DAN’s Incident Reports (Edition 1)
One of the great resources available to divers is the Diver’s Alert Network (DAN) safety portal (Incident Insights – Divers Alert Network), where real-world incident reports are shared by divers. I often find myself reading through these cases—not to gawk, but to learn. In the September 2025 edition of Sea Snooper’s Safety Blog, I’ve pulled three incidents that, while uncommon, could happen to any of us.
Take a look at the summaries below, and ask yourself:
- How would I manage these situations?
- Do I have the training and practice to stay calm, think clearly, and act appropriately?
Situation 1: A Mouthpiece Mishap – Missing Mouthpiece – Divers Alert Network
Within the first ten minutes of an open water dive, a diver’s mouthpiece detached from their primary regulator. The diver didn’t immediately realize what had happened until they saw the regulator floating in front of them. After a few swallows of seawater, they switched to their secondary (octopus) and managed to regain control before ending the dive.
Lesson Learned
Sometimes it’s the smallest, cheapest parts of our gear that matter most. O-rings, hoses, drysuit seals, mouthpieces—these are all made of materials that can dry out, crack, or fail. A whole dive trip (or season) can be cut short by something as simple as a neglected zip tie. Annual servicing and thorough pre-dive checks are not optional—they’re essential. Don’t skimp on the small stuff.
Commentary
The report mentions “three breaths of seawater,” which sounds like drowning to me. But credit to the diver—they didn’t bolt to the surface; they calmly switched to their alternate air source. Could you breathe from a regulator without a mouthpiece? Yes. In fact, one can breathe from a LP hose, inflator, or even a tank valve. Is it pleasant? No. But it beats drowning. If you’re curious, practice it in a safe, controlled environment like on of our pool sessions.
Situation 2: Out of Air at Depth – Air starvation at depth equipment or human failure – Divers Alert Network
On the first dive of the day in a flooded quarry, a diver went out of air at 85 feet (26 m). Poor visibility kept them from contacting their buddy, so they made an emergency ascent. Their dive computer logged an ascent rate of 230 feet/minute (70 m/min). Air became available again once they reached the surface, and they were able to inflate their BCD. Aside from a brief headache (treated with surface oxygen), they were lucky to walk away without further complications.
Lesson Learned
The most likely culprit here was a poorly maintained or improperly tuned regulator—working fine at the surface, but failing under greater demand. I am assuming the tank value was fully open. Proper maintenance is of paramount importance to safe diving.
Commentary
Equipment issues aside, this looks like a classic panic response. When stress spikes, even trained divers may instinctively bolt. It is easy to sit in front of a computer and testify as to how I would have handled this incident. Nevertheless, I would hope to have reached for my alternate reg around my neck or better yet a redundant air source (pony bottle).
There are questions worth asking:
- If visibility was poor, why weren’t the buddies staying within arm’s reach?
- Why not attempt to switch to an alternate or redundant air source (like a pony bottle)?
- Surfacing from 85 feet in just 22 seconds is extreme.
We can’t know exactly what the diver was thinking, but the case highlights why redundant gas, close buddy contact, and calm problem-solving are important.
Situation 3: A Leaky Glove and Barotrauma – Leaking Glove Leads to Ear Barotrauma – Divers Alert Network
During a cold-water dive (50–59°F / 10–15°C) with a drysuit and dry gloves, a diver noticed one glove was leaking. While trying to fix it, they unknowingly continued descending. The result: middle-ear barotrauma in the right ear.
Lesson Learned
Two core skills come into play here: buoyancy control and task loading. A controlled descent allows you to pause, equalize, assist a buddy, or address gear issues. Using the shot line and adding gas to your drysuit or BCD can help prevent an uncontrolled descent.
Task loading is another challenge—when too many things demand your attention, priorities matter. In this case:
- Establish buoyancy (or hold the line).
- Fix the glove—or abort the dive.
Commentary
This diver expected their dry glove to stay dry— now that really would be something unique.
Final Thoughts
The full reports are available through DAN, and I encourage you to read them. The common thread across these cases is simple: equipment maintenance and intentional practice. Whether in a pool, quarry, or prepping for your next Great Lakes adventure, every repetition builds confidence and safety. We don’t practice just to stay busy—we practice so we can safely dive the world.
Have you experienced something similar? Share your story in the comments.
