PERILS OF THE DEEP.

Western Star, 3 February 1922, Page 4

PERILS OF THE DEEP.

WHAT THE DIVER FACES

AIAXY SOURCES OF DANGER

A tfiver risks his life every time lie descends below the surface of the sea, for countless dangers beset him in his undersea work, writes a deep sea diver in the ‘Daily Ala.il.’ y

One of the greatest risks lie runs is the fouling of the air-pipes. A French diver lias just lost his life in this way, though working at a depth of only 52ft.

To prevent such fouling, the diver minst be very, careful to note exactly where lie wanders once he touches ground, so .that he can return the same way. If not, the' life-line maybecome entangled, andl it is the hardest thing in the world to free it in the partial darkness. For* this reason, {sunken wrecks the biggest dangers. The diver must exercise caution when climbing about the holds or penetrating from cabin to cabin that airpipss and life-lines are quite free.

Another great danger is the pressure of the water. At a depth of 200 ft. there is a pressure :.f 881 b to the square inch, and thi increases or decreases proportionately. Should a diver feel himself getting dizzy, he must signal to- be hauled up at oucc, ’otherwise he may have a had .seizure owing to the bloodj running to his bead.

It is generally thought that the diver’s chief foe is the isliark. This is not so, for a ishark can be frightened off by the bubbles the diver makes when going down.

A much ivor.se enemy is the rockcod. This creature, which attaints a great size, hovers about the diver while he i>, working and seizes his chance to bite the man’s haudte at

the wrists,- just where the diving dress'ends. 'And tiiis fish ie-afraid of nothing.

The octopus is another terrible foe to be reckoned with, for his tentacles will strangle a diver once they get hold. Ail divers are supplied With small axes to ward off the attacks of these creatures.

Hays and devil-fish are also dangerone,'but are not so bad to fight as the octopus, which adds to danger of a -comoat by squirting a brown Enid about in the water and bewildering tin* diver.

Everything possible is done to ensure the diver’s safety. His dross is of one piece, made ,of tanned twill and rubber, with a large opening at the neck. The helmet, which screws tightly on the shoulders, "s of copper, and the air is pumped into it through rt canvass-covered rubber pipe.- Outlet valves are fitted) for the escape of jad air. This helmet weighs about 281 b., and the two 1 boots are an equivalent weight. Training for the work is long and arduous and the diver must be physically strong. He starts in four fathoms, and gradually works on till he can dive safely in 120 ft. ' But a long tune elapses before he can do this.