In 2021 Peter Buzzacott, PhD, of Curtin University in Perth, Australia, received DAN’s Alfred Bove Research Grant for Cardiac Health in Scuba Diving. What began with a simple proposal has since developed into a training network for the next generation of scientists and led to a research network between Curtin University and Fiona Stanley Hospital in Western Australia.
Few people were diving in the freezing ocean around St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, in the winter of 1986. I still had my Poseidon Unisuit, which I had used for several years of commercial diving in British Columbia in the late 1970s. I had not been in the water for several years but wanted to get started again.
When I was young I read about Antarctic expeditions and was mesmerized by the alien worlds found under the ice. As incredible as it looked, I never imagined seeing it for myself. I enjoy all types of diving and underwater environments, and ice diving was another unique and challenging realm to explore — one that required furthering my dive education and skills.
I recently spent two weeks volunteering on the island of Zanzibar, Tanzania, with a group that helped local communities. It was my first solo international trip.
Seventy miles west of Key West, Florida, lies one of the most remote and beautiful national parks in the United States: Dry Tortugas National Park. Sitting isolated in the Gulf of Mexico, these islands mark the westernmost edge of the Florida Keys archipelago.
Our group of six researchers back rolled off the vessel near Jupiter, Florida, and began our descent to the sandy bottom nearly 80 feet (24 meters) below. As the wreck became visible, our team streamlined into formation to begin our task: searching for goliath groupers.
Sandbags are versatile training tools for a total body workout. These dynamic exercises incorporate nontraditional lifting methods that mimic real-life movements. This sandbag workout builds functional and grip strength, balance, endurance, and stability, making it ideal for divers of all levels.
Cruise ships have extensive safety protocols in place, focusing on passenger safety in areas such as overboard incidents, onboard fires, illness outbreaks, and large-scale ship disasters. Accidents and incidents can happen, however, and traveling on cruise ships is not without risk.
To advance DAN’s mission to help divers during emergencies and to make diving safer, DAN launched the Continuing Education for Dive Professionals program in 2024. The program’s second course, which focuses on boat diving safety, is now available.
While staff from DAN’s Research, Safety Services, and Medical departments were attending the recent European Underwater and Baromedical Society conference in France to present their latest work, they were able to visit the nearby French naval submarine base and board an active-duty submarine carrying nuclear warhead payloads.
