The DANcast

Divers Alert Network (DAN)
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The DANcast, the official podcast of Divers Alert Network (DAN), delivers safety insights through engaging conversations with divers from across the industry. Building on DAN's educational mission, the podcast is intended to enhance listeners’ knowledge and empower them to make safer, smarter decisions during their own adventures. DAN helps divers in need with medical emergency assistance and promotes diving safety through research, education, products and services. Learn more at dan.org.

  1. 14H AGO

    James J. Harvey, Green Fins & Reef-World

    James J. Harvey, operations director of Reef-World and Green Fins, joins The DANcast to share how his background in marine biology led him to a transformative volunteer opportunity at the Phuket Marine Biological Center in Thailand. That experience served as the catalyst for his journey with Green Fins, an initiative implemented internationally by The Reef-World Foundation and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) that is dedicated to protecting coral reefs through sustainable marine tourism. Promoting environmentally friendly standards and practices, Green Fins works with local operators, communities, and governments – and treats divers as an essential part of the reef protection solution. In this episode, James explains how the program has expanded on traditional in-person assessments with the Green Fins Hub and e-learning courses, making conservation education accessible to thousands of dive operators worldwide. The episode also provides tips for divers seeking to reduce their individual impact on the marine environment, such as mastering buoyancy control, practicing responsible photography, and choosing truly reef-safe sunscreen. To learn more about Green Fins, visit greenfins.net.

    33 min

  2. MAR 3

    Stratis Kas, InDEPTH

    Technical diver Stratis Kas is the editor-in-chief of InDEPTH and the lead author of Close Calls. Inspired by the need for more open conversations about near-misses, Close Calls shares hard-earned lessons from prominent dive industry figures, and reminds readers that even the most advanced divers make and learn from mistakes. In this episode with Frauke Tillmans, VP of research at DAN, Stratis also discusses his experiences as an exploration diver and a storyteller in the diving community — as well as his plans to carry forward InDEPTH’s mission to expand knowledge of what’s possible underwater and to spark dialogue across the diving world. For more information about Close Calls and Stratis’ work, visit stratiskas.com. Read InDEPTH at indepthmag.com.

    27 min

  3. FEB 17

    Allison Vitsky Sallmon, Dive Into the Pink

    The DANcast welcomes Allison Vitsky Sallmon, an accomplished underwater photographer and the founder and president of Dive Into the Pink. Since becoming certified in the early 1990s, Allison has immersed herself in the diving world, including cold-water diving and underwater photography. Her stories and images have been widely published, and in 2021, she was inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame. As a breast cancer survivor, she founded Dive Into the Pink, a nonprofit that engages the dive community to raise funds for cancer research and survivor support. Allison is a longtime Alert Diver contributor; read her recent article Photography for Philanthropy at dan.org/alert-diver/article/photography-for-philanthropy. Learn more about Dive Into the Pink at diveintothepink.org.

    32 min

  4. FEB 3

    Patrick Widmann, KISS Rebreathers | Cave Diving Explorer

    The DANcast welcomes Patrick Widmann, cave explorer, equipment innovator, and KISS Rebreathers’ training director. In this conversation with Frauke Tillmans, VP of research at DAN, Patrick reveals what it takes to explore Earth’s last frontiers beneath the surface. Patrick discusses his landmark exploration work in Madagascar, where his team discovered Anjanamba (currently recognized as Africa’s longest submerged cave system) and paleontological sites featured in National Geographic and BBC documentaries. He shares the realities of expedition diving, including the thorough preparation, physical fitness, and technical skills behind the extraordinary discoveries the public sees. He also shares his journey as co-owner of ProTec Dive Centers and his evolution into equipment manufacturing, from co-creating the xDEEP Stealth 2.0 sidemount system to his current work at KISS Rebreathers. 0:00 Introduction 2:06 Diving Career Path 4:15 Sidemount Equipment 6:16 Exploration and Safety in Cave Diving 10:25 International Expeditions and Collaborations 18:42 Team Dynamics in Cave Exploration 20:11 Challenges and Rewards of Expedition Diving 33:47 Equipment Design 43:13 DAN Support 44:28 Conclusion

    45 min

  5. JAN 20

    Kenny Dyal, Sweetwater Scuba

    In The DANcast’s Season 2 debut, Kenny Dyal of Sweetwater Scuba shares his journey from casual diver to dive pro, shop owner, and now full-time content creator. Kenny’s approach centers on positivity, community, and making diving fun and accessible – all with the goal of bringing more new divers into the underwater world. The conversation covers his work, his safety philosophy, and how the red hat accidentally became a signature part of his brand and viral videos. Keep up with Kenny’s adventures and find links to his social media and The Scuba Diving Podcast at sweetwaterscuba.com.

    29 min

  6. 11/18/2025

    Chris Foisey, Modern Diver

    Join us for a conversation with Chris Foisey, an Ontario-based dive professional, PADI AmbassaDiver, and creator of the Modern Diver channel. Since getting certified at 18, Chris has followed his passion to become a cold-water diving expert in the Great Lakes — where divers face depth, frigid temperatures, silty conditions, and other challenges that demand careful planning and safety preparation. The episode explores his volunteer work with Save Ontario Shipwrecks (SOS), where he helps preserve seven historic wrecks by removing ghost nets, managing mooring systems, and more. Along the way, he's built an online community with educational content that bridges the gap between recreational and technical diving. To follow along with Chris’ adventures, visit moderndiverchannel.com. 0:00 Introduction & Journey to Becoming a Diver 3:43 Building Modern Diver Channel 6:04 Content Creation 8:32 Safety 11:00 Great Lakes Diving 13:54 DAN Membership 15:57 Save Ontario Shipwrecks (SOS)

    21 min

  7. 11/07/2025

    William Cline, Cline Group

    William Cline, president of Cline Group and publisher of Scuba Diving Industry Magazine, joins The DANcast to share his decades of experience in the dive industry. From launching Scuba Diving Magazine for Rodale Press in the 1990s to conducting pioneering industry research, William discusses the evolution of dive retail, the impact of resort certifications on diver retention, and why the local dive shop remains at the heart of the industry. The conversation explores dive travel trends, new diver certifications, and what lies ahead for DEMA and the broader diving community. For more information, visit scubadivingindustry.com.

    35 min

  8. 11/04/2025

    Neal Watson, Jr., Bimini Scuba Center

    Neal Watson Jr., director of operations at Bimini Scuba Center, shares behind-the-scenes stories from underwater filming for major productions, including BBC's "Blue Planet Live" and Discovery's "Shark Week." He discusses safety protocols in shark filming, Bimini Scuba Center's dive offerings, sinking wrecks to become artificial reefs in the Bahamas, and more. For more information about Bimini Scuba Center, visit biminiscubacenter.com.

    14 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

The DANcast, the official podcast of Divers Alert Network (DAN), delivers safety insights through engaging conversations with divers from across the industry. Building on DAN's educational mission, the podcast is intended to enhance listeners’ knowledge and empower them to make safer, smarter decisions during their own adventures. DAN helps divers in need with medical emergency assistance and promotes diving safety through research, education, products and services. Learn more at dan.org.

Information

  • Creator
    Divers Alert Network (DAN)
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Copyright
    © Divers Alert Network
  • Show Website
    The DANcast

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