Kirby 77 User Manual

Kirby Morgan 77

3.1 Introduction

This section provides advice on how to use your Kirby

Morgan helmet. The use of these diving helmets will

vary with the type of work and environmental condi-

tions. The basic procedures of donning and removing

these helmets will be similar for every job.

A proper training program in a calm, clear body of

water should be undertaken. If the diver has not used

a particular Kirby Morgan helmet before, he must not

dive with the helmet without proper training.

However, divers that are familiar and trained in the

use of previous Kirby Morgan masks; i.e., KMB 8,

9, 10, 18, 28, the Navy MK. 1 Mask, Navy MK. 21

helmet, or the Navy MK. 22 mask or the SuperLite

helmets, will find that all Kirby Morgan diving hel-

mets and masks have the breathing system controls

located in the same position. The operation of this

helmet will also be similar. The diver must be tended

at the surface at all times by a trained, qualified com-

mercial diving tender.

3.2 Design Purpose

All Kirby Morgan diving helmets are designed for

use with an umbilical.

The umbilical is usually composed of at least a gas or

air supply hose and communication wire, assembled

with waterproof tape (and in some umbilicals wound

similar to strands in a rope) to form a single unit.

Some umbilicals also include a hose for hot water, a

pneumofathometer hose, and a strength member, such

as a cable or strong line.

It is strongly recommended that the air/gas umbilical

be married to a strength member in a manner that

allows the strength member to receive the strain.

This will help reduce the possibility of umbilical and

umbilical fitting fatigue and possible failure.

The diver must be tended at the surface at all times by a
trained, qualified commercial diving tender.

Chapter 3.0

Operating Instructions

This manual is our effort to explain the operation, maintenance and use of the Kirby Morgan hel-

met. We do not herein make any effort to teach the principles of diving. It is our assumption the

reader is a qualified diver. We highly recommend that all divers should train, under controlled

conditions, in the use of any model of commercial diving helmet that they have not previously

used or trained in, prior to use on the job.

WARNING

Kirby Morgan diving helmets are not in-

tended for use with a self contained gas

supply (scuba). There is no provision

for surface swimming once the scuba

air supply is depleted. This could lead

to suffocation or drowning, which could

be fatal.

The umbilical is the diver’s lifeline to the diving

control station.