More Than a Sore Shoulder

I REMEMBER SITTING AT MY COMPUTER while thinking about all the ibuprofen I had been popping for the past 18 hours and wondering why I still had the dull, aching pain in my shoulder. Could this be more than soreness from carrying gear back and forth from our shore entry point or exertion from a […]

hyperbaric chamber

Dodging a Bullet

While growing up I had two lifelong goals: become a diver and join the military to be part of the elite Special Operations Forces. I became a certified diver in […]

Dive professional, certified mixed-gas commercial diver, and a public safety instructor.

A Little Detail

I TAKE A GIANT STRIDE off the back of the boat and splash into a cascade of tingling, magical bubbles. The sea’s embrace is chilly; I can feel the 74˚F water through my 5 mm wetsuit and thick 4 mm hood. My vision clears as the …

scuba diver performing a giant stride

Saved by a Strap

Learn why I rely on the mouthpiece retaining strap for diving and its importance in enhancing safety during rebreather use.

Aldo Ferrucci

Trouble in Galápagos

DAN EMERGENCY SERVICES RECEIVED A CALL via satellite phone from a liveaboard anchored off a remote island in the Galápagos. A DAN member was concerned about their bunkmate exhibiting symptoms following the day’s dive activities. The diver had completed four dives that day. Although she began to show symptoms following the second dive, the inexperienced […]

Confessions of a Yahoo Diver

A COMMERCIAL DIVER FRIEND TOLD ME YEARS AGO that people like me — recreational divers who do commercial diving work — are often referred to as yahoos.
I was always comfortable underwater and, at 78 years old, still am.

Diver and Dive Operator Ethics

My first reality check as a dive professional came after a week of working with a couple. Every day they asked for private dive guides and customized support.

illustrating an in-water rescue tow back to the boat

Safety Equipment: A Necessity Even in Paradise

AS DIVERS, WE MUST take extra steps in our predive checks to ensure that our buddy has their safety and signaling equipment so we can be prepared in case of an emergency.

DSMBs can help surface support personnel and other boats locate divers on the surface

Panic Leads to Diver Fatality

AS A WILDLIFE OFFICER, I spend countless hours on the water. As an instructor for the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), I have also spent a lot of time teaching and diving.

two pro divers

Experience Matters

Do you fully understand and appreciate your role as a dive buddy? Read one woman’s story about the importance of accountability after nearly injuring her future husband.