Derek Abbey
I started diving while I was in flight school in Pensacola, Florida. One day I thought, “I’m right by the water. I’ll go try it out.” I got certified and found that flying and diving share a lot of similarities.
Alert Diver Category: Dive Slate
DAN Podcast Debuts
DAN’S NEW OFFICIAL PODCAST, The DANcast, delivers safety insights through engaging conversations from across the dive industry. This series blends practical knowledge with personal stories to inform and inspire the dive community.
It Takes a Village To Raise a Whale
At up to 330,000 pounds (149,685 kilograms) and 110 feet (33.5 meters) long, they are the largest creatures to have ever lived.
DAN Launches Barotrauma Legal Drama Course for Dive Pros
DAN launches a course focused on barotrauma legal drama, helping dive professionals understand legal responsibilities and safety.
Gar Waterman: The Sea Slug Sculptor
Known for their striking colors, patterns and forms, nudibranchs are found in seas all over the world. Sculptor Gar Waterman’s fascination with these sea slugs extends beyond his aesthetic appreciation for their unique, organic form. Because most nudibranchs have a life span of less than a year and adapt rapidly to changes in their environment, they help scientists understand the impact of global warming on ocean health. With each nudibranch that he has cut, chiseled and polished from stone, Waterman hopes to communicate their quirky beauty and scientific role.
Deep Diving for Fish
LUIZ ROCHA, PH.D., HAS BEEN A MAN ON A FISH MISSION since he was a young boy exploring the waters in his small coastal hometown in Brazil. He investigated tidepools, had fish tanks when he was 5 years old, and was declared a future scientist by his third-grade teacher …
Liz Taylor: A Diver and a Doer
A 2023 inductee into the Women Divers Hall of Fame, Taylor hopes to get people to think about little things they can do every day that collectively can make a big difference.
DAN Emergency Hotline
WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST, DAN will be here to help. We coordinate emergency evacuations and cover the costs for our members up to US$500,000 per person. Every DAN member is entitled to these emergency services as well as travel, medical, legal, and personal assistance.
Historic Dive Helmets
Traditional copper and brass deep-sea dive helmets often attract the modern dive community’s attention. International interest recently spiked when a helmet believed to be from the dawn of American professional diving sold for a record-setting $54,000 in Wichita, Kansas.
DAN Research Grants
DAN has introduced the Research Grant Program, designed to push the boundaries of dive safety through innovative research. The program will support studies that develop robust theories and empirical evidence that contribute to safer dive experiences.
