What are the advantages of Surface Supplied Air/Mixed Gas diving?
Diver exiting the water after completing a successful salvage operation.
Surface Supplied Air (or Mixed Gas) diving has many advantages over traditional SCUBA gear.
Divers utilizing a hard hat and surface-supplied air or mixed gas have a continual tether to the surface. In this mode of diving, breathing air is normally supplied by a surface compressor, fed through a volume tank, and then delivered to the diver through an umbilical.
Safety Through Redundancy
A back-up supply of air, normally contained in a high-pressure bottle, is also plumbed into the system and may be utilized in the event that there is an equipment failure. Divers also commonly wear what is referred to as a "bail-out bottle," which is a SCUBA bottle that can provide air in the event that the first two systems fail.
This redundancy significantly elevates the safety of the diving operation.
Constant Communication
The diver’s umbilical also includes a communication cable that allows clear and constant communication between the diver and the surface personnel and a pneumofathometer hose which permits constant monitoring of the diver’s depth, and which also provides yet another source of air to the diver in an emergency.
Real-time Monitoring
The umbilical can also provide electricity to power underwater lights, and a separate cable is included in the umbilical that connects to a helmet-mounted underwater camera. This allows for real-time monitoring and recording when the need arises.
Longer Dive Times
Finally, the umbilical also includes a hose that can supply hot water to the diver’s hot water suit. This enables the diver to remain at the work site far longer and to work more comfortably and efficiently.
These features make Surface-Supplied diving far superior to SCUBA diving in terms of safety, efficiency, and versatility. This is why the commercial diving industry maintains a strong preference for Surface-Supplied diving in all but a few rare situations.
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