The primary mission of DAN is to provide emergency medical advice and assistance for underwater diving injuries, to work to prevent injuries and to promote diving safety. One of the associated objectives is to promote and support underwater diving research and education, particularly as it relates to the improvement of diving safety, medical treatment and first aid. Finally, DAN strives to provide the most up-to-date and unbiased information on issues of common concern to the diving public, primarily, but not exclusively, for diving safety.

All three of these missions-related areas require dedicated research. They form the basis for the activities of DAN in the area of diving-related research.

DAN collects information from around the world and conducts field and laboratory studies to gather scientific data to answer relevant diving safety questions, investigate causes and incidences of injuries and fatalities in diving, and improve the effectiveness of treatment for dive injuries.

DAN RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH

A major step forward in the area of diving-related research is the close relationship that has developed between DAN-SA, DAN Europe and the University of Stellenbosch (SUN). In 2004, both DAN organisations signed an intellectual partnership agreement with SUN.  The partnership has been strengthened further by the appointment of Dr Jack Meintjes and Dr Cecilia Roberts. This relationship with SUN as knowledge partner enhance the credibility of DAN-SA research and provides practical support in terms of research study design, epidemiology, statistical analyses and ethics committee review.

 ONGOING DAN RESEARCH PROJECTS - FIELD TESTING

* Project Dive Exporlation / DiveS Safety Laboratory
* Project Dive Exploration / Dive Safety Laboratory
* Oxygen Use Survey Card
* Injury Database
* Fatality Database

ONGOING FORMAL RESEARCH AND LABORATORY STUDIES

 - The association between deep decompression stops and spinalcord DCS in rats
 - BScMedScHons (Underwater Medicine) student research projects

* Middle Ear Barotrauma during pool training sessions

DAN research remains the cutting edge of DAN's diving safety initiatives; it provides scientific credibility and focus on our activities and ensures that it remains topical and current. We encourage DAN members to contact us about uploading your dive profiles and the simple questionnaire, which contributes to our formal research project. Contact DAN today to find out how you can become involved in make recreation diving even safer.

DAN Southern Africa Sponsors:

* UWATEC
* SUUNTO
* DAN-SA hotline Emergency Calls Analysis
* Evaluation of breathing air quality in South Africa