I have carried DAN insurance for decades. Thankfully I never had to use it until last October, when I was on a liveaboard trip that combined snorkeling with baitballs in Magdalena Bay, Mexico, anddiving at Socorro Island.
Medical issues in these remote locations are usually related to decompression sickness or injuries from falling, but my incident was a new one: While snorkeling with the baitballs, striped bonitos bit through my lower lip and into my chin.
It was a thrill to finally behold marlins and sailfish preying on baitballs. I had never seen a billfish in the water before. We also observed sea lions, silky sharks, and dolphins. On our final day in Magdalena Bay, the sea was churning as sea lions and fast-moving schools of striped bonitos and skipjack tunas tore the balls of small mackerels to shreds.
The medium-sized bonitos rocketed through the water, with their mouths agape and teeth bared. Tiny scales from prey fish clouded the water, making it hard to see.It was no wonder that the baitballs grew frantic as their numbers declined.
As I bobbed on the surface, I realized I was witnessing a life-and-death struggle, with desperate prey animals bobbing and swirling to elude their brawny predators. When a school of mackerels surrounded me in the same way fish hide under a floating log or dock, they were only trying to survive — as were the marauding striped bonitos who barreled into me and the mackerels.
I balled my fists against my chest, lowered my head, and hoped that my 7 mm wetsuit and hooded vest would protect me. That’s when a bonito or two hit my face. I felt sharp teeth tear completely through my lower lip and gash my chin.
I knew I was badly hurt, so Ipopped up my head and yelled that I was hit. The divemaster was at my side in an instant and hauled me back to the panga that had transported my group. Facial wounds bleed profusely, so my wetsuit was covered in blood.
The bite went entirely through my lip, which gushed but didn’t hurt much, while my chin wound was much more painful. The divemaster gathered the rest of our snorkeling group, and the panga driver hustled us back to the mothership as I pressed large pieces of sterile gauze to my face.
The Nautilus Belle Amie crew sprang into action during the 40-minute ride. In coordination with DAN, the captain and first mate arranged for me to be transported to Los Cabos for treatment from a reconstructive surgeon. The stewards packed most of my gear and clothing. The first mate and two physician guests on board stabilized my wounds.
Within an hour of returning to the boat, I was carefully bundled over the side for another transport to the shore, where I was met by a driver with a comfortable van and ice for compresses. We began the five-hour road trip to Los Cabos. Though La Paz was closer, DAN and the captain thought I would get the best treatment in Los Cabos.
We arrived at the clinic in San José del Cabo in early evening, where a facial and reconstructive surgeon, an attending physician, and an anesthesiologist met us. After I completed paperwork and paid for my treatment, the team sedated me and prepared me for surgery.
I awoke to find that the surgeon had meticulously reattached my lower lip and stitched up the gash in my chin. I spent a comfortable night at the clinic, monitored by a full nursing staff and the attending physician.
The surgeon came in the next morning to evaluate me, instruct me on care, and write a fit-to-flyletter forthe airline. I spent two nights in a nearby hotel before my rebooked flight to New York, where a car service met me and took me home to Connecticut, where my husband was waiting for me.
I contacted my dermatologist so she could monitor my wounds, and she thought that the surgeon had done brilliant work. It was a relief to learn that my care while traveling was as good as anyone could ask for.
My healing was remarkably quick and easy. I felt tingling as my severed nerves knitted, and the area of numbness receded every day. My benchmark was the day when I was able to whistle again. The outcome, both functionally and cosmetically, was as good as I could have wished.
The process of filing for reimbursement for my medical care, transportation, and trip interruption was almost as easy. The clinic in Los Cabos provided careful documentation of my treatment, knowing that DAN needed it to process the claim. Thankfully, I am a compulsive record-keeper and could provide everything else.
It was a slog to digitize so many pages. Processing took a couple of months, but DAN came through for me. I was reimbursed for everything, from medical costs to a new flight home, my hotel stay, trip interruption, and even the interest I accrued.
One of the key lessons from this experience is the importance of carrying proper dive accident and travel insurance. Divers Alert Network and Nautilus Adventures impressed me with their swift and seamless coordination of medical care, from evacuation to surgery. From talking with Nautilus owner Mike Lever, I know just how carefully his staff is trained and drilled in emergency medical scenarios.
What I had hoped for and can now confirm is how good DAN insurance is and how well DAN partners with dive operators and medical facilities. I now have a nearly invisible pair of scars and one heck of a story.
I did not want this injury to interfere with my love of diving, so 30 days after the incident I was back in the water in Belize, logging dive number 4,500. With DAN behind me, I look forward to many more.
© Alert Diver – Q3 2026