How do 'Removal Notches' and 'Offset Ends' facilitate the disassembly of spiral rings?

Spiral retaining rings do not have 'ears' or 'lugs' like stamped rings. To facilitate removal, they feature a 'Removal Notch' (a small cutout on the end of the wire) or 'Offset Ends' (where the ends are bent slightly away from the plane). These features allow a screwdriver or dental pick to get behind the ring and pry the first turn out of the groove. In subsea environments, where visibility is low and ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) are used, specialized removal features are critical to ensure the ring can be extracted without damaging the expensive housing.