interesting.. shame it never took off
It is in the marine industry, hubless propellers don't get ropes or fishing lines rapped around them. ROV's (Remote Operated Vehicles) are using them in the new designs now.
Here is an example of a ROV, but the normal propeller type, plus a diver. The filming is done by a ROV, the diver climbs onto the top of another.
For those who may wonder why there is no bubbles from the diver, it is because he is on HeliOx mix and the gas is recovered, re-cycled and sent back to the diver.