Remote But Ready

A research team experienced a small issue that turned into a big emergency, but DAN provided much-needed support. Read more.

Diver swims over fan corals

The Perils of Staying Silent

Do not be afraid to raise concerns or suspicions about any aspect of a dive trip. Read one diver’s story of how silence resulted in being stranded at sea for over seven hours.

Four divers tread near red marker

End-of-Life Care

DAN’s Basic Life Support and First Aid course teaches how to keep people alive during an emergency. However, those skills are translatable in other scenarios, like palliative care.

Hospitalized woman closes her eyes to sleep

Easy Save

“Easy saves” could be some last-minute words, a double check or anything that catches you before you dive into a possible bad situation. Read more about one easy save a diver had.

Male diver looks at computer while female scolds him

Surface Tows Against Current

It was a sunny day at South Florida’s Blue Heron Bridge. Two years had passed since I last dived this location, and I was anticipating a simple excursion to look at the local fish. The dive plan was to make a shore entry and allow the current to take me west down the beach.

Doing a site survey or contacting a local dive shop

Blue Lagoon Rescue

The Blue Lagoon in Texas is a great place for divers to train. In the water, two divers sprang into action to help a diver with shortness of breath. Read more about how their emergency skills paid off.

A snorkel-wearing swimmer tows another snorkeler wearer through the water

Now I Know Better

A dive photo instructor witnessed a diver perform a rapid, uncontrolled ascent to the surface. Thankfully, the dive instructor’s rescue training came in handy. Read more about the incident.

Two divers pause at coral review a checklist

Training Beyond Borders

The Training Beyond Borders Diving Emergency Symposium is the first program of its kind, offering DAN courses to firefighters, Red Cross personnel, civil protection emergency responders and National Marine Park rangers in the Yucatán — all with full scholarships.

A grumpy-looking lionfish

Rapid Ascent, Rapid Response

A diver was having difficulty breathing and had extreme fatigue, numbness and a host of other symptoms. He may have had an arterial gas embolism (AGE). Read more about how a rescuer used his skills to help the diver.

Man lies on stretcher wearing an oxygen mask

Right People in the Right Places

After falling off of a boat, a quick-thinking witness was able to provide assistance to an unconscious diver.

Female diver works hard to tow up an unconscious male diver