Diving Sciences

Dr. David Charash is owner of Dive Medicine and Hyperbaric Consultants. He has worked in the Hyperbaric, Dive Medicine and Wound Care Space for greater than 30 years. He is a NOAA Dive Medicine Physician, DAN Referral Physician and DAN Instructor. He has lectured Nationally and Internationally on all topics of Dive Medicine, Dive Safety and Dive Technology. He has been recognized for dedicated teaching and support of the United States Navy Undersea Community. He was recognized as the DAN/Rolex Diver of the Year for 2022. Dr. Charash has promoted Diving Safety through his Diving Sciences Symposiums and is the host of the podcast “Fitness in Diving” available on Apple and Spotify.

Edgardo Ochoa grew up in Mexico. Edgardo’s introduction to diving came at an early age: A family friend took him on a snorkel trip, and the experience changed his life forever, directing his calling toward the ocean. Edgardo underwent training in recreational diving, became a scientific diver and soon after a PADI Instructor; he then began to train divers on science-diving techniques and diving safety.

Edgardo has traveled extensively, completing several thousand dives around the globe – from sea level to altitude, salt water to fresh water, and polar to tropical. Nowadays, he serves as Diving Safety Officer (DSO) for Conservation International. His mission is to encourage people to increase their knowledge so they will protect and preserve the oceans.

Dr. Zack Gaskill is a graduate of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his Family medicine residency at PCOM before continuing on to Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation he remained on staff working both at the 24/7 Multiplace chamber as well as the Penn outpatient wound care center. Outside of his clinical duties, he enjoys working on multi-disciplinary research, lectures and working within UHMS. He is especially passionate about fellow, resident and student education.

Dr. Nicholas Bird is board certified in family medicine, and fellowship-trained and boarded in undersea and hyperbaric medicine. He is the Medical Director for the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine at Virginia Mason Medical Center, and has held positions to include, former Chief Medical Officer for the Kwajalein Hospital in the Marshall Islands, past President of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Chief Medical Officer and CEO of Diver’s Alert Network (DAN), and primary author of DAN’s First Aid program. He received his initial hyperbaric training while serving in the United States Air Force as a flight surgeon. An avid diver, he was certified in 1984 and became a PADI Instructor in 1989.