When to Call a Dive

In this article, DAN Asia-Pacific’s General Manager, Scott Jamieson, discusses the importance of knowing your personal limits and when to call (or abort) a dive

In this article, DAN Asia-Pacific’s General Manager, Scott Jamieson, discusses the importance of knowing your personal limits and when to call (or abort) a dive.

During our basic dive training we are taught that if a dive doesn’t feel right we should abort it. The reality is, despite these lessons, many people find themselves on dives for which they lack the confidence or experience to be undertaking. This places unnecessary stress on the diver, both physically and mentally, and this can lead to unnecessary incidents involving injury or even death. Continue reading “When to Call a Dive”

Yonaguni Monument – lost underwater temple or natural feature?

In the remote island of Yonaguni, Japan’s most south-westerly point in the province of Okinawa, an underwater feature has archaeologists and geologists still arguing 30 years on

In the remote island of Yonaguni, Japan’s most south-westerly point in the province of Okinawa, an underwater feature has archaeologists and geologists arguing, still, 30 years after it was first discovered. Is it an ancient monument, the remains of a legendary city like Atlantis, swallowed by the ocean thousands of years ago? Was it built by aliens? Or is it a natural rock formation? Continue reading “Yonaguni Monument – lost underwater temple or natural feature?”

But I Was Within The Limits of My Diving Computer!

Most divers these days use dive computers and appear to be reasonably confident that by doing so they will avoid decompression illness (DCI) as long as they dive within its limits. Dive computer algorithms are based on decompression models, which are only generalisations and deeper dives, longer dives, with shorter surface intervals produce less accurate decompression calculations.

Most divers these days use dive computers and appear to be reasonably confident that by doing so they will avoid decompression illness (DCI) as long as they dive within its limits.

One DAN Member, who called for help, commented: “But I didn’t believe it could be DCI as there were no violations according to my computer”, a relatively common reaction.

John Lippmann DAN Asia-Pacific’s Founder, Chairman & Director of Research explains why deeper dives, longer dives, with shorter surface intervals and repetitive diving, can often be inviting problems. Continue reading “But I Was Within The Limits of My Diving Computer!”

In the Event of a Diving Emergency, Be Prepared Before Calling a DAN Hotline

SAFETY TIP: In the Event of a Diving Emergency, Be Prepared Before Calling a DAN Hotline: make sure you have a call-back number available. NOTE: All divers can call a DAN Hotline for advice, but DAN can only manage the evacuation & treatment of members. You can sign up here: http://www.danap.org.

SAFETY TIP: In the Event of a Diving Emergency, Be Prepared Before Calling a DAN Hotline

  • Firstly, have a call-back number available
  • Call the hotline: +61 8 8212 9242 or 1800 088 200
  • These hotlines will put you in contact with a diving doctor
  • NOTE: All divers can call a DAN Hotline for advice
  • But DAN can only manage the evacuation & treatment of members
  • Not a member yet? You can sign up here.

Continue reading “In the Event of a Diving Emergency, Be Prepared Before Calling a DAN Hotline”

Call yourself a sustainable diver? Take our quiz to find out the truth

Sustainable diving practices are not just what you do in the water. Call yourself a sustainable diver? Take our quiz to find out the truth.

Sustainable diving practices are not just what you do in the water. Being a sustainable diver is more than just good diving habits and maintaining a pristine marine environment that we can all enjoy. Sustainable diving starts with the choices you make before you even get into the water. Call yourself a sustainable diver? Take our quiz to find out the truth. (Answers at the bottom).

Continue reading “Call yourself a sustainable diver? Take our quiz to find out the truth”

Beach Oxygen in Bali

There’s a new installation near Tulamben beach: roofed plinth with a 50-litre bottle of oxygen and an oxygen delivery kit. A banner declares that the facility has been provided by Alba Diving.

By Simon Pridmore

“The other day, I drove down to the parking lot near the drop off at the eastern end of Bali’s Tulamben Bay. I hadn’t been there for a while. As I set my gear up I noticed a new installation at the edge of the car park, near the beach. There was a new roofed plinth that housed, to my surprise, a 50-litre bottle of oxygen and an oxygen delivery kit. A banner attached to the roof declared that the facility had been provided by Alba Diving.

“Extremely impressed, after the dive I headed to Villa Alba, Alba Diving’s beachside resort, and asked the owner, Alex Ford, what the story was.” Continue reading “Beach Oxygen in Bali”

Guidelines for Exercising Before, During and After Diving

Ever wondered about the effects of exercising before, during and after diving? DAN AP’s Founder, John Lippmann, provides some general advice.

Ever wondered about the effects of exercising before, during and after diving? DAN AP’s Founder, John Lippmann, provides some general advice. Continue reading “Guidelines for Exercising Before, During and After Diving”

Fiji Friday – Have you dived Vatu-I-Ra?

Looking for a relaxing ‘dive holiday’ dive trip? A place with easy diving and sites with names like Heaven’s Door, Purple Haze and Black Magic? Then look no further than Fiji’s Vatu-I-Ra on Viti Levu’s northern coast.

Looking for a relaxing ‘dive holiday’ dive trip?  A place with easy diving and sites with names like Heaven’s Door, Purple Haze and Black Magic? Then look no further than Fiji’s Vatu-I-Ra on Viti Levu’s northern coast.

Fiji’s diving is often overlooked, as many imagine that all of Fiji is just like the vague recollections they have of the beachside resorts of the Mamanuca Islands, or some resort they have vague memories of on the Coral Coast. Not so! Fiji has some of the very best diving in the Pacific. Continue reading “Fiji Friday – Have you dived Vatu-I-Ra?”

Party on… not! The dangers of partying too hard the night before

Excerpt: Divers often gather for a beer or two after a long day of diving, and some drink more than just one or two! What are the risks – especially when we are likely to get back in the water early the next morning?

Divers often gather for a beer or two after a long day of diving, and some, let’s face it, drink more than just one or two! But what are the risks involved in doing this, especially when we are likely to get back in the water early the next morning? Continue reading “Party on… not! The dangers of partying too hard the night before”

Human Factors Skills in Diving Course, hosted by DAN AP, 29-30 November

An intensive 2-day course for instructors, instructor trainers and those who are exposed to higher levels of risk, for example in cave and technical diving, to improve their personal and team performance. Hosted by DAN AP and held at DAN AP HQ, 29-30 November, led by Gareth Lock – GUE’s Director for Risk Management.

Human Factors Skills in Diving Course hosted by DAN AP

This unique training course is led by Gareth Lock, an Open Circuit advanced trimix diver, recently appointed GUE’s Director for Risk Management. (Bio below).

The intensive 2-day course is for instructors, instructor trainers and those who are exposed to higher levels of risk, for example in cave and technical diving, to improve their personal and team performance, and improve their safety as a by-product. Continue reading “Human Factors Skills in Diving Course, hosted by DAN AP, 29-30 November”