New exhibit in Islamorada explores the evolution of diving medicine, recompression treatment, and DAN’s role in emergency response
The History of Diving Museum in Islamorada, Florida, has opened a new exhibit titled Prescribed Pressure: Explore the Incredible World of Undersea Medicine, highlighting the development of diving medicine, hyperbaric treatment, and the safety systems that support divers around the world.
The exhibit, launched with a ribbon-cutting reception at the museum, traces the evolution of undersea medicine from its early military applications to its modern role in recreational diving safety. The program also recognizes the long-standing work of Divers Alert Network (DAN), whose emergency hotline, medical referral network, and global response systems have become essential resources for divers, dive operators, instructors, and medical professionals.
“You don’t want to call us,” joked Dr. Matias Nochetto during his presentation at the museum, “but when the need arises, we are available every day and every hour of any day to help, to offer advice in the event of a diving or travel emergency.” Dr. Nochetto serves as DAN’s Executive Vice President and Director of Global Medical Affairs.
The exhibit underscores how diving medicine has advanced over the decades, particularly in the treatment of decompression sickness and other dive-related emergencies. It includes both historic and contemporary displays, including a portable one-place recompression chamber. The presentation helps visitors understand how hyperbaric oxygen therapy works and why access to timely, knowledgeable medical guidance is so important when a diving emergency occurs.
Hyperbaric treatment uses 100 percent oxygen under pressure, allowing oxygen to dissolve into the blood and body fluids and reach oxygen-deprived tissues. In cases of decompression sickness, recompression and oxygen therapy can help reduce nitrogen bubbles and restore oxygen delivery to affected areas of the body.
Dr. Nochetto explained that DAN does not directly treat patients or provide medical care by phone. Instead, DAN helps connect divers, local physicians, and recompression facilities with appropriate diving medicine expertise.
“Not every doctor is a diver,” Dr. Nochetto said. “We provide experts to consult with local doctors faced with patients in diving emergencies.”
The opening reception was attended by leaders and supporters from across the diving community, including DAN President and CEO Cliff Richardson and renowned underwater photographer Stephen Frink, publisher of DAN’s Alert Diver Magazine. Dr. Sally Bauer, co-founder of the History of Diving Museum with her late husband Dr. Joe Bauer, was also present for the exhibit launch.
For dive professionals, the exhibit offers a valuable reminder that diver safety extends beyond training standards and dive planning. It also depends on emergency preparedness, medical awareness, access to accurate information, and strong partnerships between dive operators, emergency responders, medical professionals, and organizations such as DAN.
The exhibit is especially relevant in Florida and the Florida Keys, one of the most active diving regions in the United States. During the presentation, Dr. Nochetto noted that Florida has one of the highest concentrations of recompression chambers in the world, reflecting both the popularity of diving in the region and the importance of emergency response infrastructure.
Prescribed Pressure: Explore the Incredible World of Undersea Medicine will remain on display at the History of Diving Museum through December 31, 2026.
For museum hours and visitor information, visit the History of Diving Museum online.