Divers Alert Network

Like coral reefs, kelp forests face increasing pressure from rising ocean temperatures. Once primarily impacted by overharvesting, pollution, and the loss of key predators like sea otters and lobsters, these dynamic ecosystems are now increasingly affected by marine heatwaves.

Thriving in cold, nutrient‑rich waters, kelp forests are remarkably productive — supporting marine life, helping protect coastlines, and contributing to the oxygen we breathe. The largest species, giant and bull kelp, can grow more than a foot per day. But these underwater forests remain vulnerable to environmental change.

Read the full Alert Diver story at dan.org/kelp-is-the-new-coral.

✍️ David Helvarg ️
📷 Andy & Allison Sallmon

When is it safe to return to diving after a sutured wound?

A DAN physician explains why timing matters. Even when a wound appears closed, it’s still in the early stages of healing and remains vulnerable to complications.

Diving too soon exposes the wound to marine bacteria, increasing the risk of serious skin and soft-tissue infections. Physical stress, gear contact, and movement can also compromise healing and potentially cause the wound to reopen. In remote dive locations, limited access to advanced medical care raises the stakes if complications occur.

The safest approach: Wait until healing is complete (long after the sutures have been removed) and clearance is given by a qualified medical professional.

Read the full response in the Q2 2026 Alert Diver “From the Medical Line”:

Delay Diving with a Recently Sutured Wound Safeguard your health by delaying diving with a recently sutured wound. Discover essential insights on proper wound healing.

On the American Physiological Society’s podcast, Emmanuel Dugrenot, PhD, senior researcher at DAN, discusses new findings exploring how antioxidant and mitochondrial genes may influence DCS resistance. 🧬

The study suggests that hepatic (liver) mitochondrial function and reduced reactive oxygen species production may play a role in decompression stress response.

Listen to the episode to learn more:

Antioxidant Genes in Tissues Linked to DCS Resistance In this episode of the APS Publications Podcast, Dr. Emmanuel Dugrenot discusses his group’s Research Article, “Changes in liver and lung antioxidant and mitochondrial biogenesis gene expression in decompression sickness resistant rats.” This study analyzed genes related to antioxidant defense...

That’s a wrap on the DAN–UHMS Spring 2026 Diving & Hyperbaric Medicine CME! 🩺🤿

Physicians recently gathered in Fiji for expert-led lectures, case presentations, and discussions focused on the latest in diving and hyperbaric medicine. Jointly provided by DAN and the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), this program brings together medical professionals to exchange knowledge and explore emerging research.

Offered since 1982, these CME courses equip medical professionals to better understand and serve divers — supporting high-quality, specialized care for the global dive community.

📅 Interested in future DAN–UHMS CME courses? See upcoming CME dates and faculty at DAN.org/events, or contact [email protected] for more information.

Your lungs work harder underwater than you might think. 🌊🫁

Diving places unique demands on the respiratory system — from breathing denser gas at depth to working harder to eliminate carbon dioxide, the primary driver of breathing.

These physiological changes can limit how efficiently your lungs function underwater. That’s why divers should understand how pulmonary function changes at depth, and to recognize signs of hypercapnia.

This Alert Diver article explores increased “dead space,” the physiological effects of immersion, altered regulation of breathing, and more: dan.org/your-lungs-and-diving/

🫀 Did you know about 1 in 4 people have a patent foramen ovale (PFO)?

A PFO is a common, normal variation in the heart. In divers, a PFO can allow gas bubbles normally filtered by the lungs to pass from the right side of the heart to the left and into the arterial circulation. Under certain conditions, this may contribute to DCS.

The good news? Most divers with a PFO do not experience symptoms, and the overall risk of DCS remains low — even in those with a PFO. Risk can often be reduced by diving conservatively and consulting a physician with expertise in dive medicine. In some cases (such as recurrent DCS) PFO testing and a closure procedure may be considered.

This Alert Diver article provides a cardiologist’s perspective: dan.org/diving-with-a-pfo

✍️ Douglas Ebersole, MD

Join us in welcoming DAN’s 2026 interns! We’re excited to introduce this year’s exceptional cohort:
• Trystan Cavitt, Dr. Glen H. Egstrom DAN/OWUSS Divers’ Health and Safety Research Intern
• Jacqueline Keleher, DAN/OWUSS Divers’ Safety Intern
• Juliana McKenna, Michael Menduno DAN Outreach Intern
• Alexa Rand, DAN Research Intern

Since 1999, DAN’s internship program has supported more than 100 emerging professionals, providing hands-on experience and helping build the next generation of leaders in dive safety.

Stay tuned throughout the summer for updates on this intern class’s activities and contributions. Read the full announcement at dan.org/dan-announces-2026-interns.

DAN Announces 2026 Interns DAN is proud to introduce its 2026 interns: Trystan Cavitt, Jacqueline Keleher, Juliana McKenna, and Alexa Rand. DAN’s internship program has supported over 100 interns since its inception in 1999, providing qualified candidates with valuable experience in dive safety.

Marina Inserra and Brittany Novick-Fischer, co-directors of Scuba Queen USA, join the podcast to discuss their mission to cultivate confident ocean ambassadors. This episode explores the organization's work providing young women divers with opportunities for advocacy, outreach, and skill development.

Marina and Brittany share their backgrounds in marine biology and conservation, and discuss diving safety — including their experiences with knowing one's limits and calling off a dive — as well as their goal to empower ambassadors from every U.S. state.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/SD0-ngDpoTk.

Marina Inserra & Brittany Novick-Fischer, Scuba Queen USA Marina Inserra and Brittany Novick-Fischer, co-directors of Scuba Queen USA, join the podcast to discuss their mission to cultivate confident ocean ambassado...

The recent DAN Safety Seminars in Medellín brought together divers, instructors, medical professionals, and industry leaders from across Colombia. 🇨🇴

Hosted with support from DAN Business Members and partners, the seminars featured presentations from Dr. Jaime Aquiles Rincón, hyperbaric physician and researcher, and Francisco Ramos, DAN World Business Liaison. Attendees traveled from Medellín, Bogotá, Cali, and surrounding areas to engage in important conversations around operational safety, decompression theory, and accident prevention.

Visit the DAN World Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) YouTube channel to watch both presentations: youtube.com//videos