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Undercurrent — Consumer Reporting for
the Scuba Diving Community since 1975
www.undercurrent.org
November 22, 2009
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Anatomy of a Dive Lawsuit – Part I: Dive veteran and frequent Undercurrent contributor Bret Gilliam wrote a report about a recent trial for which he was an expert witness and litigation consultant. The families of two divers gone missing and presumed dead while diving with the Okeanos Aggressor at Cocos Island filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the Aggressor Fleet. The case involves issues directly affecting anyone diving with a dive operator anywhere in the world. Read Bret’s summary of the incident for free in the September issue – go to www.undercurrent.org and click on “Anatomy of a Dive Lawsuit. To read Part II about the ensuing trial and the verdict, you’ll have to subscribe! http://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/join.shtml
Your Ticket to the DEMA Show: Dive shops knocked down the suggestion of having the annual DEMA trade show open to the public but you can skip the time and cost of four days’ worth of conference attendance and see the highlights online. The Underwater Channel filmed four episodes of the Orlando event earlier this month, each approximately 15 minutes long. Two hosts travel the trade floor and interview dive business reps about the latest wares they plan to sell to you, from shark dives and faster scooters to video housings and “diving jewelry.” See all four videos, titled “DEMA Show” on the top of the page here: www.theunderwaterchannel.tv/videos.
Make This Your 2010 Calendar: The British marine conservation group Bite-Back is selling a calendar with 12 shots by the world’s most famous underwater photographers and using the proceeds to fight overfishing and shark-finning. (It persuaded major U.K. supermarkets to stop selling threatened fish species, and convinced the only Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant to stop offering shark-fin soup.) Photographers like Amos Nachoum and David Doubilet offer up images of sharks, eels, rays and whales at their favorite dive sites. Buy it at www.bite-back.com/oceans_twelve.htm.
Accept My Special Offer: Accept my special offer to subscribe to the online edition of Undercurrent in the next 24 hours and I’ll send you FREE the all-new, 480 page 2010 Travelin’ Diver’s Chapbook. You just can’t plan a dive trip without the inside information Undercurrent has to offer. You no longer have to wait for an issue to arrive in the mail. — read it online on the first of the month for this new low price. And, with the all new 2010 Travelin’ Diver’s Chapbook you’ll have at hundreds upon hundreds of reviews of more than 200 dive resorts and liveaboards around the world. Water temperature, food quality, whether there are big fish left, is the diving really unlimited or are you held to two tanks a day, what rooms to avoid … everything you need to know to make your trip perfect. And Undercurrent members have scores of new reports, plus, important new stories on diver safety — how our reviewer drifted nearly three hours off the Florida Coast, rescue devices, that big law suit against the Aggressor Fleet, why diver’s don’t tell the truth on their medical forms, and much much more. All this for the special low price of $34.95 — half the regular price. If you’ve never subscribed before, go to http://www.undercurrent.org/halfprice. If you have an old username, you can use that — use coupon c10 and click on this link https://www.undercurrent.org/secure/UCnow/OMaccountCenter.php?omcoupon=c10 , or get a new username at http://www.undercurrent.org/halfprice . As an online member you can use our powerful search engine to access ten years of Undercurrent issues and Chapbooks, chock full of feature on travel, equipment, safety, and health. And, at anytime during the first year if you are dissatisfied for any reason, I’ll refund your full $34.95.
The Travelin’ Diver’s Chapbook: Chock full of hundreds of great dive travel reviews — the good, the bad, the ugly. Everything you need to know to plan your next trip. It’s mailed free to our subscribers but even though you don’t subscribe, you can still buy a copy at https://www.undercurrent.org/secure/UCnow/chapbook2010.html
How to Beat Airplane Carry-on Restrictions: I found a great way to fit all my stuff appropriately and bring it onboard without going over the over the carry-on limitations and luggage weight limits. Read about my solution in the October issue’s “A Smart Way to Beat Carry-on Restrictions,” available for free at Undercurrent
Diving Indonesia’s Raja Ampat, by Burt Jones and Maurine Shimlock: Here’s a definitive guide book on what the authors call “the greatest repository of tropical marine life on earth.” And anyone who has dived it knows they speak the truth. This 146-page book is filled with descriptions of mind-blowing dive sites, along with good descriptions of the area, the people and what you need to know to dive there. And the photos of unusual critters will knock your socks off. Whether or not you think you’ll ever get to Raja Ampat, you should own this book just to nurture your dreams. Order it now by going to Undercurrent and clicking on a photo of the cover, and our profits will go directly to tropical reef conservation.
Kudos to Undersea Hunter: We have to give this Cocos Island liveaboard a thumbs-up based on the story subscriber Bernadette Latin told us about her July trip, and how the crew went out of their way to help a struggling turtle. Read the details in our “Thumbs Up” piece from our October issue at Undercurrent
Disgusting Diners Eat Fish Alive: British newspapers are highlighting this sad-to-watch video (www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6595481/Chinese-diners-eat-live-fish-in-YouTube-video.html) of a live fish, partly fried and still breathing and wriggling as Chinese diners laugh while eating it with chopsticks. It’s not a laughing matter, as scientific evidence shows that fish and other marine life do feel pain. The upside is this video has gotten 120,000 clicks on YouTube in just one week, and PETA is up in arms. A quoted Chinese embassy spokesperson was on the defensive, stating that Westerners do fox hunting and bullfighting. True, but laughing while eating a live fish is disgusting no matter what culture you are from. We can only hope PETA and other groups keep putting the pressure on China and other countries that cause overreaching damage to marine animals and their habitats.
Mexico Diving: I just made a brief trip to Baja, which I’ll soon write about, but if you’ve been south of the border and you have a heart for dogs, it has to get broken every time you’re in Mexico. OK, so this isn’t about diving but I still want to turn you on to a fantastic group of gringos, headed by a magnanimous young female veterinarian who regularly takes volunteers to Mexico to spay and neuter hundreds of dogs at a time, and rescue and bring back scores that are ready for adoption. I support Compassion Without Borders, both with my money and my time. Get details about the group and the “Meximutts” they care for at www.compassionwithoutborders.com.
See Video of Fish at 25,000 Feet: An international team led by the University of Aberdeen has photographed the deepest-living fish ever, swimming at levels of 25,000 feet below the surface. The bizarre-looking, pale-pink creatures have been found in the Pacific’s Japan Trench north of the equator, and a similar-looking but different species in the Kermadec Trench near New Zealand. See video of them swimming around in this BBC News article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8353329.stm
Ben Davison, editor/publisher
Contact Ben
Divers’ Blogs: See what you’ve been missing from leading industry pundits: Bret Gilliam lambasts the “scuba police”, gives you the skinny on some maritime trivia, and recounts a horrifying incident and how one diver handled it all; Bob Halstead will keep you in stitches with his modeling tale and makes the case for brief dive briefings; John Bantin gives us the low-down on closed circuit rebreathers and why training is so important; and Doc Vikingo debunks the use of oxygen as a sure-fire speed-up in healing. These and other posts are available now for free at www.undercurrent.org/blog. [Note that you can comment and/or rate all of these posts - make your voice heard.]
The Divers’ Forum: If you have a question about which liveaboard to choose, or which dive computer I divers prefer, or looking for a buddy for a trip, or basically anything relating to diving, and haven’t found the answer yet — just post it on our Divers’ Forum (www.undercurrent.org/diving_forum). It’s available to the diving public for free. Or you may find the answer there already — there’s been lots of activity lately with posts about Cozumel to Comores Islands, and everywhere in between.
Website Tip: Our subscribers publish detailed reviews on dive trips around the world every day. There’s over 5,000 on our site and hey’re organized for efficient searching and retrieval. Start either at one of the reader report pages (start at http://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/dive_reviews/all_destinations.html ) or dive destination guides (linked from http://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/WorldIndx.shtml )
Dave Eagleray, webmaster
Note: Our travel writers never announce their purpose, are unknown to the destination, and receive no complimentary services or compensation from the dive operators or resort. Dive trips listed in our emails must be offered by a well-regarded operation that has been reviewed positively by our readers. The operator must include a special offer for Undercurrent subscribers and supporters. Undercurrent is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization and in some cases the operator has made a donation.
Professional Association
CSI
Underwater Forensics
Commercial Scientific
Diver Technologists™©-
CSIDT
Sponsored by: Bermuda Triangle SCUBA of Asheville, NC
Lake Lure Police Department
And
Lastrada at Lake Lure- Italian Bar and Grill;
Seminar Details:
When: March 11th and 12th (Thursday & Friday) 2010 9:00 am till 5:00 pm
Registration forms are also available by fax
To Register: Please contact –Bermuda Triangle SCUBA of Asheville, NC-
828-252-8707 Fax number 828-255-7946
Standard Tuition: $155.00
Early Registration and payment must be submitted no later than March 02, 2010 5:00PM.
Early registration is suggested; Classroom setting-seating is limited
Registration includes:
• Certificate of Completion/NCCJS Approved
• Attendee workbook and Study Guide
• A Fantastic Lunch at Lastrada at Lake Lure for both days
Menu available upon request
For information regarding Menu choices, Please call Bermuda Triangle SCUBA of Asheville @ 828-252-8707. They will fax you a copy of the complete menu.
** The fine people at Lastrada at Lake Lure are also offering a 10% discount on all meals for those who are attending the CSIDT seminar, beginning Wednesday afternoon and will continue through Saturday Lunch. This is not covered in the registration, rather an alternative after the each day’s seminar has ended.
Seminar Location:
Lake Lure Police Department; Lake Lure, NC
Speaker: Mack S. House Jr. CSIDT
Published Author, speaker, consultant and well known expert in the field of Underwater Forensic Science.
Recommended Offer:
Textbook: Underwater Forensics Research Commercial Scientific Diving $44.00
CSIDT Diver Logbook $37.00
Course Description:
This program is designed for divers in Law Enforcement, Nursing Professionals, EMS, Fire Department and First Responder professionals interested in or who may respond to an incident involving a submerged victim.
This seminar is very comprehensive and detailed, which will enable the participant to fully understand each topic covered.
This Professional Association CSI Underwater Forensics Commercial Scientific Diver Technologists Seminar is approved by:
The North Carolina Criminal Justice Standards -Training and Education Commission and may also be approved by NC Board of Nursing.
“This communication will serve as official notice that CJS will accept the listed presentation as being available to a NC criminal justice officer participating in the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission Law Enforcement Officer Certificate Program, either at the intermediate or advanced level”.
Mark Dearry
Training System Manager/CJS
Learner Objectives:
At the completion of this two day program, you will be able to Understand and articulate:
Thursday’s Topics
§ Underwater Forensics and its application
§ The Respiratory System and important gas laws
§ Arterial gas embolism/cerebral gas embolism
§ The Structure and Function of the Lung
§ Pulmonary Barotrauma
§ The importance in reducing the Risks of Pulmonary Barotrauma
§ The Components of Intracellular and Extracellular fluid
§ The Pathophysiological aspects of Hyperbaric Exposure
§ The necessary Guidelines for Diving in Contaminated Water
§ Important Decontamination Protocols
__________________________________________________________________
Friday’s Topics
§ The drowning process and variations in terminology
§ Postmortem anatomical changes in the fluid medium; the body cooling rate
§ The six stages of decomposition
§ The protocols in Safe diving operations and procedures
§ Evidence preservation from the underwater environment
§ Rules of evidence; CSIDT crime scene investigations
§ The importance in preparing a court ready investigative report
§ Psychological considerations; Critical Incident
§ Underwater Forensics, Commercial Scientific Diving, CSIDT training
For those participants who need to stay overnight,
Special rates are being offered by Mt Village Chalet, Chimney Rock, NC.
1-877-682-2246.
Registration Form:
Professional Association CSI Underwater Forensics Commercial Scientific Diver Technologists©™:
Seminar Date: Thursday and Friday, March 11th & 12th 2010
Seminar Location: Lake Lure Police Department, Lake Lure, NC
Seminar Title: Pathophysiology and Diver Decontamination.
Seminar I.D: 031112201001
Each participant must fill out this form: Please print clearly
First Name: ___________________ Last Name: ________________________________
Profession: ___________________________________________________
Department Name: ______________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
Mailing address for Certification: ____________________________________________
City: _________________________: State: ______: Zip: ______________
Work Ph. __________________________ Home Ph. ____________________________
Email address: _______________________________________________
Payment is required at time of registration:
To register; please fax this form to Bermuda Triangle SCUBA of Asheville, NC
@ 828-255-7946:
Please call 828-252-8707 to make credit card payment and to receive confirmation number.
Photo I.D. must be presented at registration desk the morning of the seminar.
Here is a letter we received that warrants your further interest:
Dear Naui Dive Centre Manager,Owner or instructor
As a dive centre owner I have an annual problem of finding quality staff that fit my specific requirements for skills and languages.
If you have the same problem please have a look at www.jobsinscuba.com.
The aim of the site is to provide a more precise match between Employee and Employer. It also caters for non instructor level candidates and Internship positions.
As the site is still in under development we would welcome any feedback or requests.
Membership is free for the first 500 job posts by employers.
Membership is free for the first 500 resume posts by employees.
Best Regards
The JOBSINSCUBA.COM Team
www.jobsinscuba.com
NASA has signed a patent license agreement with a California company to improve the medical community’s access to hyperbaric chambers used to treat many medical conditions and emergencies. OxyHeal Medical Systems Inc. of National City, Calif., will develop new products based on technologies NASA originally developed for space.
The partially exclusive patent license agreement allows the company to use three technologies developed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston that are associated with inflatable spacecraft modules and portable hyperbaric chambers.
NASA developed the technologies as part of a program to plan for how astronauts in space might be treated for decompression sickness. Decompression sickness, commonly called “the bends,” can occur in astronauts as they undergo pressure changes returning from spacewalks and in divers as they return to the water’s surface.
The NASA inventors of the portable hyperbaric chamber, Dr. James Locke, William Schneider and Horacio de la Fuente, recently were recognized by the Federal Laboratory Consortium with a Notable Technology Development Award.
“NASA has a long history of making space-aged technologies available for commercialization, creating new markets that power the economy,” said Michele Brekke, director of the Innovation Partnership Program Office at Johnson. “These commercial products and services, known as ’spinoffs,’ allow the taxpayers to benefit from space exploration.”
For more information visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/home
SOURCE NASA
DURHAM, NC – In early 2009, DAN® announced the addition of online training seminars to the lineup of member benefits, along with a promise to add new seminars along the way. DAN keeps that promise with the addition of “The Optimal Path” to the online seminar collection.
“The Optimal Path” is a look at the search for the optimal path to safe decompression from a dive and the struggle to determine acceptable risk. Presented by Richard Vann, vice president of DAN Research, this topic was first explored during the 2008 DAN/Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Deep Stop Workshop. The online seminar even includes audio excerpts from the original presentation.
“Divers have really been enjoying the new online seminars,” says Eric Douglas, director of DAN Training. “We’re certainly enjoying putting them together. They’re a great way to explore topics of interest to divers in a different but in-depth way. Deep stops are a perfect example. They’re a hot topic in the dive industry, and one where there’s still a lot to learn. Divers need all the information they can get to be able to make informed decisions about their dive profiles.”
All online seminars are free to DAN Members, and access is automatically included with DAN Membership. To access the seminars, simply visit the link and log in as a DAN Member.
If you’re not already a DAN Member and wish to take advantage of this and all of DAN’s valuable membership benefits, join today!
For additional information, please visit www.DiversAlertNetwork.org or call (800) 446-2671
U N D E R C U R R E N T O N L I N E U P D A T E
F O R N O N – S U B S C R I B E R S
Undercurrent — Consumer Reporting for
the Scuba Diving Community since 1975
www.undercurrent.org
October 6, 2009
You have received this message because you have signed up on our website to receive this email or you are a former subscriber or Online Member of Undercurrent . Removal instructions are below.
Subscribers/Online Members can get all the articles
from the current issue of Undercurrent here
Serious Problems with 20,000 Halcyon Over Pressure Valves: Virtually everything Halcyon manufactures with an over pressure valve – BCDs, surface marker buoys, safety sausages, lift bags, etc., has been recalled because of leaking valves which can deflate the devices and eliminate their buoyancy. This recall involves the Halcyon Explorer, Eclipse, CCR35, Evolve and Pioneer BCDs and Halcyon Surface Marker Buoys, Lift Bags, Diver Alert Markers (DAMs) Surf Shuttle and Diver Lift Raft Inflatable Devices. “Halcyon” is printed on the equipment. The recalled items were sold between January 2006 and December 2008. If you’ve got a piece of gear with this valve, return it to an authorized Halcyon dealer for a free replacement of the overpressure valve spring. Contact Halcyon at (800) 425-2966 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday; Web site is www.halcyon.net/opv-recall; email address is techservices@halcyon.net. If you had an incident using any of this gear, report it at https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx
The Fragile Edge, Diving and Other Adventures in the South Pacific: Documentary film maker and diver Julia Whitty paints a mesmerizing scientifically rich portrait of the coral reefs of the South Pacific. Her thoughtful and spiritual vision provides unique reporting of encounters with humpbacks, hammerheads eagle rays and the usual reef inhabitants, described in a lyrical, beautiful verse rarely found in book aimed at literate divers. I think the review in O, the Oprah magazine says it best: “The product of a scientist’s mind, a sociologist’s eye, a Zen Buddhist’s soul, and a poet’s heart, it is at once a call to action, a natural history, a love song and a prayer … about our oceans, it’s reefs and critters”. Paperback, 292 pages. Click here (http://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/bookpicks.shtml) to get it at Amazon.com’s best prices. Undercurrent’s profit from this sale and anything else you buy during this transaction will go to preserve coral reefs. Current price $10.17.
Well Done, Palau: In our June e-newsletter, we told you about Palau’s Senate bills to allow and expand shark fishing and finning. Now the country has done an about-face. On September 25, President Johnson Toribiong announced a nationwide ban against commercial shark fishing during a speech at the United Nations. While a few countries like the Maldives have initiated some shark protection, Palau takes it to a whole new level as its ban will apply to waters covering an area the size of Texas. With just 20,000 people, the tiny country will have trouble enforcing the ban but in his speech, Toribiong urged other countries to follow Palau’s lead. Bravo.
Special Discounted Introductory Offer: Sign up now for a one-year trial membership to Undercurrent for $29.95, $10 off the standard offer. PLUS that includes a free (hard)copy of our Travelin’ Divers’ Chapbook 2010, with reviews of more than 1,000 dive resorts and liveaboards worldwide (due to postage costs, the Chapbook is only available to US and Canadian residents). Sign up for this special offer to email subscribers now here (http://www.undercurrent.org/4email).
The Cove: This remarkable documentary describes the annual round up in a small Japanese town of more than 2000 dolphins, not only to capture a few to send to circus school, but to butcher the rest for meat. It follows the clandestine effort of film maker Louie Psihoyas and his crew to sneak in under the cover of darkness to film the event. It’s raised international consciousness worldwide, but it needs to be translated into Japanese to motivate the citizens of that country to stop the slaughter. See the trailer at www.thecovemovie.com and make your donation.
California Scuba Diver Makes Fatal Error: When you’re on the surface, don’t take off your BCD if you are still wearing your weight belt. Sadly, Daniel Forchione, 46, overlooked that basic rule and died September 29 while scuba diving off the coast of Point Loma. According to Rich Sillanpa, president of Dive Connections in Mission Bay, Forchione had completed a second dive and was heading back to the boat when he became separated from his two companions. Forchione took off his tank at the surface, but still had his weight belt on and it appears he may have panicked and sank, Sillanpa said. Something all we divers must keep in mind.
Divers Descend on The Philippines: We’ve often praised the country for its inexpensive dive tourism and good range of healthy dive sites. The number of visiting divers grew by 63 percent in the first quarter of 2009. Cebu, Bohol and Palawan were the most visited. The number of American divers increased by 37 percent, thanks to recession-friendly prices. We have plenty of reader reports about dive resorts all over the Philippines at Undercurrent. Clicking on “Dive Travel” followed by “Instant Reader Reports,” then scroll down to “Philippines.”
Anatomy of a Dive Lawsuit – Part I: Dive veteran and frequent Undercurrent contributor Bret Gilliam has reported on a recent trial where he was an expert witness and litigation consultant. The families of two divers gone missing and presumed dead while diving with the Okeanos Aggressor at Cocos Island filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the Aggressor Fleet. The case involves issues directly affecting anyone diving with a dive operator anywhere in the world. Read Bret’s summary of the incident for free in the September issue – go to Undercurrent and click on “Anatomy of a Dive Lawsuit. To read Part II about the ensuing trial and the verdict, you’ll have to subscribe!
Coming Up in Undercurrent: Become an online member (http://www.undercurrent.org/4email) so you can read these great stories – - Part II of Bret Gilliam’s article about the lawsuit against the Aggressor Fleet filed by families of two dead divers at Cocos Island . . . arguing for and against giving your health history to the dive operator . . . are ear plugs a good idea for divers . . . a handy way to beat airlines’ excess luggage fees and restrictive carry-on rules for your next dive trip . . .can you really use a cell phone underwater . . . and much more. Click here to sign up (http://www.undercurrent.org/4email)
Ben Davison, editor/publisher
DURHAM, NC – For 10 years, Divers Alert Network® has encouraged young minds interested in the areas of dive medicine and research through the DAN® Internship Program. DAN internships have opened professional doors and career opportunities for the extraordinary young men and women who complete the program each year.
DAN is now accepting applications for those interested in completing an internship in 2010. Selected interns will be trained at DAN in research methodology, which can be applied to both field and lab studies. After the initial week of training at DAN Headquarters, interns are placed with host facilities, including DAN, where they will remain in residence for 2 to 2 ½ months to collect data for Project Dive Exploration. DAN Research is currently conducting studies in both the field and laboratory.
DAN strives to make the intern’s experience an enriching one by helping them meet a number of goals, including:
DAN will also work with the interns’ educational institutions to offer academic credit for their work.
Qualities for good interns include enthusiasm, people skills, initiative, integrity, energy, intelligence, persuasiveness, computer literacy, and interest in science and research. The minimum age for an intern is 20 years of age (by June 1, 2010) with an educational track in a science field preferred. While diving is not a required skill for this internship, candidates should be certified scuba divers.
“DAN internships are tremendous opportunities for those interested in the areas of dive medicine and research studies,” said Donna Uguccioni, research coordinator for DAN. “The program has launched, guided and enriched the careers of more than one intern, and we hope to provide the same education and opportunities for those who join us in 2010.”
For additional information on or to discuss application to the program, contact Uguccioni via email or by calling (919) 684-2948 x.627.
Applications for the 2010 DAN Internship Program must be received by Jan. 15, 2010.
October 3, 2009 – October 3, 2009
Noon – 6 pm
Free
Register at www.scubadivingmedicine.com,
http://www.scubadivingmedicine.com
Matthew S. Partrick, M.D., one of only two fellowship trained hyperbaric and diving physicians in New Jersey, has set a date for the first annual New Jersey Diving Medicine Symposium, an education series for those interested in SCUBA diving, physics and physiology associated with extreme environments and diving medicine in general. The event will take place on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 from 12 P.M. to 6 P.M. at the Rutgers University Cook Campus Center Multipurpose Room B, 59 Biel Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. The event, which is free of charge and open to everyone, will be sponsored in part by the Divers Alert Network, Rutgers University Institute of Coastal and Marine Sciences, Southern Ocean County Hospital Diving Medicine Program and the University of Pennsylvania Institute for Environmental Medicine. The schedule will also include a panel discussion and a Q&A for audience members. Lunch and snacks will be served during scheduled breaks. Check out the event website, www.scubadivingmedicine.com, for more details and for the online registration form. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact Dr. Partrick at matthewpartrick@gmail.com.
Click here to search for more New Jersey events.
College Farm Road
NEW BRUNSWICK,
732-932-4636
http://www.rutgers.edu
Dear Sir,
I want to inform you and your colleagues that this year Russian State Healthcare Authority has introduced a Diving Medicine speciality for doctors. To get the Diving Medicine Certificate and to make Diving Medicine a Career one should be an Internal Medicine specialist (Therapy) and fulfill a Diving Medicine educational program of 504 hrs (or more).
As far as I know this kind of official status for Diving Doctors is unique, and rarely (if ever) practiced in other countries.
Prof. K.Logunov
Maritime Health and Diving Department,
St-Petersburg
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