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.

Do Instructors Know Your Buoyancy Without Checking?

Diver in advanced diving class struggled due to excess buoyancy. Instructor failed to recognize and correct the problem.

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Postdive Symptoms Possibly Caused by Gas Contamination

Two cases of postdive symptoms likely caused by contaminated gas. Predive checks and proper equipment maintenance may help to mitigate risk

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An Unexpected Solo Dive

Each diver is ultimately responsible for their own safety. The culture of dive safety is improved when divers speak up about unsafe situations.

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Untrained Diver Dies Entangled in Kelp

When prepared with formal training and certifications, divers will experience less stress and anxiety in life-threatening situations.

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Partially Closed Valve Causes Breathing Difficulty

A diver with a partially closed tank valve has difficulty breathing at depth and has to share his buddy’s air during ascent using a secondary regulator.

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Overweighted Diver Runs Out of Air While Spearfishing

A novice diver, using brand new equipment, ran low on air and surfaced without his buddy. At the surface, he did not have enough air to inflate his BC and had trouble staying afloat.

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Frigid Waters Cause Regulator To Ice

It is paramount when diving in cold water to make sure that your regulator and other equipment are compatible with the cold environment to avoid potentially dangerous situations.

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Being Underweighted Makes for an Uncomfortable Dive

When using unfamiliar equipment, a dive in a more controlled or confined environment may be helpful prior to diving in open water.

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Diver on Extreme Diet Falls Ill After an Innocuous Dive

Diving while on an extreme diet is dangerous. Diving while on an extreme low-calorie diet and a specific hormone may be even more dangerous.

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Swivel O-Ring Pops Out Underwater

The tank valve was out of reach, and the diver could not prevent the tank from getting empty. As a result, the empty tank caused buoyancy problems and a faster than optimal ascent. Fortunately, this incident did not cause any injuries.

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