Performance Freediving International and the Divers Alert Network this week announced an “alliance” of the two organizations meant to improve safety education in the sport of freediving.
PFI founder and CEO Kirk Krack said:
“We are very proud to work with Divers Alert Network toward our joint goal of improving safety in freediving. The service DAN has provided to the diving community is immeasurable and their medical courses have long been a requirement for our professional instructors. We look forward to working closely with DAN’s excellent medical and research staff to share our expertise.
“We look forward to sharing our experience with DAN as we work together to improve the base of knowledge and protocols for freedive-related medical issues, such as barotrauma, dive-to-flight time protocols, and other medical issues of import to freedivers. This alliance will ensure our students receive the quality medical information DAN is renowned for, as well as access to the whole range of DAN products and services, from dive accident insurance, to oxygen units, to DAN’s unequalled emergency hotline.”
DAN President and CEO William Ziefle said:
“Freediving is an exciting and invigorating activity, and freedivers are a growing part of the diving community that DAN serves. As with any underwater activity, there are risks and safety concerns that are best addressed through research and the dissemination of accurate information. PFI has been a leader in the development of freedive safety education and training in risk mitigation techniques, and their experience in the field over two decades provides an excellent foundation for our collaboration.”
Well-researched first aid and risk-mitigation programs are particularly critical for the safety of freedivers, according to Ziefle:
“The collaboration of our two organizations stands to greatly improve not only individual diver safety, but the ability of freedivers as a community to provide prompt and appropriate response to in-water incidents. This partnership extends the reach of both PFI’s and DAN’s missions to make every dive safe.”
