Divers Alert Network

Shark bites may capture public attention, but they’re far from the most common marine life injuries divers encounter. 🦈

The reality is that coral scrapes, sea urchin punctures, hydroid brush-ins, and other hazardous marine life injuries occur more often, and many are preventable.

⚠️ The best way to avoid these injuries is to avoid contact altogether. Maintain proper buoyancy control, stay aware of your surroundings, and follow a strict “look, don't touch” policy. These simple practices help protect both divers and aquatic ecosystems.

When you do encounter sharks, treat them with the same respect you’d give any large wild animal. Most shark encounters are uneventful, but understanding shark behavior, observing from a distance, and staying attentive are always wise. If you’re spearfishing, exercise additional caution and handle catch responsibly, as injured fish can influence shark behavior.

DAN’s reference book offers practical guidance on the prevention and first aid of hazardous marine life injuries: DAN.org/hazardous-marine-life/

Florida’s spiny lobster mini-season takes place this Wednesday and Thursday (July 29–30). If you’re participating, remember: No lobster is worth risking your safety. 🦞⚠️

CHECK YOUR AIR OFTEN | Lobster hunting increases task loading and distraction, making it easier to lose track of air consumption. Monitor your SPG frequently and surface with your planned reserve.

DON’T CHASE “JUST ONE MORE LOBSTER” | Know your limits and stick to them. Many incidents occur when divers push beyond their comfort level, experience, or gas supply. Anyone can call off the hunt at any time, for any reason.

MAINTAIN BUOYANCY CONTROL | Gear like snares, tickle sticks, and catch bags, as well as harvested lobsters, can alter your trim and buoyancy. Stay aware of your depth throughout the dive.

STAY WITH YOUR BUDDY | Buddies often become separated while focused on lobsters. Keep visual contact, communicate air status frequently, and follow agreed-upon buddy separation procedures.

BE VISIBLE AROUND BOATS | Mini-season brings increased boat traffic. Use a dive flag, remain aware of boat traffic, know local regulations, and surface carefully.

DIVE FIT & DIVE SMART | Fatigue, heat, alcohol, and poor physical fitness can increase risk. Arrive rested, hydrated, and ready to dive safely.

In an emergency, call 911 first, then contact the DAN Emergency Hotline. Learn more about staying safe this mini-season at DAN.org/lobster-mini-season-safety.

While uncommon, central nervous system (CNS) oxygen toxicity is a risk for divers exposed to elevated oxygen partial pressures (PO₂), particularly when breathing enriched air nitrox (EAN) or other oxygen-enriched gas mixtures.

Oxygen exposure is a function of PO₂ and time: As PO₂ increases, recommended exposure times decrease.

However, CNS oxygen toxicity can be unpredictable, and divers have experienced convulsions under conditions where they were not expected. Even when diving within established limits, cold, exertion, carbon dioxide retention, and other known and unknown individual and environmental factors may increase risk.

Divers breathing any gas with greater than 21% oxygen should be properly trained to do so. Plan dives carefully, analyze your cylinder’s oxygen content independently of the filling station (and program your dive computer accordingly), and respect exposure limits and maximum operating depth (MOD).

Learn more at DAN.org/oxygen-toxicity.

Dive and first aid training emphasizes what to do physically in an emergency. What we don't often discuss is what happens after the moment of crisis.

Witnessing or being involved in a dive emergency can carry a psychological impact that lingers long after the situation is over, and people can experience the same incident yet walk away with very different emotional responses.

DAN's e-learning course, Surface Support: Navigating Trauma After a Dive Incident, was created to help divers understand how stress and trauma can affect themselves and others after an emergency.

Using a psychological first aid framework, the course offers post-incident support strategies for injured divers, rescuers, bystanders, and dive professionals navigating the challenges that may follow a dive emergency.

The course is now available to all DAN members at DAN.DiverELearning.com.

Camera’s rolling… and action! 🎬🌊

Underwater stunt performer Liz Parkinson shares what it takes to bring cinematic water scenes to life in productions like Avatar: The Way of Water and Netflix’s Thai Cave Rescue.

Behind breathtaking underwater shots are professionals like Liz, often taking on multiple roles: doubling for actors on camera, training talent in scuba and breath-hold techniques, and serving as safety divers when actors perform their own stunts.

“Hours of rehearsal collapse into seconds of precision.”

Read Liz’s story in Alert Diver to see how preparation, training, and teamwork help create movie magic safely underwater: dan.org/cameras-rolling-and-action/

✍️ Liz Parkinson
📷 Matt O’Connor

It’s been a busy summer for DAN interns! From earning DAN Diving First Aid (DFA) Instructor certifications and touring the Duke Center for Hyperbaric Medicine to visiting Bauer Compressors and Catalina Cylinders, they’ve gained firsthand experience across the diving industry while working on their summer projects.

The intern crew has also explored North Carolina beyond our Durham headquarters through hiking, blueberry picking, and dives at Mystery Lake. 🤿