SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 1977
GRUELLING JOB AS A FIRE SERVICES DIVER
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SOMEWHERE A CHILD HAS FALLEN INTO A RESERVOIR WHILE ON PICNIC, A CAR HAS PLUNGED INTO THE SEA WITH ITS PASSENGERS, AND A SWIMMER WHO VENTURED OUT FROM A BEACH HAS NOT RETURNED --THE ALARM IS RAISED, AND THE FIRE SERVICES DIVER TAKES OVER.
HIS JOB, LIKE THAT OF OTHER FIREMEN, IS GRUELLING AND REQUIRES ABUNDANT RESERVES OF STAMINA TO STAND UP TO. BEFORE QUALIFYING AS ONE, HE HAS TO PASS A RIGID MEDICAL EXAMINATION AS WELL AS A HIGHLY DEMANDING DIVING APTITUDE TEST.
+WE BLACK OUT THE DIVING MASK OF THE CANDIDATE TO SEE IF HE SHOWS ANY SIGN OF CLAUSTROPHOBIA AND WHETHER HE RESPONDS WELL TO DIRECTIONS GIVEN TO HIM BY LINE SIGNALS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES SAID.
+ IT TAKES A LOT TO BECOME A DIVER, HE CONTINUED, +AFTER BEING SELECTED, THE FIREMAN HAS TO UNDERGO A SIX-WEEK INTENSIVE COURSE WHICH COVERS TRAINING IN BASIC LIFE-SAVING, ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION AND RESUSCITATION, METHODS OF UNDERWATER SEARCH AND RESCUE AND USE OF DIVING EQUIPMENT.+
THE DIVER USUALLY WORKS DOWN TO A DEPTH OF 45 FT. WHICH IS THE AVERAGE DEPTH OF THE SEABED IN THE HARBOUR.
THE DURATION OF EACH UNDERWATER OPERATION IS LIMITED BY THE CAPACITY OF THE DIVER'S AIR CYLINDER WHICH LASTS 20 TO 30 MINUTES WHEN USED NEAR THE SURFACE.
THE CAPACITY HOWEVER DECREASES AS HE GOES DEEPER AND AT 45 FT. HE HAS ONLY A TEN-MINUTE AIR SUPPLY WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF HIS WORK.
POOR VISIBILITY IS ONE OF THE OBSTACLES THE DIVER HAS TO SURMOUNT. +EVEN IN THE BEST CONDITIONS, WHEN THE SUNLIGHT IS STRONG AND THE WATER CALM, VISIBILITY UNDERWATER IN THE HARBOUR IS ONLY ABOUT TEN FT. AND INVARIABLY LESS WHEN THE MUD AT THE BOTTOM IS STIRRED UP,+
STRONG CURRENT UNDERWATER IS ANOTHER PROBLEM. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED, +AT A SPEED OF ABOUT THREE FEET PER SECOND, A STRONG CURRENT CAN SWEEP A DIVER SOME 90 FT. AWAY IN HALF A MINUTE FROM WHERE HE HAS ENTERED THE WATER.
+ IT IS THEREFORE A RULE THAT OUR DIVERS MUST WORK IN PAIRS WITH A STANDBY DIVER FULLY GEARED UP, IN 40 LBS. OF WEIGHT BELT AND EQUIPMENT, IN CASE HELP IS NEEDED URGENTLY.
+FURTHERMORE, A LIFE-LINE IS TIED ROUND THE WAIST OF EACH DIVER WHENEVER HE GOES UNDERWATER TO ENSURE HIS SAFETY, HE ADDED.
DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS THIS YEAR, FIRE SERVICES DIVERS WERE CALLED OUT 20 TIMES TO GIVE HELP, ELEVEN CASES WERE FOR SEARCHING FOR MISSING PERSONS AND THREE FOR WEAPONS THROWN INTO THE SEA.
THERE WERE