At Aqua Diving Madagascar, diver safety isn’t just a priority—it’s a responsibility we take to heart. That’s why we proudly sent two of our instructors, Moana and Simone, to participate in an advanced training workshop in Nosy Be. As part of that training, they successfully completed the DAN Hyperbaric Chamber Operator Course, marking a major step forward in our local safety capabilities.
Hyperbaric chambers are a critical tool in diving safety, especially in areas with limited medical infrastructure like Nosy Be. While decompression illness is rare, it must be treated immediately and correctly—something only possible with trained operators and functioning recompression facilities.
Their certification now enables them to assist with hyperbaric treatments under supervision, and with further practice, they’ll be able to operate the chamber independently.
“This training wasn’t just about technical skills—it gave me a whole new respect for the complexity involved in emergency diving care in remote locations,” says Simone.
One of the biggest issues hyperbaric facilities in remote regions face is frequent staff turnover and inconsistent training. The DAN RCAPP team (Recompression Chamber Assistance & Partnership Program) recognized this and developed a customized Chamber Operator Course tailored specifically to the chamber in Nosy Be.
This meant our two instructors and other participants didn’t have to study generic content that wouldn’t apply locally—instead, the training was hands-on, practical, and immediately relevant.
The DAN course went far beyond the basics. Simone and Moana trained in:
Safely starting up and shutting down the chamber
Monitoring air quality and internal pressure
Supervising patients throughout the treatment process
Troubleshooting small but critical technical issues
With this new certification, Aqua Diving Madagascar is now even better equipped to respond quickly and confidently in case of a diving emergency. And while we do everything to prevent such situations, it’s comforting for our divers to know that qualified staff and emergency support are close at hand.
Nosy Be is one of the most beautiful dive destinations in the Indian Ocean—but also remote. That’s why this kind of local expertise and DAN-backed training is so important.