Medics Swap to Strengthen DAN’s Emergency Hotline
The DAN Emergency Hotline provides 24/7 emergency medical assistance to divers around the world, free of charge and regardless of DAN membership status.
2024 AUAS/DAN Diving Medicine Scholarship
Apply for the AUAS/DAN Diving Medicine Scholarship, which provides a unique opportunity for researchers to contribute to diving medicine.
Dive Medical Services Around the World
DAN members should be aware that there are emergency service providers who are more motivated by profit than patient well-being. People who have just experienced a dive accident are vulnerable and may not be thinking as clearly as they otherwise would be. Injured divers are rarely familiar with the local “system” for hyperbaric care and may be susceptible to advice from whoever offers it.
Abaco Cave Diver Evacuation
Just before Christmas, a DAN member who was diving in Abaco, Bahamas, experienced an incident that resulted in decompression illness. When he contacted DAN and tried to access the benefits of his DAN membership and insurance, he did not receive the level of service he should have. Although we are still collecting information about DAN’s response to this incident, we can offer the following additional context to what was previously reported.
Continuing Education Can Make You a Safer Diver
There are a lot of great reasons to continue your diving education beyond your open water course. Advanced training lets you explore new environments, gives you the opportunity to learn […]
Environmental Stewardship for Divers
Because we venture to it, witness it, and explore it, divers have a deep and abiding appreciation for the marine environment. But as we know, it is threatened by various […]
Skin Bends and Flying After Diving
Cutaneous decompression sickness — also known as skin bends — manifests as bruising or mottled skin, typically on the belly, buttocks, breasts, thighs, or upper arms. In some cases, there […]
Teach Your Divers To Be Prepared
As a dive pro, you know that divers can get injured even when they do everything right. That’s why it’s important to ensure they’re prepared for anything. On a recent […]
Don’t Deny DCS Symptoms
Dive professionals know that decompression sickness (DCS) is a fact of life. We invest significant time and effort in preventing it. What many divers — and even many dive pros […]
Be a Great Dive Buddy
Diving is a bit like a team sport: Throughout a dive, it’s important to remain aware of where you buddy is and how they’re doing. But being a great buddy […]
How to Manage Ear Troubles
Even with a sound understanding of how pressure affects divers’ ears and practical knowledge of equalization techniques, divers still experience ear problems. Here are a few of the most common and […]
Understand the Ears for Optimal Health
Ears are complex and incredible organs that do so much more than pick up sound: They enable orientation in space, everyday physical activities and social interactions. Because of their importance […]
Rely on Your Emergency Planning
When a real emergency occurs, its already too late to think about how you’ll respond and whether or not your emergency action plan (EAP) is up to snuff. An effective […]
Better Boat Diving
Some of the world’s best dive sites are accessible only by boat. At some point in your diving career it’s likely you’ll board a boat for some diving. Here are […]
Distraction, Discomfort, and Disorientation
Avoid the three Ds While diving is an enjoyable and relatively safe activity, divers should never forget that it involves using life-support equipment to venture into an environment that’s not […]
Discerning, Diagnosing, and Dealing With Symptoms
Divers Alert Network has decades of experience helping divers in emergencies — and with decades of experience comes decades of stories and lessons you can apply on your upcoming dives. […]
How Are Your Divers Feeling?
Divers Alert Network has decades of experience helping divers in emergencies — and with decades of experience comes decades of stories and lessons you can share with your students and […]
COVID-19 and Diving: March 2021 Update
As the medical community has learned more about COVID-19 in the past year, the implications of the disease for divers are now better understood.
Put Your Students’ Minds at Ease
You’re no stranger to Divers Alert Network: You know about its recompression chamber network, dive accident coverage, 24/7 emergency hotline and programs for dive professionals. These benefits are why you’ve […]
Be Aware of Unusual DCS Symptoms
When a diver begins to suffer from extreme fatigue, achy joints and confusion, dive professionals will recognize these as signs of decompression sickness (DCS) and act quickly to ensure the […]
Dive Business Tips: Staff Health and Safety
The mantra “Take care of your employees and they will take care of your business,” is especially true in the dive industry. It helps builds morale, enhances efficiency, reduces lost […]
Comparison of COVID-19 and Decompression Illness: Causes and Risk Mitigation
COVID-19 and dive injuries are very different things, but the two have many similarities that are worthy of consideration. The causes are obviously distinct; COVID-19 is caused by a virus […]
DCS Uncertainty and Treatment Delay
Common symptoms of decompression sickness (DCS) include extreme fatigue, achy joints and confusion. There are also numerous uncommon symptoms, however, and these are often associated with lesser-known forms of DCS. […]
Check, Check, Check: Find the Right Dive Operator
Whether you’ve decided to explore the SS Thistlegorm in the Egyptian Red Sea, witness the Sardine Run off South Africa, or simply book a single day of diving during your beach vacation, […]
Be Prepared for Medical Emergencies Abroad
When planning a dive trip to a remote destination, it’s best to do a little research to get an understanding of local emergency capabilities. Unfortunately not every medical facility can provide care for every illness or injury. So what can be done?
Emergency Action Plans: When Things Go Wrong
Emergency action plans (EAPs) are essential risk mitigation tools for dive operators and dive professionals to limit liability and ensure the safety of divers, staff and the public. Learn how to set up an effective EAP, and download a free assessment.
Why DAN Does Not Share Chamber Availability
DAN frequently consults on care, transport and hyperbaric treatment for injured divers but does not provide chamber availability or location information. Read why and learn procedures should you need a chamber.
COVID-19: DAN Member FAQs
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many DAN members with questions regarding insurance policies and potential trip cancellations. Get your questions answered here.
COVID-19: First Aid Training Recommendations From DAN
First aid courses require hands-on learning, and as these first-person classes resume, there are considerations that need to be made. If you're teaching first aid classes, here is how to ensure student and instructor safety.
COVID-19: Surface Survival Times
Information on COVID-19 is updating rapidly, but some is known about how long the virus lives on surfaces. Knowing these times is a vital part in reducing the risk of transmission.
CPR and COVID-19
COVID-19 can be contracted by coming into contact with droplets of bodily fluid from an infected person — which makes performing CPR incredibly risky. There are steps you can take, however, if you're in a situation where CPR needs to be given.
Treating Decompression Sickness (The Bends)
Decompression sickness (DCS) is one of the most common problems reported to DAN. Do you know appropriate actions to take if you suspect DCS?
Seven Tips for Preventing COVID-19 While Diving
Wash your hands, disinfect gear, heed local warnings. There are just a few of the precautions divers can take to ensure they do not contract COVID-19.
Dive Operations and COVID-19: Prepping for Return FAQs
The following Q&As have been compiled from questions sent in by divers, dive professionals and operators and are intended to help everyone get ready for a safe return to the water.
Disinfection of Scuba Equipment and COVID-19
COVID-19 spreads via respiratory secretions in a variety of ways including aerosolized droplets expelled by coughing or sneezing. Learn how to properly disinfect scuba equipment.