Instead of using a wet bell or submersible basket, the TUP Diving System consists of a closed bell similar to those being used for saturation diving. The main advantage of the TUP compared to the other methods is that there is no surface decompression interval, reducing the risk of decompression sickness and substantially increasing bottom time.

The TUP Diving System consists of a large three man diving bell, a clump weight/ stand-off frame, dedicated bell handling system, transfer chamber, triple lock decompression chamber, and a dive control station. It enables three divers to be launched with the door closed until they reach the working depth, at which time the bell is pressurised.

At working depth, two divers go to work while the third diver, called the 'bell man', remains in the bell acting as a standby diver.

When the divers return to the bell, the door is closed and the divers are vented to the first decompression stop while returning to the surface. Then the bell is locked onto the transfer chamber, chamber and bell are pressure equalised, and the divers enter the triple lock end chamber to begin decompression.

This leaves the bell and the first compartment of the triple lock chamber free for the next group of divers. The system claims substantially increased safety and, with no surface decompression interval, it enables back to back diving.

The TUP system will use the Trimix gas mixture, consisting of nitrogen, helium and oxygen.

This mixture claims bottom times up to double that of air as a breathing gas, depending on water depth.

The TUP Diving System exceeds current and anticipated offshore industry requirements and has a pressure rating of 100m. It was built in accordance with Lloyds classification and conforms to IMCA guidelines.

A patent has been applied for.

MJInformation No: 20609