D
ivers spend a lot of time in the sun
on the boat or the beach. I am a long-
term skin-cancer survivor who has
undergone 37 surgeries and countless
treatments over the years to remove
sun-damaged lesions. As a result of this experience I
believe people should pay more attention to prevent-
ing this common but potentially lethal problem.
Many people accept a little sunburn as incidental. After
all it’s just redness and minor pain that resolves in a few
days — right? Unfortunately, the effects of solar radiation
are cumulative, so after a few years our skin begins
to degenerate and form lesions, which can become
cancerous. Early detection and removal greatly improves
outcomes, but even more important is prevention.
Over the years I have picked up a few good tips:
• Apply sunblock generously before you leave in the
morning — at least 30 minutes before sun exposure.
Use waterproof sunblock, and pay particular
attention to the scalp, ears, neck, backs of the hands
and around the eyes, even if you wear sunglasses.
Remember, the reflection of the sun off the water
can still burn you, so sunblock is important even if
you wear a hat. [Editor’s note: Consider the marine
environment. For more information, see the Water
Planet column in the Winter 2014 issue of Alert
Diver.]
• Get a good, wide-brimmed hat — not just a
baseball cap. Get one that shades all the way
around the head, and get comfortable wearing it
all day. Put the hat back on after dives, and keep it
on for as long as you’re on the water.
• Cover up with sun-protective long-sleeve shirts
and long pants. Cotton T-shirts don’t offer
sufficient SPF protection. Get a shirt rated at SPF
35 or better. You may be pleasantly surprised
to find these shirts are actually cooler and more
comfortable than regular cotton shirts anyway.
• When you are ready to suit up, wear a dive skin
under everything else. They provide good all-over
sun protection in the boat or water and won’t
cramp your dive style.
• Consider wearing a dive cap. You will be surprised
at how much sun exposure you get while you are
sitting on the surface or swimming to the boat.
I got one made of neoprene with a small visor
(like a baseball cap), and it works great. It doesn’t
hamper my mobility or vision, and it even helps
keep me warm if the water is chilly.
• Be sure to reapply sunblock at lunch time. Even
waterproof sunblock wears off after a while, and
the afternoon sun can be brutal.
• Pay close attention to any existing moles or dark
spots on your skin as well as any red, scaly, itchy
or discolored patches. Do not hesitate to make an
appointment with a dermatologist.
These strategies have served me well in the past 30
years, and I hope they can save someone else the cost,
trouble and potential disfiguration of even one surgery
— not to mention 37.
AD
MEMBER TO MEMBER
Save Your Skin!
B y J i m H o s n e r
Tips, advice and updates from your fellow divers
STEPHEN FRINK
STEPHEN FRINK
Do you have tips, advice, travel strategies, dive techniques, lessons
learned or other words of wisdom to share with your fellow divers? Alert
Diver wants your story! Email it to
, or mail it to “Member
to Member,” c/o Alert Diver, 6 W. Colony Place, Durham, NC 27705.
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