Question about surface supply vs scuba for a shallow harbor job

Just finished a 3 day job cleaning hulls at the Port of Tacoma, average depth 25 feet. We started with scuba rigs but switched to surface supply on day two. The difference in bottom time and not lugging tanks around was huge. Anyone else made that switch for shallow work and stuck with it?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliot_miller221mo ago

Forget the gear, your back will thank you.

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xenarobinson1mo ago

My old man used a leather tool belt for 30 years and now he can't stand up straight. I switched to a padded suspender rig last year and it's a total game changer. The weight sits on your hips and shoulders instead of your lower back. That cheap nylon belt from the big box store is a one-way ticket to pain. What are you using now?

the_eva2d ago

Dude, same exact story here. I wore a standard leather belt for maybe five years and my lower back was wrecked, I could barely bend down to tie my boots. Switched to a padded suspender setup with a hip belt about two years ago and it's night and day. I can carry my impact driver, a full pouch of screws, and my level without feeling like I'm gonna throw my back out by lunch. My dad saw mine and finally ditched his old leather rig for a padded one too. Took him a week to admit it was better, but now he swears by it.

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