Don't Let Bonaire's Easy Diving Fool You

I am competing to be the world's most conservative diver. About six years ago, diving on the Hilma Hooker, where it's impossible to go deeper than 100 feet, a good friend incurred a serious neurological hit. He became paralyzed from the waist down, incontinent of the bladder, extremely dizzy from a bubble in his inner ear/balance organs and was nauseous and vomiting. It proved to be multiple neurologic hits from arterial gas embolizations. He stayed a week in Bonaire for multiple chamber rides at the excellent chamber facility.

Later, it was discovered he had a large PFO [Patent Foremen Ovale - hole in the heart] that our cardiology group plugged with an "Amplatzer Occluder." Hemade a complete recovery and was cleared to return to diving.

I was with him on that dive six years ago, diving the same profile. We went briefly to a little less than 100 feet and slowly rose to the surface with a safety stop. Our computers verify this. Since then, as a DAN bubble study test subject, I learned I do not have a PFO. Microbubbles formed in my venous blood, but that's common, even when diving within the acceptable depth and time limits, and not dangerous unless you have a PFO.

Regardless, because of my buddy's experience, I am now officially a conservative diver.

- D.D.