During one of the many rainstorms at the end of last season, I found out that what I thought was beautiful wood paneling around the cockpit of my boat was actually completely water-damaged and leaking profusely. I only got one side ripped off before an atmospheric river started making its way toward Seattle. Everything got covered, and I had to leave in the middle of a project, entrusting the rest of the work to one of my neighbors.

Asking for help is not my strong suit, but I’ve been working on getting comfortable leaning on my community. My neighbor is a salty sailor and boatyard worker who wanted extra work, so he offered to help with the projects that have been stumping me. Together, we came up with solutions to problems like my bent anchor support and even my new compressor installation… Don’t worry, I’ll have a whole video about the compressor soon.

So I left…

It was time to get to Mexico for not one or two, but three diving expeditions with my Azul Unlimited community. This expedition season was longer than last year’s, so I decided to take Abby along for the 2 months I would be in Mexico.

Off I went to Cabo San Lucas. I have known this would be my last trip to Baja for a while. I’m feeling the need to expand, try new things, and once again, step out of my comfort zone. Little did I know, Baja wasn’t going to let me go unscathed.

My December BAJA DIVE EXPEDITION surprised me with my first DCS incident. Fortunately, it was a very mild case of cutaneous decompression sickness, otherwise known as skin bends. My client reached out with concerns about two hours after our last dive, on our very first day of diving. We hadn’t pushed limits on our computers, but she developed painful rashes on her thighs and upper arms. These are very common places to see cutaneous DCS develop, as well as on the buttocks.

Cutaneous decompression sickness happens when inert gas bubbles form in tissues under the skin after a dive. It usually shows up as an unusual rash that can look marbled, blotchy, or purple, sometimes described as a “skin mottling” or lace-like pattern. Divers may also feel itching, burning, tenderness, or a deep aching sensation in the affected areas, most commonly on the thighs, abdomen, buttocks, or upper arms. While skin bends are often considered a mild form of DCS, they should never be ignored, because they can be a warning sign of more serious decompression problems. People may confuse skin bends with an allergic reaction, so it’s important to visit a doctor if symptoms arise.

The recommended treatment is immediate administration of 100 percent oxygen, hydration and rest.

We called Divers Alert Network and went to the hospital, where the doctor prescribed a giant cylinder of pure oxygen, which she had to breathe the rest of the day and all night.

Even though her case was mild, the doctor insisted on no diving for 30 days, so my client was done with the scuba portion of the trip. Luckily, boat trips and snorkeling were allowed, so we were able to get everyone in the water for swimming with sea lions and whale sharks.

I have been fortunate that in all my time in the water, I haven’t had a severe accident. Part of that is luck, but what I can control is being a responsive rescue diver. If we solve problems before they compound, we will have fewer accidents. But again, some of this is just dumb luck. Accidents can happen at any time, which is why I advocate for people to stack the cards in their favor. Be fit and healthy, dive conservatively, and have the correct training for the kind of diving you’re about to do.

And I know I’m a broken record on this, but get diving insurance. Although my client’s treatment wasn’t expensive, it was still covered by her plan. And even if she needed to go in the hyperbaric chamber, her insurance with Divers Alert Network would’ve covered treatment.

The rest of my time diving in Baja didn’t disappoint. I’ve made video after video about the incredible biodiversity here, and sharing these moments with the community I’m building here is mind-blowing. I still have to pinch myself every time my groups come together, and I’m reminded that they are here because of me. Like, what even is that? It’s the craziest feeling, and I can’t wait to meet more of you in the future. If you want more details about Baja, I have an entire series about my experiences driving down here in my van.

See what trips are coming up. I always give my community first dibs on spots, so you can sign up for Patreon (and get trip discounts) or my email list to be the first to know about new expeditions in the future.