Why Do Some Divers Get ‘Hit’ And Others Don’t? New Red Sea Study Seeks Answers
Why can two divers complete the same dive, yet only one experiences a problem?
A new Red Sea research initiative is setting out to find the answer.
Launched by Hypermed Red Sea and Baromedical Red Sea, and supported by Emperor Divers, the study will investigate individual susceptibility to diving-related stress using Doppler ultrasound technology.
The project is overseen by Dr Hossam Nassef and Dr Hanaa M Nessim, with day-to-day operations led by Dr Abdelrahman Hossam and Dr Abdelhakim Hossam.
At the centre of the initiative is the Doppler unit – a device that uses sound waves to measure the speed, direction, and flow of blood cells through blood vessels – which has been fully funded and donated by Emperor Divers and its guests.
The technology allows researchers to monitor post-dive bubble formation in both recreational and technical divers, providing a deeper understanding of how the body responds to pressure changes, even in dives that appear well within safe limits.
The primary focus is on recreational diving, where the study will track divers with comparable characteristics - including age, sex, body composition and dive profiles - to identify patterns in how individuals respond under similar conditions. By shifting the focus from the dive to the diver, the research aims to uncover why outcomes can vary so significantly.
While recreational diving is the main focus, the study will also explore whether different decompression strategies may be more suitable for certain individuals in technical diving.
This opens the door to a more personalised approach to decompression, based not just on the dive, but on the diver.
A further benefit will be to highlight underlying physiological factors. The use of Doppler monitoring may help identify divers - both local professionals and visiting tourists - who could be at increased risk, including those with Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), allowing for earlier referral, better management, and safer long-term diving.
This is particularly relevant for divers who have experienced decompression sickness despite diving within standard limits.
The Red Sea provides an ideal setting for this work, combining one of the highest volumes of diving activity in the world with extensive, hands-on medical expertise.
Dr Hossam Nassef explained: “In our daily work, we see that two divers can complete the same dive and have very different outcomes. This project allows us to move beyond assumption and begin measuring what is actually happening inside the body.
“With this data, we hope to better understand individual susceptibility and improve how we approach diver safety.”
Luke Atkinson of Emperor Divers added: “Our guests have been supporting these chambers for years, often without fully seeing the impact of their contributions.
“This project is a direct result of that support. If we can take what we learn here and turn it into something that genuinely improves diver safety, then that’s something worth investing in.”
Alongside the research, an emergency awareness program is being further developed in collaboration with Red Sea Lifeboat Medevac, aimed at improving incident response and increasing awareness around the recognition and management of diving-related injuries.
For reference please visit:
Hypermed Red Sea – https://hypermed-redsea.net/
Baromedical Red Sea – https://baromedical-redsea.com/
Emperor Divers - https://emperordivers.com
