NEWS RELEASE

For further information contact:
Greg Rosenstein                              Cathy Green
Manager of Investor Relations                Chief Financial Officer
(318) 234-4590                               (318) 234-4590

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1996

           AMERICAN OILFIELD DIVERS EXTENDS OFFER DEADLINE TO
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1996; DENOUNCES HARD SUITS' LOAN AS A POISON PILL


  Lafayette,  LA  -- AOD Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of
American Oilfield Divers,  Inc.  (NASDAQ: DIVE), announced today that it
has extended its Offer to acquire  all  of  the  issued  and outstanding
shares of Hard Suits Inc. at a price of CDN$1.50 per share (US$1.095 per
share) to October 30, 1996.

  Subsequent to the offer, Hard Suits announced its intention  to  enter
into  a CDN$2.5 million loan agreement.  The loan would carry an average
interest  rate  of 14%, have a redemption premium which could be as high
as 100%, and includes  warrants  which,  when  exercised, represent more
than 27% of the outstanding common shares.

  AOD believes the loan is contrary to the best  interests  of  existing
shareholders  of  Hard  Suits. George Yax, President and Chief Executive
Officer of AOD said, "the  terms  of this loan are outrageous.  The loan
only benefits the management and advisors of Hard Suits."

  Yax added that AOD believes it is  in the best interest of Hard Suits'
shareholders to tender their shares, especially  since  Hard  Suits' own
investment advisory firm C.M. Oliver & Company, Ltd., concluded that the
Offer  of  CDN$1.50  per  share (US$1.095) was adequate from a financial
point of view.

  American Oilfield Divers,  Inc.,  is  a  leading  provider  of  diving
services,   subsea   products,  marine  construction  and  environmental
services to the offshore  oil  and  gas  industry, primarily in the U.S.
Gulf of Mexico, U.S. West Coast, internationally  and  to  certain  U.S.
inland customers.

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