ADC/ADCI: Association of Diving Contractors International. An organization of diving industry leaders that strives to increase safety and safe working conditions for divers through education, intervention and industry standards.

ADCI Consensus Standards: A manual of diving procedures and safety standards developed by the Association of Diving Contractors International.

Air Diving: Diving mode using air as a breathing medium in less than 220 fsw.

Air Lift: A device powered by an air compressor used to remove dirt, sand and sediment from the water bottom.

Ascent Time: Total time in minutes from the time a diver leaves working depth (bottom) until he/she reaches the surface.

BML: Below Mudline

Bottom Time: Total time in minutes from the time a diver leaves the surface until he/she begins the ascent.

CFM: Cubic feet per minute. A measure of a substance’s rate of flow.

Clearwater Video Filter: Special housing used to take clear videos in zero-visibility water.

CP Hose: Common name for air hose that uses Chicago Pneumatic (crow’s foot) fittings for connections.

CP Probe: Cathodic Protection Probe. Device is used to test the electrical charge that protects a platform or pipeline from corrosion.

Cu. Ft.: Cubic foot, an area defined as 12”X12”X12” or 1728 cu. in.

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Data Recorder: Person who requests and records data transmitted by the divers and/or dive supervisor during a platform inspection or survey work.

Decompression Schedule: A time-to-depth profile to calculate maximum bottom times and reduce the potential for decompression sickness.

Decompression Sickness: "The Bends"; occurs when inadequate decompression is performed. Treatment requires recompression.

Dive5™: An EPIC Divers & Marine trademarked program that encourages employees to proactively drive continuous improvement in safety and quality, thereby reducing the risk of injury or accident, while improving productivity and performance.

Diver: A person who goes below the surface of a liquid, usually water, to perform a job.

Diver/Tender: A tender who is experienced enough to perform actual diving work as needed along with regular tending duties.
Diver Tender Team: One diver, one tender. A three-man team consisting of two divers and one tender is the minimum crew per ADC, OSHA and USCG guidelines.

Diving Superintendent: A non-diving supervisor that oversees all aspects of the diving job including, but not limited to crew size, shift size, company logistics, gas selection, job procedures, and company liaison.

Diving Supervisor: Oversees the diving operations and personnel on shift. Required when the shift crew size is eight or more, when depth is greater than 80 feet, when decompression or penetration diving takes place at any depth, and on all live-boating operations.

EPIC: Diving company started in 1972 by L.J. “Pie” Rivet. EPIC stands for: Excavation, Pipeline, Inspection and Construction.

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FSW: Feet of seawater. Denotes depth.

Grit Blaster: Sand blasting equipment used underwater for cleaning jacket nodes and damaged areas to facilitate inspection and photography.

Inshore Work: Work that takes place away from the dock, but still within the coastline. A 12-hour minimum will apply for personnel.

Jet Sled: A device used to bury pipelines incorporating high-pressure water nozzles and air lifts in a sled-type configuration that is dragged along the sea floor.

Jet Lance: Similar to a water probe, but used in the horizontal position to pass cables under various objects.

Jet String: A large, long airlift with water jet nozzles surrounding its base. Used to dig large holes and clear jacket and skirt piles of mud, sand or silt.

Live-boating: Diving from a moving boat or vessel. Special crewing and equipment are required.

Mileage: The distance to and from a job site or dock. Also, the amount billed to a customer for personnel travel to and from a job site or dock.

Mixed Gas Diving: Diving mode using a mix of helium and oxygen in depths ranging from 120 to 300 fsw.

Non-Diving Supervisor: A supervisor who is not in the diving rotation.
OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Association.

Offshore Work: Work that takes place outside the coastline, usually on a vessel or platform. A 12-hour minimum will apply.

Saturation Diving: Diving mode in which the diver remains pressurized to working depth. Uses either air or mixed gases for dives ranging from 160 fsw and deeper. It is the required mode for work beyond 300 fsw.

Tender: A person, usually starting out in the diving industry, who assists the diver with the preparation and topside execution of the diving job.

Three-Man Team: Minimum dive crew required by the ADC and OSHA. Two divers and one tender.

U.S.C.G.: United States Coast Guard.

Water Probe: A ten foot piece of ¾”-1” pipe, with a connection for a water pump, used to probe for pipelines in deep mud or sand.

Y-Assembly: A fabricated “Y” configuration of pipe used to allow two jet hoses to be connected to one jet pump.