DAN Hazardous Marine Life Injuries Course

A diver surfaces from a dive in an area abundant with coral, removes his fins and finds redness, swelling and blisters just beginning to show on his left ankle. He also experiences a stinging sensation on the same ankle.

A diver, following a dive to an area filled with marine life, notices a small bite pattern on his lower right leg and some stiffness; he also experiences difficulty swallowing, has a generalized weakness and a slight numbness in the area of the bite.

A diver experiences pain, nausea and some swelling associated with a purple-and-black puncture wound in her left knee.

The common thread from each of the three injuries is that they likely came from contact with some form of hazardous marine life. Given similar circumstances with you or a dive buddy, would you be able to appropriately treat each injury?

Although serious hazardous marine life injuries are rare, most divers experience minor discomfort from unintentional encounters with fire coral, jellyfish and other marine creatures at some point in their dive careers. Knowing how to minimize these injuries helps you reduce diver discomfort and pain.

The Divers Alert Network (DAN) course in First Aid for Hazardous Marine Injuries (also available as a PADI Distinctive Specialty) is designed to provide knowledge regarding specific types of hazardous marine creature injuries and the general first aid treatment for those injuries.  Upon completion of this course, you will be able to identify many common hazardous marine life creatures, as well as the signs & symptoms of associated injuries. You will also learn how HML invenomations act on the human body, and know how to prevent and treat resulting HML injuries. 

Both divers and non-divers can take this course and be prepared to provide HML emergency assistance when required.  The course runs 4 hours and is typically held in the evening between 620pm.

Prerequisites: None. (It's recommended that students previously complete PADI Medic First Aid and DAN O2 Provider courses)

Course fees:   $95  (Brand New Class -- Call Abyss-Scuba for dates!)

Note:  All Abyss-Scuba students receive a 10% discount on any equipment purchases (except sale items) made during their term as a student.