Diver entanglement – uncontrolled equipment in the water column
- Safety Flash
- Published on 28 April 2026
- Generated on 27 July 2026
- IMCA SF 08/26
- 2 minute read
A diver hung a rubber mat with welding rods connected with a rope and carabiner to the rope suspending the welding cables resulting in a compromised work area.
What happened?
A diver started work welding an anode to a piggy-back riser clamp at 1.5msw. When starting the job, the diver hung a rubber mat with welding rods connected with a rope and carabiner to the rope suspending the welding cables. It resulted in a compromised work area. Due to the swell at 1.5m depth the connected light weight items were floating uncontrolled in the water column.
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What went right?
The diver stayed very calm and relaxed during the situation, as there was no time rush. Launch of stand-by diver was done properly and promptly according to Diver Launch and Recovery procedure including Emergency Recovery. The stand-by diver followed diver’s umbilical and untangled the diver. The entanglement was undone without exceeding the planned diving time.
What went wrong?
The first stage regulator of the bail-out bottle got entangled in the rope suspending the rubber mat with welding rods. The diver was unable to free himself. The stand-by diver was launched and freed the diver from the entanglement.
What was the cause?
- Improper placement of tools
- loose ropes floating at the diver’s working area.
- tools positioned at approximately the same depth as the work position of the diver.
- diver working close to water surface, where due to the swell the tools can have uncontrolled movements.
Lessons and actions
- Always avoid having loose rope floating around the diver’s working area.
- Make sure that tools and equipment used on a job, whether during diving or otherwise, are not creating a restricted work area or a “blind spot”.
- Special attention should be given when working close to the water surface due to swell and uncontrolled movement of the diver and his tools.
- Use of lockable carabiners to secure tools may be preferred.
- Situational awareness during planning and executing a diving task.
Related Safety Flashes
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IMCA SF 11/24
3 June 2024
-
IMCA SF 02/23
11 January 2023
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