to solve and avoid these accidents. It is composed of the following parts: - Summary of the diving accidents - Elements of anatomy and physiology - Accidents linked to saturation diving - Therapeutic tables COMEX - Medical checklists and records
Appendix This book provides heliox surface orientated tables that can be used to recover the divers faster than with the saturation procedure if the first compression must be interrupted for technical or another reason. The reason for providing them in the appendix is that they take too much space to be included in Book #2.
- Study CCO Ltd No 7 - “History and evaluation of IMCA D 050 rev. 1.1 - Minimum quantities of gas requiered offshore.”
IMCA has recently published an update to diving guidance D 050, “Minimum quantities of gas required offshore”, that supersedes the previous versions edited in May 2012 and April 2021.  This is an opportunity for us to remember the purpose of these guidelines and their evolution since their first publication by AODC in July 1983. It is also an occasion to check whether this new revision improves the previous ones and is suitable for commercial diving operations.
- Study CCO Ltd No 8 - “Set a policy for electronic devices in chambers”
Digital electronic apparatuses have become an essential part of our universe as we are fully dependent on them today. An aspect of this dependence is that most people working in the offshore industry consider them essential means of contact and entertainment they do not want to be deprived of. As a result, these devices are omnipresent in the accommodations and consequently in the hyperbaric chambers. However, the use of electrical and electronic apparatus in hyperbaric chambers poses several safety problems. The most discussed is that their batteries are often involved in undesirable events such as thermal runaways resulting in sudden fires. For these reasons, rules must be implemented regarding the transfer and use of such systems in chambers.
- Study CCO Ltd No 9 - “Analysis of the document IOGP 411 rev. 2021 - Recommended practices for diving operations”
IOGP 411 “Recommended diving practices 2021" replaces the initial diving guidelines published in June 2008 by the Diving operations subcommittee of the Safety Committee. According to IOGP, its purpose is to ensure a consistent approach to training, management, and best practice worldwide. Thus, we can say that this document is planned to be used as a reference for the members of the association, their contractors, and also other organizations. However, does this publication really merit being considered a reference? It is a question manual writers and divers may ask.
- Study CCO Ltd No 10 - “working at height during the mobilization and the maintenance of diving and ROV systems”
This document has been created in response to reports from client representatives showing that numerous mistakes are made regarding work at height during the mobilization and the maintenance of diving and ROV systems. Even though these incidents generally have no consequences, they may trigger accidents resulting in permanent disabilities or fatalities. This study, which is mainly based on European standards, aims not to create new guidelines but to promote those from competent bodies the author considers the more relevant.
- Study CCO Ltd No 11 - “About pre-dive conditioning and commercial diving”
“Pre-dive conditioning” refers to experimental studies made to demonstrate that preparation of the diver through exercises, oxygen, substances uptake, or other methods before the immersion has beneficial effects on decompression. This document is a quick review of experiments undertaken and the applicability of the procedures tested to the commercial diving industry. It also highlights the lack of means devoted to scientists and suggests possible actions that commercial diving companies could implement to support research.
- Surface supplied diving using DCIEM tables
This handbook is, for the moment, composed of 3 books: 1. Description and prevention of diving accidents. 2. Elements for preparation. 3. Air & nitrox diving using in-water and surface decompression. The reasons for selecting DCIEM tables for this edition are explained in book #2, and other books are planned to complement the techniques discussed.
Book #1 - Description and prevention of diving accidents This document describes the accidents linked to surface-supplied diving and the procedures to solve and avoid them.
Book #2 - Definition and elements for preparation The document describes the scope of surface supplied diving procedures, the DCIEM decompression tables, and some elements to consider when organizing a surface supplied diving project such as the necessary personnel, organization of the maintenance of the diving system, weather conditions, surface supports, systems of communications, work procedures with ROV, documents that must be available, etc.
Book #3 - Air and nitrox procedures using in-water & surface decompression This document describes procedures for safe air and nitrox dives using in-water air decompression, in-water nitrox decompression, in-water oxygen decompression at 6 m, and surface oxygen decompression.
- Surface supplied diving using MT92/2019 tables
This handbook is, for the moment, composed of 3 books: 1. Description and prevention of diving accidents. 2. Elements for preparation. 3. Air & nitrox diving using in-water and surface decompression. The advantages MT92/2019 tables provide compared to other decompression models are explained in book #2. Note that other books are planned to complement the techniques discussed.
Book #1 - Description and prevention of diving accidents This document describes the accidents linked to surface-supplied diving and the procedures to solve and avoid them.
Book #2 - Definition and elements for preparation The document describes the scope of surface supplied diving procedures, the MT92/2019 decompression tables, and some elements to consider when organizing a surface supplied diving project such as the necessary personnel, organization of the maintenance of the diving system, weather conditions, surface supports, systems of communications, work procedures with ROV, documents that must be available, etc.
Book #3 - Air and nitrox procedures using in-water & surface decompression This document describes procedures for safe air and nitrox dives using in-water air decompression, in-water nitrox decompression, in-water oxygen decompression at 6 m, and surface oxygen decompression.
- Study CCO Ltd No 12 - “Aout standards”
This study is the PDF version of an article called “About standards”, published under HTML format on the website “Diving and ROV Specialists.com”. It briefly describes the function and origins of standards, the methods used by unethical pressure groups to deviate them to their profit and how the various ethical organizations can organize to fight these pressure groups.
- Document Diving & ROV Specialists “Basic rigging and lifting procedures handbook”
This document aims to promote the essential principles for organizing the lifting of various loads to diving & ROV teams for the operations they may undertake during the construction projects they are involved in. It is based on national and international standards and guidelines such as ISO, EN, ASME, ASTM, OSHA, and HSE standards. Other norms are also used occasionally. It is based on two parts: 1 - The description of the lifting systems. 2 - The management procedures, elements to consider, and particular procedures such as personnel transfer. As suggested by its title, this document does not include details for the calculation processes of exceptional loads, which require complex engineering calculations by competent and experienced engineers and are not the responsibility of the diving and ROV teams.
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