The dive supervisor may not always be the KMACS 5 operator. The dive supervisor may want or need the freedom to direct the entire operation includ- ing the tenders and other personnel. As such, he is responsible for making decisions regarding diving conditions and safety. However, the KMACS 5 operator must always be an experienced diver who understands the diver’s needs and has the diver’s best interests always in mind.
CAUTION: The KMACS 5 operator must not leave the dive control system unattended while the diver is in the water. The KMACS 5 operator is directly responsible for the diver’s safety and well being.
The diver must follow the KMACS 5 operator’s directions in regards to depth and time. The diver can NOT run the dive from the bottom. Thus, when the dive supervisor himself is required to dive he should relinquish control to the next most senior diver remaining top side.
2.8 DESCENT
Upon entering the water, the diver should imme- diately recheck communications with top side and ensure that his mask or helmet is working correctly. When he/she is ready to descend he should notify the KMACS 5 operator that he is, “Leaving the surface.”
Both the diver and tender should communicate in a normal tone of voice. It should not be necessary for either person to shout to be heard. Although the qual- ity of the communications will usually be excellent, not all divers speak clearly. The KMACS 5 operator should listen carefully at all times to what the diver is saying.
Once the diver has entered the water, monitor his descent rate using the pneumo valve (D,O) and gauge (C,P). The diver’s descent rate should not exceed 75 feet (23 meters) per minute.
As the diver descends, the KMACS 5 operator should adjust the regulator (H) on the KMACS 5 to provide 150 psi (10.3 bars) over the pressure at the diver’s depth at all times. This provides the best breathing performance from the diver’s demand regulator.
KMACS 5 MANUAL
Fig. 10 KMACS 5 operator taking a reading with the pneumo knob. The knob should be turned very slowly.
It is essential that the KMACS 5 operator keep pace with the diver’s descent and not lag behind in his depth monitoring. If this occurs, it is possible for the diver to exceed his maximum planned depth without the KMACS 5 operator being aware this has occurred.
To operate the pneumo, turn the knob for the ap- propriate diver, counter clockwise, until the indica- tor needle on the depth gauge starts moving. When the depth gauge for the individual diver indicates a depth that is known to be deeper than the diver, the knob is turned clockwise until it is off. The indicator needle on the depth gauge will move shallower as the air bubbles leave the open end of the pneumo hose at the diver. When the needle stops, that is the diver’s actual depth.
Most umbilicals are made up with the diver end of the pneumo hose having about two feet (.6 meters) of loose hose. The diver can use this hose as an air supply for inflating lift bags or for taking an exact
© 2003 KMDSI Document # 041112001 | 13 |
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