USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber

Hyperbaric Chamber located at the USC Wrigley Marine Science Center on Catalina Island. Dedicated to treatment of divers and dive safety education. The USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber is an emergency medical facility for the treatment of scuba diving accidents. Without proper treatment, major problems from diving accidents, most commonly Decompression Sickness (the "Bends") and Air Embolism, can lead to permanent disabling injuries and in some instances be fatal. In the Southern California area around Catalina Island, the combination of effective on-site management of a diving accident along with the rapid response by Los Angeles County Baywatch Lifeguards, or the U.S. Coast Guard, and swift, effective treatment at the Chamber can save a diver's life. The USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber places a great emphasis on education. Programs taught by the Chamber at the Wrigley Marine Science Center, and on the mainland, include Emergency Dive Accident Management (EDAM), Emergency Response Diver (ERD), Advanced Decompression Physiology, and Hyperbaric Chamber Operations. Professional, recreational, and research divers come from as far away as Antarctica to attend these courses. Chamber Tours and experiential Chamber "Dives" are available for groups and service organizations. The USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber, located on the campus of the USC Wrigley Marine Science Center at Big Fisherman Cove at the West End of Catalina Island, has been serving Southern California Divers since 1974 as an emergency medical facility for the treatment of scuba diving accidents. Without proper treatment, major problems from diving accidents, most commonly Decompression Sickness (the "Bends") and Air Embolism, can lead to permanent disabling injuries and in some instances be fatal. In the Southern California area around Catalina Island, the combination of effective on-site management of a diving accident along with the rapid response by Los Angeles County Baywatch Lifeguards, or the U.S. Coast Guard, and swift, effective treatment at the Chamber can save a diver's life. The USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber places a great emphasis on education. Programs taught by the Chamber at the Wrigley Marine Science Center, and on the mainland, include Emergency Dive Accident Management (EDAM) Emergency Response Diver (ERD), and Hyperbaric Chamber Operations. Professional, recreational, and research divers come from as far away as Antarctica to attend these courses. Chamber Tours and experiential Chamber "Dives" are available for groups and service organizations.