Kirby 77 3.11 Emergency Procedures

Kirby Morgan 77

from inverting the helmet exhaust valve when hitting

the water.

The diver must report to the surface immediately

after the entry. It is a good policy to descend 10 or

20 FSW (3-6 MSW), pause and check the regulator

adjustment knob to ensure adjustment for the least

breathing resistance.

The purpose of this adjustment knob is to allow the

diver the ability to compensate for variations in um-

bilical supply pressure. This adjustment device oper-

ates by simply increasing or decreasing the amount

of spring bias tension on the demand regulator inlet

valve.

This adjustment device is not intended as a minimum-

maximum device. Minimum and maximum applies to

supply pressure only. The adjustment knob should be

adjusted by the diver to be at the easiest breathing

setting at all times.

Diving a KMDSI helmet or band mask with a bias

setting greater than that just necessary to keep the

demand valve from free ﬂowing increases the work of

breathing and reduces the diver’s ability to perform

heavy work.

Then the diver checks in with the surfac e before

descending to the job. If a closed bell is being used,

the diver enters the water from the bell a nd pauses

for a short time outside the trunk until he is sure all

systems are operating properly.

During the decent the commun ications must b e

checked again and the diver supply pressure should

be adjusted as necessary to mainta in the required

over-bottom pressure. It may be necessary for the

diver to readjust the demand regulator by means of the

adjustment knob once at the work site to compensate

for the variation in umbilical supply pressure.

3.11 Emergency Procedures

3.11.1 Flooding

In the event of partial or complete ﬂooding, the diver

may clear the helmet quickly by tilting the helmet

forward and slightly down and activating the defogger

control knob. Pressing in on the manual purge but-

ton in the center of the regulator cover will dewater

the regulator.

After clearing, cautiously check for additional ﬂood-

ing. If the helmet continues to take on water, return

to the diving station, swimming with the water dump

valve positioned at the lowest part of the hat: that is

with the diver’s face forward and slightly tilted down.

Keep the free ﬂow kno b on . Th is i ncr eas es t he a ir /gas

pressure slightly inside the hat and keeps the water

out. Any incoming water is automatically purged.

3.11.2 Inhalation Resistance

If breath ing becomes difﬁcult, adjust the demand

regulator adjustment knob, for easier breathing by

rotating the adjustment knob counter clockwise. If

the breathing does not get noticeably better, press the

purge button in the regulator cover. If a surge of gas

does not ﬂow with this action, open the emergency

valve.

If the ﬂow is noticeably better, immediately notify

topside that you are on emergency gas. Insure your

umbilical is clear and return to the stage or decent line.

The diver should stay in communication with topside

personnel and make preparations to abort the dive.

The console operator should check to ensure the sup-

ply pressure to the diver is at the proper pressure.

3.11.3 Gas Flow Stops

A stop of ﬂow in the demand regulator usually in-

dicates the main gas supply has stopped. The diver

should ﬁrst open the emergency valve by turning

the knob. If there is still no ﬂow from the demand

regulator, the defogge r va lve k nob shou ld b e op ene d.

Keep in mind that if the defogger valve is left open,

the bailout bottle will drain very quickly, particularly

if the diver is deep.

Immediately notify topside, check to i nsure your

umbilical is clear and return to the diving station us-

ing the emergency breathing supply. Avoid making a

rapid ascent if at all possible.

Once at the surface, or inside the bell, the diver may

remove the helmet if needed. Never ditch the hel-

met underwater unless conditions absolutely require

that.