Winter 2008

V 10.1

Practical Dive Safety Tips         Keeping the "Wonderful" in Your Dive Vacation     Gear Locker    Notes from Belize

 

  dan facts

Practical dive safety tips for divers.

 Healthy Diving

Whatever your age and athletic ability level, consider the fitness required for scuba. To that end, DAN offers guidelines for healthy and safe diving.

Predive Physical

Learning to dive? Been away from the sport? Have certain medical conditions? You may need a physician’s referral before diving. Do you have questions about your fitness to dive or do you need an evaluation by a dive physician? DAN can refer you to a specialist in your area.

Diving on Medications

If you take a new medication before a dive, consider possible side effects before you enter the water. If a medication “may cause drowsiness,” reconsider your plan to dive. Diving while taking medication? Pay attention to any adverse effects, which may be due to the medication.  

Asthma and Diabetes

Specialists in dive medicine voice concerns about the advisability of allowing someone with asthma or diabetes to dive. DAN continues researching safety issues of diving for individuals with underlying health problems. Potential divers with either of these conditions need to be evaluated on a case by case basis prior to diving. Contact the DAN Medical Department for more information. Your DAN membership helps support these studies. 

Enjoy Scuba

Anyone with good health and fitness can enjoy a lifetime of diving. Follow these guidelines:

  • See your physician for regular checkups.
  • Get regular exercise.
  • Be rested, hydrated and well-nourished before diving,
  • Use proper equipment and exposure protection.
  • Plan your dive, avoiding overexertion.

Don’t hide or downplay any medical condition or health problem. Address such a problem with a medical professional.

 Questions about your own diving fitness or about certain medical conditions? Need to find a doctor in your area? Does your doctor have any questions? Call the DAN Medical Information Line at 919-684-2948 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

 DAN Medical Information Line: +1-919-684-2948 ext. 222 

www.DiversAlertNetwork.org

Divers Helping Divers tm

DAN – Development
6 West Colony Place
Durham, NC 27705

DAN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

 

 

Keeping the "Wonderful" in Your Dive Vacation

Exploring the aquatic world can be wonderful adventure.  You get to see and experience things that the rest of the world only wonders about. This is the time of the year that many of us take the opportunity to explore the tropical waters by going on dive vacations (or going diving while on vacation).  Some planning before you go can keep the “wonderful” in the adventure.

Many “mis-adventures” can be avoided or at least minimized with a little planning, insuring that the diving adventures are the highlight of your trip.  Much of what you need to know can be found on the internet.  The internet is a great resource for current information about what you can and cannot pack in your bags, how thick of wet suit you need, suggestions about vaccinations that you may need.  In this article, we will discuss some basic items and give you the resources to insure that the strongest memories of your dive vacation will be the cool fish you saw, not the hassle with the ticket agent at the airport.

Traveling with Dive Gear 

Checking in at the airport can be a real hassle even with the best planning. Minimizing the hassle starts long before you set foot in the airport.  Start by planning what gear you will take.  Airlines and TSA (Transportation Security Administration) frequently change the rules regarding luggage.  Currently the rule is 50 lbs per checked bag, 2 bags per person.  If you’ve picked up your dive bag lately, you can probably figure out that it’s really easy to get tagged with an oversized bag fee.  To lose weight in your bag- go to your local dive shop.  Something a simple as your choice of BCD can make a big difference on the scale.  Manufactures are coming out with “Travel BCs” making it easier to find a light weight option without giving up comfort and functionality.  

There is an interesting thing that happens on vacation, your dive bag gains weight.  No, it’s not the extra desserts that it ate while you weren’t looking.  Your dive gear is probably not as dry as is it was when you started out and you will want to bring back a souvenirs.

At this time you can carry on or check regulators, BCD’s, mask, fins and snorkels.  Knives and tools must be in your checked luggage.  For the safety of security officers and to protect the rest of your gear, wrap any sharp objects securely.  Rules have recently been changed regarding items that can be carried on.  You should check the TSA website for the most current rules.  (http://www.tsa.gov) A link can also be found at our website, divemontana.com. 

Insuring Your Investment

There are hundreds of circumstances that could cause you to cancel your trip, or return home early.  Unexpected events, such as illness or a death of an immediate family member, can change your plans, causing you to lose the money invested in your trip,and cut your trip short.  Travel insurance can’t prevent these events from happening, but it can certainly take the some of the sting out of it.  Trip insurance can be purchased with your dive trip package or may be a benefit in dive accident plans that we will discuss shortly.  The cost is usually based on the cost of your trip, but is very affordable.

Continued on Page 2

GEAR LOCKER

 This really does change things!!
 Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. The DataMask is not just about having a computer in your mask – it is about the many practical benefits provided by truly “Hands-Free Diving.”

The DATAMASK contains a miniature liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, proprietary Digital Optic System, microprocessor, depth transducer, wireless cylinder pressure receiver, diver replaceable battery, and controlling software. The miniature LCD allows you to keep your eyes focused on the dive while presenting critical dive data including: current depth, elapsed dive time, cylinder pressure, and dive time remaining. The Digital Optic System provides a clear, highly magnified image of the LCD, which is viewable regardless of environmental conditions and may be seen clearly by the vast majority of people, regardless of vision.

Here's what your fellow divers are saying:

I can honestly say that I loved it.  It took a couple of dives for me to get used to but after that it was as if I'd been using it forever. 

I really liked the experience - everything was clear and easy to see. I liked the alarms and I really liked the safety stop reminder.

I thought the display would hinder my field of vision.  If you don't consciously look at display you forget it's there. I think it's a great idea! Thanks.

Stop in the shop and check the DataMask out. This definitely an innovation in diving!

Click here for complete detail about the mask and how to get yours, click here.