Page 55 - TVH 2000 Anniversary Shipwreck Project

Divers were usually excavating alone, only on a few occasions were two divers in the water simultaneously, usually for the purpose of surveying. All diving was through a dive cage lowered from the deck. The standby diver stayed on deck along with the support team while the diving supervisor remained on the panel during diving operations with a deck supervisor overseeing the dressing, deployment, operation and recovery of each diver. Co-ordination with the deck banksman was via a deck transceiver that was operated from Dive Control. Some recording of detail by video and stills photography was carried out. The camera on the Superlite helmet was used to record each dive, this proved to be important not only as a safety feature. The camera was used for recording the activities underwater allowing the archaeologists more control over the dive. Other tasks apart from airlifting and photography included the use of acoustic and tape measuring techniques to support the survey operations. Photo 34: Diving supervisor at panel Diving operations were recorded in a logbook that kept a tally of the dives and tasks for each dive. The logbook was used to give a consecutive reference number labeling each dive, divers were then able to use this to complete a computer database record of their work. At the end of the day a debriefing and discussion session was held which included plans for the following day. Health and Safety Requirements The works involved with the support vessel were carried out in accordance with the Merchant Shipping Regulations. All operations with onboard activities were the responsibility of the vessel Master and the Diving Supervisor. The Diving Contractor, Falmouth Divers Ltd., were operating under the Commercial diving projects inland/inshore Approved Code of Practice under the HSE Diving at Work Regulations 1997. The use of Surface-Supplied Demand Equipment (SDDE) in the diving operations allowed safe and efficient use of time in what were potentially hazardous conditions. Risk assessments and project plans were made and discussed with all the Diving Team each day. - 49 -