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Divers Alert Network remains the dive industry’s number one safety organization. In its role of educating and helping protect divers, DAN interacts with thousands of divers every month. Trained professionals staff the 24-Hour Diving Emergency Hotline providing information and answering countless questions.
DAN frequently receives words of encouragement and thanks from divers it has helped. Below is a recent letter from a diver who contacted one of the DAN Medics for assistance.
Dear DAN,
I just want to drop you a line and ask that you recognize the fantastic staff and support that DAN offers.
I have been certified for a little over six years and am in my late 30s. I consider myself a fairly conservative diver. I am certified through PADI with Rescue Diver status and will be entering the Divemaster program soon. I have logged about 70 ocean dives to date.
Normally, my wife and I dive together. However, on a recent trip I was “tempted” by a vastly more experienced diver to make the proverbial “deep dive.” The dive was to a cavern swim-through that empties onto a wall. I was going to what was termed the 200-foot “touch and go” (at which time I could earn my T-shirt that reads: “At 200 feet no one can hear you scream.”)
Sounds simple enough, except a couple of factors came into play.
1) The day of the dive, the boat broke down and we needed to postpone the dive – I was flying home the next day after six days of diving;
2) The current was abnormally strong to get to the cavern system;
3) The “bulletproof” dive buddy who talked me into the dive.
We crawled along the sea floor to avoid the current, did the swim-through and emptied out at the wall at about 130 feet. Yea! I signaled to my buddy “2-0-0 thumbs-down,” and off we went.
The other divers continued through some more caverns at around 120 feet as we descended. 150 feet had been my deepest dive to date, so I was a little anxious and nervous, yet excited. After two thermoclines, we hit 200 feet – and the party started.
After a few "superman" poses and a couple of smiles, I began my ascent. Yet my buddy, “Mr. Bulletproof,” continued to descend. I dropped to 220 feet, watched and waited as he disappeared from sight. I shone my light to get his attention, and continued to watch bubbles, yet more bubbles, and still more.
I waited about five minutes and after glancing at my gauge (1,200 psi was the bare minimum to start the ascent), 1,100 psi was showing.
I fin-kicked to begin my ascent and continued to look below. At around 160 feet, I had no choice but to keep going up. I was able to follow bubbles from the group as they popped out of a swim-through at about 100 feet. I was at about 60 feet and fighting the current, with nothing to hang on to, as I watched them slow down and wait for us on a ledge. I banged my tank to get their attention as I hovered above them for about five minutes but they never figured out where I was.
They waited for a bit and then continued their dive without knowing that I was directly above them. I felt it was best to not burn the air to chase them and continue ascending. Breathing shallow and ascending, I only had 300 psi left at about 50 feet, so I had no choice but to ascend as slowly as possible through the deco stops.
Making to it to the surface was a feat of its own. Needless to say, my computer locked up – DECO mode.
I will not go into my buddy's dive profile. He surfaced shortly after I did and had no medical problems following the dive. Ultimately, the dive was made by me and my sheer lack of observing the basic rules that are pounded into you from day one.
Drinking lots of water and relaxing for the rest of the day, fatigue began to set in from the dive as well as from the week. Joints began to tighten, and muscle spasms flared as I tried to relax and prepare for the flight home.
All the “what ifs” began to race through my mind, nerves acted up, stomach tensed from the stress. At 12:30 a.m., I decided enough is enough: I screwed up. Now it's time to eat crow and call for help.
I called DAN’s Diving Emergency Hotline and asked for the location of the nearest chamber. The staff member operator suggested that it was best for me to discuss my case with a dive specialist. I was connected shortly with Joel Dovenbarger.
After a review of the day and asking me a series of questions, Joel was able to calm me down. He spent a long time reviewing and re-reviewing the case and determined that I probably wasn't bent and at this time the chamber visit was not going to be required, UNLESS symptoms began.
Joel expressed his concerns over the case and told me what to expect over the next few days. He was right: I felt like I had been hit by a truck. However, I am still here and ready to plan my next trip.
Through our conversations, Joel never belittled me or made me feel stupid. I suppose he thought I already beat myself up enough. I greatly appreciated him and the overall professional manner in which he conducted himself. Keep in mind that it was around 2 o'clock inthe morning, and he was never concerned with his inconvenience, just my overall safety.
True, DAN offers insurance for divers, but it is reassuring to know that if the time ever comes that an emergency arises, DAN and its wonderful staff will be behind you. No matter how small my questions or concerns are, I feel completely comfortable knowing that I'm backed by DAN.
Thank you Joel, and the rest of the DAN staff.
Respectfully,
Victor
Printed by Permission
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