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
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1996

       AMERICAN OILFIELD DIVERS INCREASES BID PRICE TO CDN $1.65,
             OFFERS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HARD SUITS INC.


  Lafayette,  LA  -- AOD Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of
American Oilfield Divers,  Inc.  (NASDAQ: DIVE), announced today that is
has increased its Offer to purchase  all  of  the  common shares of Hard
Suits  Inc. from CDN $1.50 to CDN $1.65.  As previously  announced,  the
Offer has been extended to 12:01 a.m. on  October 30, 1996.

  As previously  released,  Hard Suits announced on October 10, 1996 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 include  warrants  which,  when
exercised, represent more than  27%  of  the  outstanding common shares.
AOD believes such loan transaction is not in the  best interests of Hard
Suits' shareholders.

  AOD also announced today that it has offered a CDN  $500,000  line  of
credit  to  Hard  Suits  on  customary  and  reasonable commercial terms
(including, among others, interest at 8.5% per annum and secured by Hard
Suits'  assets,  but excluding any warrants or redemption  premiums)  in
order  that Hard Suits  can  immediately  address  its  working  capital
deficiency  during  the offer period.  This line of credit, which may be
increased by  AOD depending  on  Hard  Suits'  financial  condition,  is
conditional  upon  Rene  Theophil  Nuytten  resigning as a director  and
officer of Hard Suits and one AOD nominee being  appointed  to  the Hard
Suits Board of Directors.

  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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