The US GoM Diving Safety Workgroup is a US GoM focused, non-competitive and non-commercial group of oil and gas operators, transmission companies, commercial diving companies, supporting sub-contractors, organizations and industry stake holders. The group will provide a unified voice to promote and improve diving safety, through the following:
Identification and sharing of best practices
Identify and seek solutions to industry challenges and issues
Review and comment of existing and proposed standards and guidelines
Provide input to the regulators and industry associations
November General Membership Meeting
Please join us either in person at Chevron (100 NorthPark Blvd. Covington, LA) or via ZOOM
for November 19th, 2025 - DSWG General Membership Meeting, we look forward to seeing you all there.
Agenda Items for November 19th meeting
Incident and Industry Shares
Industry updates
Pigging and Flushing presentation relating to Pipeline abandonment
- Safety risks / Properly flushing out hydrocarbons /distillate - Shawn Ellis (Legends)
Safety - Risk mitigation - John Hocutt
ADCI - update from Phil Newsum
IMCA - update from Ali Macleod
455 regulator RCA -Update from Blair Mott (Kirby Morgan)
Executive Board Elections- In Person Voting Only
Or by E-Mail- Deadline Nov 19 -0900 CST
One vote from each General Member company only
Nominee Bios will be sent in separate email
Directions to the meeting:
Travel to 100 NorthPark Blvd. Covington, LA
Tell the Guard at the gate that you are there for the GOM Diving Safety Workgroup
You will be directed to take a left to park in the parking garage in the back. (Back in parking recommended).
At the bottom floor of the garage, outside the elevator, security will have a table set up for sign in and badges
Please RSVP to Scott Crook if you plan to attend
(Scott will need names of those attending prior for security to have the badges ready)
Badge through the turnstile and take a right turn passing the cafeteria seating area proceed down the hall.
Take the first opening on Right and Room E104 will be at the end of the hall on the left.
2026 General Membership Meeting Dates
Locations - TBD
Underwater Magazine: Phil Newsum Remembers Randy Abadie
Phil Newsum writes about Randy Abadie in the May/Jube 2019 issue of Underwater Magazine.
"On Friday, April 26th, the industry lost a man whose contribution to diver safety needs to be shared with all who should read this."
This article remembering Randy can be found in the May/June 2019 Issue on page 10
The April/May 2017 Issue of Underwater Magazine, which is published by the Association of Diving Contractors International,
features an article about the DSWG meeting that took place at the Neutral Bouyancy Laboratory in the Johnson's Space Center in Houston.
If you have not received the latest issue or read the story online, follow the link below to read the article in digital format.
Again, thank you to everyone for the continued support and progression of the group to lead safety for commercial diving.
Exotic Species Alert - Lionfish (Family Scorpaenidae)
Information, Concerns, Contact:
Lionfish are native to the warm waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. Since there are no known Atlantic or Gulf predators, lionfish have quickly expanded their range throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish are voracious predators and may compete with other important reef fish such as groupers and snappers. Click Here for More Information
There are NO dues or other Fees required to be a member. We simply ask that you provide your time and input to promote safe operations for commercial diving in the US Gulf of Mexico.
The US GOM Diving Safety Work Group would like to acknowledge and thank Fast Forward Rentals for creating and maintaining our website.
Phil Newsum writes about Randy Abadie in the May/Jube 2019 issue of Underwater Magazine.
"On Friday, April 26th, the industry lost a man whose contribution to diver safety needs to be shared with all who should read this."
This article remembering Randy can be found in the May/June 2019 Issue on page 10
The April/May 2017 Issue of Underwater Magazine, which is published by the Association of Diving Contractors International,
features an article about the DSWG meeting that took place at the Neutral Bouyancy Laboratory in the Johnson's Space Center in Houston.
If you have not received the latest issue or read the story online, follow the link below to read the article in digital format.
Again, thank you to everyone for the continued support and progression of the group to lead safety for commercial diving.
Lionfish are native to the warm waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. Since there are no known Atlantic or Gulf predators, lionfish have quickly expanded their range throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish are voracious predators and may compete with other important reef fish such as groupers and snappers. 
