If you’re the kind of diver that grabs whatever sunscreen they have in the store without further thought, think again.   There are several reasons why you should be careful about your choice of sunscreen on your next dive vacation. Let’s start with the obvious: You’ll want to consider …

By Divers Alert Network With their fanlike fins and melancholy stares, lionfish are now a fixture at many popular dive sites in the Caribbean and Atlantic. Though native to the Indo-Pacific, their populations exploded throughout the Atlantic due to a lack of predators. In addition to wreaking havoc on …

By Steve Lewis (Originally published in Fall 2022 issue). Participate in DIVER’s survey here. When it comes to the nuts and bolts of making it through to the safe and comfortable side of an emergency, scuba diving is way different to most other outdoor adventures. It’s not like back-country …

August 11, 2022 – Peter Bennett, PhD, DSc, passed away on Tuesday in the company of his wife, Margaret, and son, Chris. Bennett was a passionate researcher and entrepreneur who founded Divers Alert Network in 1980 and led the organization for 23 years.  Born in Portsmouth, England, on June …

By Divers Alert Network Dive sites are never constant. From currents to water temperature to depth, environmental variables can offer unique challenges and adventures. But before you embark on a new dive experience, make sure you have the skills you need and are well prepared for the conditions.  Currents …

The DAN Emergency Hotline has been a lifeline for divers around the world since it was launched in 1981. For 41 years, all divers have had access to expert medical assistance 24 hours a day, every day, at +1-919-684-9111. Earlier this year DAN launched a dedicated Spanish-language emergency hotline. …

By Divers Alert Network While bubble-related injuries get a lot of attention, they represent only a fraction of the trouble divers can face. Similarly, important safety concerns include slips and falls as well as injuries resulting from poor technique or insufficiently maintained equipment. The impact of any given safety …

By Divers Alert Network Jellyfish are often associated with tropical climates—their gelatinous bodies are commonly seen drifting through warm waters—and they’re known for stinging unsuspecting divers, swimmers, and beachcombers. Cold water divers might be forgiven, then, for thinking that jellyfish stings are a problem they don’t really have to …

When a hyperbaric emergency happens, divers want to know that a chamber is always available nearby. Problem is, it isn’t. Words by Dan Orr In the Winter 2012 edition of Alert Diver Online, Divers Alert Network (DAN) published an article authored by Dick Clarke of National Baromedical Services entitled, …

Have you heard about the recent sightings of great white sharks in Nova Scotia, Canada? These incredible animals are becoming more frequent in the area, but fear not – there is no need to panic, this ain’t Amity Island! Dr Chris Harvey Clark shares science-based tips on how you …

For more than 40 years, DAN has been here to help divers, dive professionals, and health care providers stay safer and better prepared. With its vision of making every dive accident- and injury-free, DAN Medical Services offers an array of essential services trusted by millions of divers worldwide. DAN’s …

Divers Alert Network has published the latest edition of its Travelers Medical Guide. Created to help divers, boaters, and adventure travelers recognize and manage various travel-related illnesses and injuries, this digital guide explains common symptoms, illnesses, and treatments in an easy-to-understand manner. “DAN members are active explorers, and they …

Demystifying Dive Computers Words and Photography by Jill Heinerth In my previous article I looked into incident reports that fell outside of the data gathered by organizations such as DAN. In this article, I’m going to dive into the physiology of decompression, gradient factors, and conservatism strategies. When you …

By Divers Alert Network Whether you’re a dive professional or a newly certified diver, diver rescues are something you should be familiar with. Rendering aid to a panicking diver is admirable but can put you at risk. Knowing when and how to help is critical—it’s better to avoid helping …

By Margo Peyton Researching your next liveaboard dive trip? Be prepared to ask some tough questions. The tragic accidents that shook the liveaboard industry in 2019 served to remind us that there is no single set of standards that must be followed by all liveaboards around the world. Make no assumptions …

By Jill Heinerth The cream of the crop of the diving industry are respected for their work in exploration, science, education, and engineering. They have been bent, and so have I. Each year, members of Divers Alert Network (DAN) receive a link to review the Annual Diving Report that chronicles …

By Divers Alert Network With its unusual name, its connection to cardiovascular health, and its link to DCS risk, it’s easy to see why patent foramen ovale (PFO) is of particular interest to divers. The good news is that, while the condition is common, it’s typically low-risk—but it can …

Words by William Nadeau Specialized in technical, commercial, public safety diving, and underwater investigavite procedures, the RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Team always gets their man In 1959 a Conservation Officer and his pilot were flying to La Loche, Saskatchewan in a Cessna 180 when something went wrong. The plane crashed …

By Divers Alert Network Decompression sickness (DCS) is a tricky condition. On one hand, we know a lot about who gets it and when—and even how to prevent it, but we do not have a definitive understanding of the mechanisms of bubble formation or injury. Decades worth of research …

For 40 years, DAN has played a critical role in the dive industry, championing diver safety, research and emergency preparedness. At this year’s DEMA show, DAN will be reaching out to dive pros around the world with important messages about keeping divers safe in a series of timely webinars …

By Divers Alert Network Cases of decompression sickness (DCS) with neurological symptoms are thankfully rare, but when they do occur they must be responded to rapidly and effectively. Do not let worrying about the “worst-case scenario” make your diving less enjoyable, but do take measures to learn how to …

It is with great sadness that Divers Alert Network announces the passing of its former vice president of research, Richard D. Vann, Ph.D. Dr. Vann was an esteemed researcher whose work focused on the physiology of breathing and exercise in special environments and the epidemiology of pressure-change-related injuries. His …

As most of us are aware, COVID-19 can be contracted by coming into contact with droplets of bodily fluid from an infected person. Performing chest compressions as part of CPR can mobilize droplets, much like coughing can. Since even asymptomatic people can carry and spread the virus, it is …

Some divers have asked DAN about using their personal oxygen units to treat people with COVID-19. Divers’ eagerness to help during this crisis is truly admirable. However, DAN does not support the use of these emergency oxygen units for indications other than scuba diving injuries and cases of nonfatal …

In light of the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), questions have arisen in the dive community about disease transmission when using rental equipment, especially regulators. With the threat of coronavirus on everyone’s minds, divers want to know what precautions are being taken against the spread of disease. …

Update – April 24, 2020 – The CDC has updated its recommendations, and some of the cleaning products noted in this article may not be suitable for killing the virus that causes COVID-19. While Steramine is an effective sanitizing product, and some manufacturers recommended it for use on dive gear, …

Divers Alert Network is seeking talented undergraduate and graduate students to assist with its dive safety and medical research this summer. Founded in 1999, the DAN Research Internship is a highly competitive program that gives candidates a strong foundation on which to build their careers. Interns will spend three …

By Divers Alert Network Oxygen toxicity is a serious condition, and many divers struggle to understand it. We know that monitoring oxygen exposure is important to our safety, but we may not know what happens if we exceed safe exposure limits or why those limits even exist. Following training …

  By Stan Waterman I grow old… I grow old… I shall wear the bottom of my trousers rolled. Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach? I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing …