The coronavirus pandemic has prompted dive professionals and businesses to enact stronger infection-control measures for the safety of divers, staff and themselves. As areas lift lockdown orders, divers are eager to return to the water — perhaps staying close to home — and are committed to keeping themselves and their dive buddies safe. When diving during the COVID-19 pandemic, exercise good judgment. If a dive operation is not following local guidelines or their infection-control procedures do not seem adequate — or if you don’t feel comfortable — dive somewhere else.
In 2017 the Diver Medical Screen Committee (DMSC) initiated an evidence-based review of the existing diver medical screening system. Following field testing and significant input from UHMS, DAN and other experts, DMSC has published the updated diver screening system. Endorsed by DAN, UHMS, the World Recreational Scuba Training Council, training agencies and others, the new Recreational Diving Medical Screening System allows everyone who can safely scuba dive to do so while also encouraging those with possible health risks to be medically evaluated for their fitness to dive.
Continuation of dive training and education beyond the open-water course is beneficial, and to make it easier DAN offers the Prepared Diver course to everyone at no cost. This video-based course is for all divers regardless of training level. By building on practices you’ve already learned, Prepared Diver can help you become a better, safer diver. Most important, this course focuses on mitigation and avoidance of the most common triggers of dive accidents and incidents.
The beauty of a dive resort’s house reef is that you can shoot a subject, return to your room, review the shot on your laptop, figure out how to improve it and reshoot it during the next dive. Diving a house reef in Sulawesi, Indonesia, before and after each day’s boat dives allowed me an abundance of time with the same creatures, and I was finally able to get what I was after — a shot that I will forever cherish.
During an authentic dive expedition, you never know what adventures lie ahead. But traveling for a purpose can be worth it. Expeditions often blend adventure with field research.
