Dive insurance
PR Dive is a DAN Business Member. A recompression treatment or medical evacuation can cost thousands of dollars. Dive accident insurance, such as DAN’s, can help cover these costs, up to your plan’s limits.
Diving emergency · Puerto Rico
Something wrong after a dive? Call 911 first.
Then call DAN, the Divers Alert Network. Their dive medicine team answers 24 hours a day and can help find a recompression chamber.
What to do
- Get help. Call 911 for anything life-threatening. At sea, call the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16.
- Give 100% oxygen if you have it and you’re trained to use it. Keep going until help arrives, even if the diver feels better.
- Keep the diver lying down, still and comfortable. If they’re awake and can swallow, give them water to drink.
- Call DAN at +1-919-684-9111. They’ll talk to you and to the doctors, and help arrange recompression if it’s needed. You don’t have to be a DAN member.
- Keep the dive computer with the diver, and write down the dives: depths, times, gas and when symptoms started. Doctors will ask.
- Don’t fly, and don’t get back in the water to “treat” symptoms.
Warning signs
Decompression sickness usually shows up within minutes to hours after a dive, and sometimes later, even after a flight. Get help if a diver has:
- Joint or limb pain
- Numbness, tingling or weakness
- Unusual tiredness
- Dizziness, confusion or trouble speaking
- Shortness of breath or chest pain
- An itchy or blotchy rash
- Trouble walking or keeping balance
Don’t wait to see if it goes away. Early treatment works best.
Before it happens
Save the numbers
Put 911, DAN and the Coast Guard in your phone before your trip. Tell your buddy where your insurance card is.
Learn to help
The Rescue Diver and Emergency First Response courses teach you to spot trouble early and handle it.
On our boat we carry emergency oxygen, first aid, two fixed marine radios and a handheld. This page is general safety information, not medical advice. Sources: DAN, U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan.