Comment

Comment by Fred C. Johnson on October 6, 2009 at 7:33am

Bill, I know of one suit that is at the bottom of a lake in Germany with the diver still in it.
The rest of the Galleazzi's are in museums or private collectors.
The suit had enough room in it to pull your arms in and out of the working arms.
I would have a sandwich and coffie every day at 600ffw. Only suit I know you could do that in.

Comment by Bill Gardner on October 6, 2009 at 12:40am

Fred, I never had the opportunity to see one ( Galleazzi ADS) in action, but read about them, especially Sir John Williams, United Salvage recovery from the Niagra. Do you know if there has been significant use of observer suits since 1980-with the advances of ROV's presumably superceding them? I wonder if/where they all were retired. Thanx bg

Comment by Fred C. Johnson on October 2, 2009 at 8:51am

Bill, This was going to be a sat job for Martec and I found out about it and sold the client on using my ADS , which in fact I did not even have. 800 ffw was the job depth. I got the job and then had to find and buy the suit. first dive was 600 ffw $3,000.00 depth pay for dive.
O- ring in arm imploded and took on water when assending at 300 ffw.
I had 8 divers in the crew and after the O-ring failure not one of them would get in the suit.
I made all dives every day for 8 weeks , 6 hour bottom times 600 ffw.
Bullards Bar Dam, California around 1979

Comment by Bill Gardner on October 1, 2009 at 7:06pm

Absolutely smashing!! Fred can you describe the circ**stances and time period of the photo? Thanx - bg