Had to choose between a Kirby Morgan and a Divex helmet for a deep job off Louisiana

I was gearing up for a 190-foot dive near Grand Isle last month and had to pick between my old KM 37 and a borrowed Divex. Picked the Divex because it was lighter, but the voice comms kept cutting out on the bottom. Took me an extra 20 minutes to finish the weld because I couldn't hear the tender. Anyone else stick with a heavier helmet just for reliability?

3 comments

3 Comments

harpery4719d agoMost Upvoted

Changed my mind about heavy helmets after a comms failure like that.

the_christopher19d ago

Yeah "changed my mind" is exactly where I'm at too. I used to think heavy helmets were overkill for most stuff but a buddy of mine had a similar comms issue and now I see it different. Better to have the weight than be deaf out there.

dixon.iris19d ago

Figured out the real issue isn't even the weight or the comms themselves, it's the fit. Most people strap those heavy helmets on wrong, leaving gaps where the padding doesn't sit flat. That gap lets in wind noise that drowns out your mic and makes you shout to be heard. Your buddy's problem might've been less about the helmet being too heavy and more about it not sealing against his ears properly. A good cinch-down with the cheek pads and a snug neck roll does more for hearing than any fancy electronics.