Alert Diver Category: Dive Slate

The small Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) field at Gander, Newfoundland, gained notoriety as the airport to which dozens of international flights were diverted after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

IMAGINE RENTING A CAR, NAVIGATING TRAFFIC ON UNFAMILIAR ROADS, and then finding yourself in a heavy rainstorm — only to realize you don’t know how to operate the windshield wipers. […]

The DAN Medical Call Center experienced a significant increase in activity in 2023, setting a record for medical information calls and case reports. This proliferation indicates a resurgence in the dive industry, prompting DAN Medical Services to accommodate the demand to assist divers and health care providers in making the best decisions for their patients.

Most flights are uneventful, with the worst experiences being an occupied lavatory or unexpected turbulence. Emergencies can happen, however, and aircraft passengers need to be prepared to react quickly and efficiently. In an emergency, knowing the proper evacuation procedures for your flight can mean the difference between safely concluding your trip or reaching a different final destination. 

When a diver goes missing, the sea becomes a vast, indifferent expanse, turning a rescue effort into a race against time. Every second matters, and the right tools can make the difference between a successful rescue and a tragic recovery. 

DAN launches a course focused on barotrauma legal drama, helping dive professionals understand legal responsibilities and safety.

This issue of Alert Diver marks the 10-year anniversary of the Winter 2009 redesign of the magazine as a coffee-table quarterly. The new Alert Diver also celebrates the scuba lifestyle with articles about dive travel, underwater photography, ecology and marine biological science. The magazine is also available as a free download for both Apple and Android devices via the Alert Diver app and as an online flipbook.

Considered critically endangered, smalltooth sawfish are under pressure from anglers who would take their rostrums as souvenirs and from the shark-fin trade. Many divers can go their whole lives without seeing one.

While helpful for humans, sunscreen is detrimental to corals and underwater environments.

Breast cancer can be debilitating and one DAN member shares her story of recovery and returning to diving after complex breast cancer surgery.