Trip Report Why I Won't Be Returning to Cozumel-Part 1,2&3

[Steelyeyes]

I also wonder if the ambulance call was put in as transport and so lower priority. That would certainly explain the slower service (excluding the wrong location)

Coz has multiple chambers that get plenty of use. If I was diving Hood Canal in Washington and needed to get to a chamber it would take longer to get to Seattle than from anywhere on Coz to any one of the chambers there.

If I have need of medical care on Coz I would call Dr. Pascual Piccolo or get a ride to Clinico Cozumel. His English is impeccable, his knowledge base is vast. Last time I dropped in to see him he had a diver in the can with a tech. I think they get plenty of practice with all of the once a year vacation divers.

 

[boulderjohn]

Coz has multiple chambers that get plenty of use. If I was diving Hood Canal in Washington and needed to get to a chamber it would take longer to get to Seattle than from anywhere on Coz to any one of the chambers there.

People who need a chamber after diving in northern Florida caves have a very long journey to a hospital that will treat them in a chamber. The last time I paid attention to this, the nearest one was in Valdosta, Georgia, nearly 90 miles away. I don't know if that hospital is still taking divers with DCS, so the trip may be longer, now.

Where I do most of my technical diving in New Mexico, the nearest chamber is about 400 miles away.

 

[DandyDon]

Dan could have handled the arrangements. And really should have. Medical issues sffect response time and judgment.
Just renewed my dan. This is disappointing to hear how handled.
dan should have had medical team prepped and ready. Simple standard stuff here.

Well, if you ever get hit, be sure to insist on that when you call DAN. It could certainly help make it so.

 

[ggunn]

Don't want to bash, but yes. I don't dive often enough to remember all of the details of my computer, so before each trip I download the manual and read it on the plane. Worth it every time.

Yo tambien.

 

[boulderjohn]

Don't want to bash, but yes. I don't dive often enough to remember all of the details of my computer, so before each trip I download the manual and read it on the plane. Worth it every time.

Just a suggestion....

Most computer manuals are very poorly designed and have way more information than you need. There are computer features that are obvious, which is most of what appears on the face of most computers while you are diving. Then there are other things you will need to look up because they are easy to forget, some of which are setting nitrox, following directions for unintended decompression, using the logbook, planning, etc. On my first computer, those items were so carefully scattered throughout the manual without being properly referenced in the table of contents that it must have been intentional, and if you read through the entire manual, you can easily miss them as your mind becomes numbed with that overloaded of stuff you don't really need to know.

There really aren't that many such things, and you can easily make a short cheat sheet for them. You could even laminate it and store it with your computer.

Years ago I was assigned to do a swimming pool refresher course for someone with well over 100 dives. She was about to take her annual dve vacation. She had all her own gear, and it was high end. It included a hose-connected AI computer. As she turned on her air, she noted that her computer had read the contents of the tank and determined it was EANx 32. When I told her that her tank had air, and the computer was just reading the nitrox setting she had put in previously, she refused to believe it. She insisted her air integrated computer always analyzed the contents of her tank. I told her the dive shop did not have the ability to make nitrox, and she finally believed me.

So it is very good to review these things, and a cheat sheet makes it easier.

 

[flymolo]

Well, just came back from a long weekend and the OP's post seems to say (yet again) that DAN Insurance proved absolutely worthless for this diver in a time of need. The diver kept calling DAN and DAN keep giving phone #'s to call that no one answers in an emergency over and over and a dive doctor is asleep and can't be disturbed? DAN IS WORTHLESS INSURANCE!

Ya'll go and buy your DAN insurance and see what it does for you... It obviously did nothing for this diver in a time of need.

I know someone who had to take a chamber ride and didn't have DAN insurance to cover the cost. Would not recommend...

 

[Lorenzoid]

I know someone who had to take a chamber ride and didn't have DAN insurance to cover the cost. Would not recommend...

Just want to add a footnote here that DAN is not the only accident/medical insurance that covers chamber and other DCI treatment.

 

[flymolo]

Just want to add a footnote here that DAN is not the only accident/medical insurance that covers chamber and other DCI treatment.

I've not heard of any others- would you care to share some alternatives? Mind you, the few times I've had to speak to dan I've called them and been connected directly to a doctor within minutes (and I made these calls on weekends)

 

[Lorenzoid]

I've not heard of any others- would you care to share some alternatives? Mind you, the few times I've had to speak to dan I've called them and been connected directly to a doctor within minutes (and I made these calls on weekends)

I can't name any. I just recall that there was at least one person on SB who was quick to point out in prior threads about dive accident insurance that he had some other coverage (health insurance?) he was certain covered chamber rides. I have no reason to doubt that. I think he might have been Canadian. DAN might offer a unique and appealing combination of the hotline and the insurance, but I believe similar insurance can be purchased through other channels. I have DAN, like most divers.

As for being connected directly to a doctor within minutes of calling the hotline, as I pointed out in a post above, it's my understanding that DAN will try to help anyone who calls the hotline; you don't need to have DAN insurance to get help. Now, I have no idea where DAN draws the line at helping those without DAN insurance.

 

[flymolo]

I can't name any. I just recall that there was at least one person on SB who was quick to point out in prior threads about dive accident insurance that he had some other coverage (health insurance?) he was certain covered chamber rides. I have no reason to doubt that. I think he might have been Canadian. DAN might offer a unique and appealing combination of the hotline and the insurance, but I believe similar insurance can be purchased through other channels. I have DAN, like most divers.

As for being connected directly to a doctor within minutes of calling the hotline, as I pointed out in a post above, it's my understanding that DAN will try to help anyone who calls the hotline; you don't need to have DAN insurance to get help. Now, I have no idea where DAN draws the line at helping those without DAN insurance.

Yeah, agreed. I just wanted to contradict the notion that dan doesn't do anything. Also, being an American I highly doubt any regular health insurance plan would ever cover a chamber ride. But I could be wrong