Eric Douglas is an author and journalist known for his thriller novels with scuba diving, environment and ocean themes. He has been a dive instructor and a diver medic and worked for PADI, DAN and has written training articles for Scuba Diving since 2008.
He is also documentarian writing stories about Moskito Indians who scuba dive for lobster and photographing Russia after the Soviet Union broke up.
Diving safety protocols exist for a reason, and while it can be easy to get caught up in the moment, skipping even one can be fatal.
Even the most experienced divers make mistakes. Safety measures, like pre- and post-dive roll calls, are for everyone's protection. Skipping one, even if it feels minor, can have fatal consequences.
Ear pain after a dive can signify bigger problems that shouldn't be ignored. Here's what can cause that pain—and where to seek treatment.
New divers might be especially eager to don their fins and get in the water, but scuba diving should never be rushed. Here's why it's important to thoroughly handle all pre-dive preparations—including accurately filling out your medical questionnaire.
Experiencing a rash post-diving can be a sign of decompression illness. Learn from one diver's experience on how to stay safe diving.
Learn from one diver's tragic mistake of not properly training before diving in new equipment.
Diving despite having a cold may seem enticing when you are on a trip to a beautiful destination, but one diver's firsthand experience is a cautionary tale of the risks associated with ascending too quickly and diving while under the weather.
When diving where boats may be active, you need to take extra precautions to protect yourself. Here’s how one diver learned their lesson—and how you can avoid making a similar mistake.
Failing to stay alert can create a lot of problems in the water. Here’s what happened when one diver ignored the signs of overheating and attempted to dive.