I have been a diver for about 35 years and a dive instructor for about 30 years. Some instructor friends and I run the Buzos del CAE and Paraná Divers dive schools. We have taken more than 40 dive trips with our students and monitored more than 8,000 dives and never had a dive accident or incident aside from a mask squeeze resulting in ocular barotrauma that resolved without issue. We always took pride in our safety record when we invited people on a trip.
This past November we took 18 people to Mexico City, Baja California, and La Paz. The group included instructors, advanced divers, and people who were diving in the ocean for the first time. With airlines getting strict about baggage weight, I decided for the first time not to bring my dive equipment and instead rent everything from the operator.
Unfortunately this operator only had closed-toe fins, which caused a small blister on my left big toe. The blister eventually burst and formed a small wound. We had only two days of diving left, so I decided to continue without medical attention because the wound was minor. I completed my fifth day of diving with a swollen toe, which felt hot to the touch. I learned later that a hot swollen toe is often a sign of a local infection that needs attention.
I decided to stay at the hotel the next day and not snorkel with whale sharks. I enjoyed spending more time in bed and exploring the most scenic areas of La Paz on foot. Walking only increased the irritation and swelling, however, and likely helped spread the infection.
“When I later spoke with the doctors who treated me, they said at first there was a serious risk of losing my life. And then they thought they might have to amputate my leg to prevent the bacterium from spreading and permanently damaging vital organs.”
The swelling was worse the following day, and I was in significant pain. We had plans to fly to Mexico City, however, so unfortunately I again deferred treatment.
Once there, I contacted the travel insurance company, which referred me to the San Ángel Inn Hospital. The emergency room staff were concerned about my toe and leg. They admitted me and ran some tests and cultures to determine if any bacteria had entered my body. As we waited for the culture results, they started giving me powerful broad-spectrum antibiotics.
On the third day of hospitalization, the culture confirmed the presence of a bacterium. Unfortunately, it was resistant to the antibiotic the doctors were giving me, so they quickly changed it.
When I later spoke with the doctors who treated me, they said at first there was a serious risk of losing my life. And then they thought they might have to amputate my leg to prevent the bacterium from spreading and permanently damaging vital organs. Thanks to the prompt, emergent actions of the doctors and nurses, none of that happened. I made it home alive and with both legs. They had to remove tissue from my left leg that had necrotized from the bacteria.
I thought the travel insurance I had purchased for this trip would cover the first 15 days of hospitalization, but the policy’s fine print indicated that my coverage was for only seven days. My hospitalization lasted much longer, and I didn’t know how I would cover all the expenses. Then I remembered that I purchased DAN insurance coverage. So I contacted DAN and received immediate help.
Whenever we organize a trip, we suggest that divers purchase insurance. We always suggest DAN because most traditional insurance companies don’t cover hyperbaric chamber expenses, which can be quite expensive. I am still recovering from my experience, and I won’t travel with anyone who hasn’t purchased good insurance. I will always recommend DAN insurance, not only because of its specific coverage but also because of my experience when DAN was really there for me.
I give special thanks to my family, my wife, and my children, who took turns traveling to Mexico to care for me during the nearly 50 days I was hospitalized. I also thank the doctors who treated me with such professionalism and humanity and the nurses who made me feel like part of their families throughout my stay, especially on my birthday, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.
Finally, thanks to the entire DAN organization, especially the medical and administrative staff, who were always willing to provide the best care.
© Alert Diver – Q3 2025