I Didn’t See That Coming
MY HUSBAND, BARRY, AND I got our dive certifications in Cozumel, Mexico, in 1994, and since then it has been one of our favorite destinations. We spent three weeks diving […]
Alert Diver Category: DAN Was There for Me
Heart Attack in Madagascar
A heart attack nearly took one divermaster’s life, but thanks to his familiarity with DAN, he was able to get the care he needed. Read more about DAN’s intervention.
Drowning From the Inside Out
A diver nearly drowned during ascent. Acting quickly, he made a rapid ascent so not to black out. Read more about his harrowing story.
Healing Without Worry
AFTER I SPENT ALMOST 20 HOURS in a hyperbaric chamber over five days, life there had grown tedious. The last 15 minutes, however, were not only exciting but highly instructive. […]
Travel Plans Interrupted
A diver frequently experienced headaches after dives, but didn’t think much of it. Weeks before a big trip, a doctor’s appointment revealed a brain tumor. DAN helped the family cancel their trip easily.
Bent in Chuuk
What started as stomach cramps eventually revealed to be a much more serious problem: decompression sickness. But the road to recovery was hard and filled with multiple hospitals and an unusual diagnosis. Read more.
DCS in Papua New Guinea
I was diving with my wife, Kristy Hiltz, in remote Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea. We had taken all the necessary precautions and dived according to our computers. On what turned out to be our last dive, we sat on a rock ledge at 70 feet for 15 to 20 minutes and then made a slow ascent, completing a full safety stop. As I climbed onto the boat I knew something was wrong, but I thought I needed to drink water and wait for it to pass.
Cared for in the Turks and Caicos
Thanks to previous readings and trainings, when a difficult situation presented itself, a diver was able to remain calm and advocate for the care he needed. Read more about his story.
In the Nick of Time
An underwater filmmaker encountered problems when his right ear felt plugged. He powered through the work only for the ear to become worse. When he finally saw a doctor, he was told he may never regain hearing in his right ear. Read more.
For Want of a Nail, the Battle Was Lost
It was 2004, the dawn of digital photography, and I was conflicted about whether to shoot film or digital. I had brought housings for both cameras with me to Thailand. Carrying two housings on a dive was ponderous, but I could manage it if I didn’t take two sets of strobes. My solution was to rig both housings with wet connectors called EO pigtails, which went into the regular sync socket, allowing me to connect and disconnect my strobes underwater.
