Incident Insights

Learning from your own mistakes and misfortunes is crucial, but don’t miss the opportunity to learn from others’.

DAN has maintained a diving incident database since 1989. Originally limited to scuba diving incidents, it now includes open-circuit scuba, breath-hold and rebreather incidents. We collect, analyze, anonymize and publish this data in the DAN Annual Diving Reports and in these insights for the benefit of the diving community. Often featuring expert commentary, these summaries help divers of all experience levels improve their risk management skills and identify safe diving practices. Scroll down to browse the case summaries, or use the search field to the right.

To report an incident, click here. DAN relies on divers to voluntarily report cases and near misses. No individual will be identified in any case reports published or presented orally. We appreciate every diver’s time and effort in telling their stories and sharing their insights.

Nausea at Depth

A diver started experiencing unexplained symptoms and made the smart decision to call the dive.

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Rapid Ascent Due to Broken Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB)

Equipment failure during DSMB deployment causes multiple problems for this diver.

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Disoriented While Navigating by Compass in Low-Visibility Water

Newbie divers should heed the warning: Don’t test new equipment and try too many new things all at once.

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Diving and Drinking Do Not Mix

Do not drink and dive. A diver dove too deep and ran out of air. His emergency ascent proved extremely hazardous.

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Non-Functioning BCD and Too Much Weight Sinks Diver

Always do proper pre-dive equipment checks and if you’re sinking, drop your weights.

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Incompetent Skipper and Failing Boat Spoiled the Dive Trip

Always ask for references when coordinating a dive. And ensure that your dive operator has proper contingency plans in place.

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When Too Much Air Is a Bad Thing

In the event of a rapid ascent, there are a few things that can be done to try to mitigate it.

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Unintentional Ascent by Student Diver

Accidents happen without notice, but the inopportune activation of his BCD may have been a sign that he is not yet familiar enough with its use and could have benefited from additional instruction.

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Safe Diving Tips During Lobster Season

Lobster hunting season attracts many divers and often results in a number of incidents and fatalities for varying reasons. Recently, five fatalities occurred within the first week of opening of the lobster season.

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High-Pressure Hose Cracked During Descent

A calm head and good training and help you in any emergency.

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