This year marks the Divers Alert Network Europe’s 40th anniversary.
The organization has been helping divers in Europe since 1983, when a group of passionate divers and diving physicians started a DAN Europe dedicated to the health and safety of the global diving community.
According to a DAN Europe timeline, Dr. Alessandro Marroni founded International Diving Assistance (IDA) in Milan, Italy, in 1983, the first diving association to provide a 24/7 emergency hotline, global assistance network and insurance packages specific for diving.
In 1991, IDA was renamed as Divers Alert Network Europe. In the same year, IDAN (International DAN) was created in Durham, North Carolina, USA), uniting all global DAN organizations (America, Asia- Pacific, Europe, Japan). DAN Southern Africa joined IDAN in 1996.
According to DAN Europe:
“Inspired by the past, projected into the future. We look forward to working with Members, diving organizations, and the community, to keep making diving safer in the next 40 years.”
