No worries, sounds like you did the right thing there. I've used SCUBA extensively in the past for commercial work, but that was before IMCA officially banned it in Oilfield work. I believe it still has a place though, particularly if the individuals using it have a good deal of experience, and if it's soley for the use of inspection related work. I don't believe it has a place with any construction type work, as it complicates the variables too much with safety. I've pushed things in the past, and done some risky things, but I don't believe I've known of jack-hammering on SCUBA, and it's not a good combination, so yeah you did the right thing there.

Tin-pot diving outfits will always try to exploit divers, some of which don't know any better. I'm slightly saddened to hear that the same historical attitude to getting the job done with minimal concern is still prevalent today, especially given the amount of work and money that's gone into the diving industry in the past handful of years.

Anyway, best of luck to you with getting work with a more respectable outfit in the future, and I hope that you continue to a****s your working limits as an individual, rather than as a sheep.

What do you mean "listen here buddy". Like I said, jack-hammering is a quite a normal part of industrial diving, pneumatic air & hydraulic forms. What makes the difference is the type of hat you're wearing, if it's a hard hat then it keeps the water out of your ears which means you can operate the equipment safely without the sound travelling more directly through the water.

And yes, I do know because I'm an ex Paratrooper, and after using various weapons and ammunition during my service I've been suffering from Tinnitis in my left ear since that time. I have an extensive dive medical annualy which tests my ears, both of which have not changed since the end of my military service and the start of my industrial diving.

Yeah you're right in saying it's your call, which ultimately all safety / risk issues are. But when you look at the facts, it doesn't paint you in a good light does it.