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WINTER 2012
FROM THE SAFETY STOP
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L E T T E R S F R O M M E M B E R S
Letters
Psychiatric Fitness to Dive
As a psychologist and a diver, I was
pleased to see this important topic
beginning to be addressed. Emotional
problems (called psychiatric diseases by
this author) are found on a continuum
from healthy to sick and are not found
to exist in the on-off position. So it
is very difficult, if not impossible, to
determine who is too disturbed to dive.
Realistically, people will rarely come
forward to say they have a psychiatric
diagnosis. In my diving in many places
with many people, I have never seen
anyone emotionally disturbed on a dive
boat. Since diving requires fitness in
mind and body, I believe that people
with emotional problems won’t dive in
the first place. In my opinion, divers are
extraordinarily healthy and conscious
of the dangers and beauties of diving. I
believe it would be helpful to examine
this issue from the other side: What
makes divers so healthy? Also, could
diving possibly help people with mild
symptoms of depression and anxiety?
— Sarah Coleman, Stuart, Fla.
not Just For Divers
I am not a scuba diver but members
of my family are divers, and they
send me Alert Diver as they know of
my love for the sea and the natural
world. When it arrives I devote the
time it takes to devour the contents.
I am awed by the beauty of the
photography and am impressed
with the informative, wide-ranging
material covered in your articles.
The fact that they cover the medical
issues particularly directed to
divers, specific scuba diving topics
and environmental issues on land
and sea makes your publication
comprehensive and perhaps unique
when it comes to a specialty
publication.
— Sandra Shapiro, Oak View, Calif.
When my husband and I were hit by a
big tour bus outside of San Jose, Costa
Rica, on our way to the coast, DAN
®
arranged our air ambulance back to
Atlanta after three days in Clinica
Biblica (in San Jose). My husband and
I were both badly injured and had our
own nurses aboard the little jet. Thank
you, DAN, for being there for us when
we needed you. We hope we will never
have to call on you again, but we know
you are still there for us.
—Marnie and Dean Schramm,
Morrow, Ga.
ALERT DIVER For iPaD
I just downloaded Alert Diver from the
App Store. I think you guys nailed the
interface — looks fantastic!
— Sterling Zumbrunn, via Facebook
As a new diver, I love the magazine,
and the fact that I can view it on the
iPad is even better. Thanks for a great
magazine
— Dwayne K. Johnson, sent from his
iPad
Haven’t downloaded the app yet? Learn
more about it on Page 19.
staying in Diving shaPe
When my doctor wanted to place me
on blood pressure medication, DAN
was there with answers. I knew some
blood pressure drugs were problematic
for divers, but neither my physician
nor I knew which ones. A single call
to DAN helped my doctor prescribe a
drug that is effective and that allows
me to keep diving. That alone was
worth the membership cost.
— David Lingerfelt, via email
I just renewed my membership. I am
a physician, and I have been a diver
for almost 35 years. Lately I have been
enjoying the magazine you have been
sending me — I have particularly
appreciated the articles on diving and
fitness with the workout routines.
Keep up the great work!
— George C. Sakakini, M.D.,
Captain, MC, USN (retired)
J O E DO V A L A
PSychiatric FitneSS
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