Winter2016AlertDiver

the afternoon though and got worse in the evening. The

next day was Sunday, and in Tonga nothing happens

on Sundays. I lay in my room and could not find a

comfortable position. The pain was severe. The next

day rather than going to the boat I went to the doctor.

After an ultrasound and a brief examination the doctor

said I had a classic case of ruptured appendix and that I

needed an operation or I would die.

Those are not words anybody wants to hear. I went

to the hospital, where they put me on an IV and started

talking about what to do with me. There was no surgeon

in the area, and I would need to be evacuated. So I

notified my sister, and she called DAN.

That was that. I just lay there, and DAN, along with my

local friends Lisa and Amecia and my sister in California,

took care of the details. Just prior to sunset an air

ambulance landed in Vava’u to take me to New Zealand.

I remember lying on the gurney with an IV in my arm,

being in pain and seeing a surreal sunset out the window.

I thought to myself how lucky I was to have a private jet

come and get me. Customs officials met the plane on the

ground in New Zealand, and by the time the crew got me

into the ambulance my paperwork was in order, and I was

on the way into lifesaving surgery. I most certainly did not

anticipate such a significant health crisis, but by being a

DAN member I was prepared for it.

I am a week away from my next whale adventure,

this one in Dominica, and you can be sure my DAN

membership, dive accident insurance and trip insurance

plans are all current. I don’t plan to have another life-

threatening emergency, but I take great comfort in

knowing that if a problem arises I am covered. Having

insurance not only protects you but also helps your

loved ones feel at ease, and that is priceless. I strongly

suggest that all divers, especially those who travel to

remote locations, get covered. Thank you, DAN, and

safe diving, everyone.

During a dive trip to the South Pacific, Douglas Hoffman became

so ill he had to be evacuated for surgery to save his life.