Blacked Out Flange Tree

The clear water around Campbell River provides for some excellent visibility which can be great but unrealistic. Most of the working dives in our careers as divers will be performed in little to no visibility so the instructors set up projects that mimic working with no visibility. For the blacked out flange tree project the object was to put five pieces of pipe together underwater with duct tape covering the face plate of the helmet. While one diver worked on the project blacked out the other diver would observe with a camera so topside could see what was going on and act as a standby if something went wrong with the diver who couldn't see. The various pipe sections were lowered from the boat on a crane and the diver would have to direct the piece into place and bolt it down with a gasket between each piece. For added difficulty the divers were given just enough bolts, nuts and washers to complete the project and some of the bolts were different sizes meaning that they had to be placed in the right section. The project was completed with all divers taking turns working on the project so it was a big team effort.