On August 6, 2025, divers, researchers, and community members gathered at DAN headquarters in Durham, North Carolina, for the return of the DAN Public Lecture Series. The evening’s theme, Future Dive Leaders, celebrated our 2025 summer interns and the research, skills, and experiences they developed during their time at DAN. Resuming a DAN tradition on hold since the pandemic, this in-person event provided an opportunity for guests to connect over shared interests in dive safety, research, and exploration.
DAN Intern Presentations
Established in 1999, the DAN Internship Program supports promising students and early-career professionals in developing the knowledge and skills they need to pursue careers in diving-related and scientific fields. The program pairs qualified candidates with experienced mentors, immersing them in projects ranging from research and fieldwork to communications and training development.
The recent Future Dive Leaders presentations showcased the work of three 2025 interns:
- Tyler Horton shared her journey from leading an international public health nonprofit to finding her calling in dive physiology research. During her internship, she developed a physiology-focused project on the Avelo system and contributed to the Flying After Treatment for Decompression Illness study, gaining experience in data acquisition, research design, and analysis. She also participated in a variety of industry trainings and certifications, expanding her skills beyond the lab. Tyler spoke about how the internship has prepared her to pursue a graduate program in human physiology. She will continue working at DAN while applying for master’s programs this year.
- Anna Krylova, a marine scientist and amateur underwater photographer, presented on her career path from studying humpback whale foraging dynamics to developing outreach and communication skills at DAN. Drawing on her experience as an American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) scientific diver and her graduate research in behavioral ecology, she illustrated how clear, engaging storytelling — both written and visual — can make scientific findings more accessible to the public. Her summer projects ranged from translating freediving physiology research for blog and newsletter audiences to producing marketing materials and product photography. Anna emphasized that communication is not simply a support role, but a critical tool for reinforcing diver safety, education, and engagement.
- Samantha Nosalek, a biomedical engineering student at UNC-Chapel Hill and a NAUI divemaster, discussed her summer research at the ENHANCE Laboratory. Her project focused on assessing a new ultrasound method to detect venous gas emboli (VGE) in divers postdive. By organizing and analyzing ultrasound data from human dive trials at the Duke Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and developing MATLAB tools to assess image brightness, she explored the potential for specialized ultrasound modes to improve postdive monitoring.
Continuing Dive Community Connections
Beyond the interns’ presentations, the evening provided an opportunity for attendees to connect with fellow divers and DAN staff. Many guests expressed interest in returning for future events in the public program. The DAN Public Lecture Series was created to connect the area’s divers and researchers with the latest developments in dive safety — and its return marks a renewed commitment to fostering public engagement.
Going forward, DAN plans to host the series quarterly. Guests can expect more evenings at DAN headquarters filled with engaging research, compelling stories, and the kind of collaboration that keeps the diving community strong, informed, and inspired.
