June is Dive Safety Month!

In cooperation with the National Safety Council’s promotion of safety awareness, Divers Alert Network (DAN) is designating the month of June Dive Safety Month, wherein awareness of safety as it pertains to diving will be promoted to the public. DAN will be hosting two live chats on their Facebook page from 2-3 pm on the 13th and 26th of the month, entitled “Establishing a Culture of Dive Safety” and “Dive Accident Management,” respectively. The public can, at any time, enhance their dive safety knowledge by visiting DAN’s Facebook page or following on Twitter. The organization will have educational activities and special campaigns throughout the month to increase awareness of dive safety.

DAN is a non-profit organization whose focus is promoting dive safety and to help divers with medical emergency needs when they arise. For more than 30 years, DAN has been a valuable resource to the dive community by offering emergency assistance, medical information resources, and educational opportunities. DAN insurance is available, which many a diver has found invaluable in the event of dive-related injuries. Their 24-hour hotline (919.684.9111) ensures that you get the help you need when you need it, but they also have a non-emergency information line (919.684.2948), online seminars, real-time videos, articles, and more to assist you with virtually any problem you have. Having dive insurance is a good idea for any diver, and the ability to keep yourself well-informed will contribute to your dive safety awareness.

Safety should be the highest priority on any dive. Here are some ways you can practice safety on every dive:

• Do not go on a dive if the conditions are dangerous.
• Always check your own gear and participate in buddy checks.
• Stay within visible range of your dive buddy.
• Do not separate from your group to go off on your own.
• Review hand signals before you hit the water.
• Check your gauges regularly. If anything is not right, notify your buddy immediately. Make sure you let the dive master know if you are getting low on air, usually no less than 500psi.
• Plan the dive, and dive the plan!