The divers work from open boats and seek food fish, shell fish including lobsters and crabs as well as other products from the sea. The compressor The air intake is on the left and the motor exhaust is on the right, less than one metre apart. Air is supplied from a crude compressor. The compressor is powered by either a gasoline or a diesel motor. Unfiltered air is pumped down to the diver through plastic tubing which is attached to a normal diving mask through a tire valve.
Air is inhaled and exhaled through the diver's nose.
Little attention is paid to time, depth, nor surface intervals and therefore many of these divers suffer from decompression sickness.