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 from new instructors, and allows you to master new equipment. Importantly, continuing your education is also a great way to become a safer diver. Inexperience […]
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 human factors, including overfishing, pollution, acidification, invasive species, and more. Even diving activities can have detrimental effects on the underwater world. So to preserve the […]
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 are no additional symptoms, but in others, the skin discoloration is accompanied by neurological symptoms. Because of this, it’s important that dive professionals take skin […]
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 trip to Mexico, Brad’s first day of diving was enjoyable and relatively uneventful. On the second day, however, he experienced an odd sensation at the […]
Don’t Let Divers 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 — don’t know is that most cases of DCS occur after dives that were within the depth and time limits of the diver’s computer. DCS […]
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 doesn’t happen automatically — and that’s ok. Being a reliable and conscientious dive partner may take a bit of time and practice, but it is […]
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 some tips for avoiding and managing them. Middle-Ear Barotrauma Middle-ear barotrauma (MEBT) is the most common dive injury. It occurs when pressure in the air […]
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 — especially in scuba diving — divers should prioritize ear health. Ear injuries are prevalent among scuba divers, and many incidents are preventable with proper […]
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 EAP is critical to your ability to safely control and respond to emergency situations in, on, and off the water. As a busy dive professional, […]
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 a few tips to make your boat dives safer and more fun. Pay Attention The crew should brief you and your fellow divers before or […]
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 conducive to human survival. This is why DAN recommends that divers always be mentally and physically prepared to dive and remain focused throughout their dives. […]
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. This story features DAN’s medical professionals assisting an injured diver who made a series of unfortunate and preventable mistakes. DAN received a call via satellite […]
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 apply on your upcoming dives. This story features DAN’s medical professionals assisting an injured diver who made a series of unfortunate and preventable mistakes. DAN […]
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 been a member for years. But to people who are brand new to diving, when you say “DAN” they might think you’re talking about some […]
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 divers gets the care they need. However, there are also numerous uncommon symptoms, and these are often associated with lesser-known forms of DCS. Because 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 time and staff turnover, helps lower insurance costs and importantly, ensures compliance with the law. Owners sometimes assume their responsibilities extend only to appointed employees, […]
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 while dive injuries (decompression illness, specifically) are caused by exposure to pressure. In both, cases range from mild to severe, and while there are fatalities, […]
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. Because the most common symptoms represent only a partial list of potential complications, gaps in divers’ (and dive professionals’ and doctors’) understanding of DCS are […]
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, you will probably need some gear, a little local knowledge and a seasoned guide to make the most of the experience. You can find the […]
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: 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.
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?
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.