News
Diving after COVID-19 – Update from Coronavirus Survivor Douglas Ebersole MD
By Douglas Ebersole, MD – Medical Director for RAID
I am a dive industry professional and a COVID-19 survivor. I am sharing my story in hopes of decreasing the fear these days in the diving community. In my “real job” as a cardiologist and while wearing my N95 mask a few weeks ago, I was exposed to a severely ill patient that subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. He ended up in the ICU for a few days, but did not require a ventilator. He was discharged home after a two-week hospital stay and is doing well.
I began having symptoms of fatigue, shaking chills, and fever to 102 degrees about 10 days after my exposure and tested positive for COVID-19. I had no shortness of breath, a normal oxygen saturation, and a normal chest x-ray. I was one of the fortunate ones with symptoms no worse than a bad case of the flu. After 10 days of quarantine at home, my symptoms resolved though my exercise tolerance was decreased. My usual exercise regimen is 30 minutes on a stair master and 30 minutes on an exercise bike 3-4 times per week, but after COVID-19 I fatigued doing minimal yard work.
As gyms are closed in Florida, I used my home rowing machine to get back into shape. After a week I was able to row 30 minutes per day without symptoms. As I have access to a treadmill and a pulse oximeter, I exercised on my office treadmill after work with good exercise tolerance and no decrease in my oxygen saturation. As a result, I plan to return to diving as soon as Florida opens up the marinas and state parks. I will start with shallow no-decompression diving and slowly build back up to decompression diving, cave diving, etc.
Recently, a report of six divers in Austria who had severe lung changes on CT scans several weeks after COVID-19 despite feeling well has been widely circulated on social media. While this is interesting and suggests further studies are needed, no firm conclusions can be drawn from such a small number of patients with such a short follow-up period. While we do not have enough data yet to make any firm conclusions about the effect of COVID-19 on divers or when infected divers can safely return to scuba diving, it is unlikely that it will be a “one size fits all” approach. For now, we should all be aware that while COVID-19 is usually a mild disease in young healthy individuals, others can become severely ill and even die despite having no underlying medical problems.
We should all follow CDC guidelines, practice social distancing, wear masks in public, etc. in an effort keep ourselves and others safe. If despite this, a diver contracts the virus, he or she should wait for resolution of symptoms, then increase their exercise as tolerated, and see a physician knowledgeable in diving medicine prior to returning to scuba diving. Finally, please get your diving information from organizations like Divers Alert Network, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, and the South Pacific Underwater Medical Society instead of from social media! Safe diving everyone!
Douglas Ebersole, MD is an interventional cardiologist at the Watson Clinic LLP in Lakeland, Florida and is the Director of the Structural Heart Program at Lakeland Regional Health. He has been diving since 1974 and is an avid recreational diver, technical diver, rebreather diver, and cave diver. He is also a recreational, technical, and rebreather instructor for several training agencies. Additionally, he is a cardiology consultant to Divers Alert Network, the medical director for RAID, and is on the Board of Advisors for IANTD and the Training Advisory Panel for TDI/SDI. In his spare time, he is the Florida Sales agent for KISS Rebreathers.
Source: www.divenewswire.com
Octo Diver, in collaboration with PADI, have introduced the first-ever PADI Scuba Technician Distinctive Specialty Course, designed to raise the standard of dive equipment knowledge and safety in the scuba diving industry.
This 7-day hands-on course is open to all certified divers, dive professionals, and dive centre/resort staff, and focuses on vital life-support equipment servicing.
The course modules include:
Scuba Regulator Servicing (Diaphragm & Piston types)
2nd Stage Servicing (Balanced & Unbalanced)
K-Valve Cylinder Valve Maintenance
Scuba Cylinder Visual Inspection
Power Inflator Servicing
Oxygen Cleaning for Scuba Equipment
Scuba Compressor Service & Maintenance
Standard Service & Repair Reporting
It is developed by Octo Diver’s professional team, led by a certified PADI Scuba Technician Instructor with a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering and over 15 years of experience in the diving industry.
This professional-level course can be conducted at Octo Diver’s classroom in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, or hosted at dive centers worldwide. Hosting dive centers receive exclusive benefits, including high commission, special course rates, and free seats.
Upon completion, students will receive certification from PADI along with official technician credentials.
Octo Diver is currently looking for dive centers and resorts globally to host this course. Let’s work together to make diving safer and more professional — Be a Certified PADI Scuba Technician.
For more information, visit www.Scuba-Technician.com
Far from the usual tourist trails, on a small island in the Northern Moluccas, lies a place of extraordinary beauty: Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort. Nestled between dense tropical jungle and a powdery white sand beach, the resort offers a peaceful escape immersed in nature at its purest. With panoramic views of the turquoise sea and direct access to some of Indonesia’s most untouched reefs, it’s a dream come true for those seeking tranquility above and adventure below the surface.
The resort features just 16 spacious beachfront bungalows, each only steps from the ocean. At its heart is a beautifully designed open-air restaurant, built entirely from natural materials, where guests can enjoy a diverse selection of Indonesian and international cuisine.
But what truly sets Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort apart is the underwater world that surrounds it. The reefs of the Northern Moluccas are among the most pristine and biodiverse in all of Indonesia – and remarkably, they remain largely untouched. Thanks to the remote location, dive boats are often the only ones around, giving divers the rare privilege of exploring vibrant coral gardens, dramatic walls, and colorful drop-offs in complete solitude.
Marine life here is nothing short of spectacular. Blacktip reef sharks are spotted on nearly every dive, while nutrient-rich walls attract sea turtles, schools of jacks, and bumphead parrotfish. For macro enthusiasts, the area is a treasure trove of rare and photogenic species, including pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, and several types of octopus and shrimp.
One of the region’s most extraordinary highlights is the Halmahera Walking Shark, a rare species endemic to this part of Indonesia. First described by scientists only in recent years, this small shark is unlike anything else in the ocean. Rather than swimming, it uses its muscular pectoral and pelvic fins to “walk” along the seabed. These elusive yet fascinating creatures are most often encountered on night dives – and witnessing one in the wild is a truly unforgettable experience.
The reefscapes surrounding Spice Island Resort are equally impressive. Flourishing hard coral formations spread across the seabed, interspersed with vivid sponges, large sea fans, and colorful soft corals. The biodiversity is astonishing, and the visual spectacle underwater is a dream for photographers. Most importantly, the reefs here are healthy—a rare treasure in today’s marine environment. With minimal tourism and careful management, the ecosystem remains intact, vibrant, and teeming with life.
Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort is more than just a dive destination – it’s a retreat for those seeking peace and a haven for underwater explorers looking to experience the authentic magic of Indonesia’s last true frontier.
Book your next diving adventure at Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort with Extra Divers!
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