Had to pick between a Kirby Morgan hat and a full face mask for a salvage job in the Detroit River

We were pulling up old steel beams from a collapsed dock. Visibility was maybe 2 feet, water temp around 38 degrees. Boss gave me the choice: use the shop's standard Kirby Morgan 17 helmet or try a new full face mask he just got. The mask was lighter, less gear on my head. But I went with the KM. Felt more solid, better comms, and I knew the bailout was right there. That choice paid off when my umbilical snagged on rebar. Had to stay calm, talk to topside, and work it loose. The comms were crystal clear the whole time. If I'd been in that mask, I think I would've felt more cut off. Anyone else had to make a gear call in bad vis? What did you go with?

3 comments

3 Comments

shah.xena1mo ago

Gotta disagree on the full face mask being a bad call in low vis. That lighter setup can be a huge win when you're working blind. Less weight on your neck means you can turn your head faster to check your gauges or feel around. Clear comms are key, but some of the new masks have bone conduction mics that work fine even if you're breathing hard. Sometimes less gear lets you focus more on the job in your hands instead of the weight on your shoulders.

rivera.shane1mo ago

Been in that exact spot doing a night repair with zero viz. The full face mask fogged up so bad I couldn't read my compass. Had to switch to a simple half mask just to see my gauges. You're right about the neck strain, but losing your bearing is way worse. What do you do when your lens gets covered in silt?

oscar_gonzalez451mo ago

My buddy Dave lost his way in a silt cloud and surfaced under a dock.