My first month as a summer intern with Divers Alert Network (DAN) has flown by in a blur of training, new responsibilities, and creative challenges. From safety certifications to writing for public audiences, every week has offered a different way to grow.
Coming from a scientific and field-based background, switching into a marketing and communications role has been both fun and eye-opening. It’s been a welcome challenge to flex new muscles, learning how to package complex information, connect with a broad audience, and support DAN’s mission in a whole new way.
We began with department introductions and initial assignments, and I quickly found myself involved in a range of ongoing projects. One early surprise was just how expansive DAN’s scope is. Like many divers, I was familiar with the membership and the accident insurance but often conflated the two. It was eye-opening to realize just how comprehensive the organization’s offerings are. Working on a professional liability press release gave me the chance to dive into the fine print of DAN’s insurance products and better understand the differences between coverage types, what’s included, and what’s not.
Alongside that, I’ve been helping shape outgoing communication by drafting newsletter language, contributing to blog posts, and developing content for social media. One of my favorite projects so far was drafting a blog post summarizing findings from a recent research paper on lung squeeze in freedivers. It was a rewarding opportunity to draw on my scientific background and translate the key takeaways into something more accessible for a general diving audience. I’ve also been assisting with marketing giveaways and product photography — specifically, capturing images of the oxygen safety slate. Coming from a wildlife photography and photojournalism background, this was a fun shift into studio photography. Learning how to set curves and shape light with strobes has helped me build new skills I’ve never had the chance to explore before.
It hasn’t been all work, though. We’ve had the chance to do a few shakeout dives in local quarries and tour some key locations. Visiting Duke’s hyperbaric chamber facility helped me better understand how treatment chambers operate and are used for both dive-related and non-dive-related conditions. A visit to the Thunderbird cylinder factory gave us a look at how aluminum cylinders are actually manufactured.
Training and professional development have also been a key part of this experience. I recently completed the Visual Cylinder Inspection course through PSI/PCI, which gave me a deep appreciation for the standards behind cylinder safety. I’ve begun the Intro to Technical Diving program and will be starting DAN’s First Aid for Diving Professionals (DFA Pro) certification soon. As the internship reaches its halfway point, I’m grateful for how much I’ve learned already.
