TIL from an old sat diver in Galveston that your umbilical wants a half twist before you splash

Michael Jones · 2026-09-22T22:45:04.092421+00:00

I was killing time at a supply dock in Galveston last week and got to chatting with a sat diver who's been at it since the 80s. He mentioned that on every splash he gives his umbilical about a half twist before it goes in the water, and he swears it cuts down on the line trying to roll itself into a knot when you're working. I tried it on two shallow jobs this week, nothing deeper than 40 feet, and I have to say the hose did lay better on my left side where it usually fights me. He said he picked it up from a guy in the North Sea and that most new guys look at him like he's superstitious. I'm not ready to call it gospel after two dives, but it costs me nothing to keep doing it. Any of you ever hear this one, or is it just dock talk?

Rigidtalk

Loading…

TIL from an old sat diver in Galveston that your umbilical wants a half twist before you splash | Commercial Divers - Rigidtalk