Bühlmann Decompression 02

Dr. Bühlmann’s work bridged the gap between theoretical physiology and real-world diving challenges. His legacy is a diving world made exponentially safer, deeper, and more accessible to professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Dr. Bühlmann received international acclaim, including the Oceaneering Award from the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society in 1977 and a posthumous lifetime achievement award from Divers Alert Network (DAN) in 1993. His ZH‑L algorithms continue to underpin safe diving practices worldwide, making him a lasting figure in decompression science. 

From the biography of Dr. A. Bühlmann

The quest for the perfect algorithm

DAN Europe and Bühlmann Watches: Advancing dive safety through science, legacy and method

AWARE - Cultivating Readiness, well-Being, and responsibility

The first pillar fo diving safety is Awareness, not just of the environment, but of oneself. As Plato taught, “Know thyself.” In diving, self-knowledge means understanding one’s limits, the science behind our gear, and the history that shaped them. Innovation can only grow from a solid foundation of knowledge.

That foundation was laid over a century ago: from Paul Bert in the late 1800s to John Scott Haldane, Robert Workman of the U.S. Navy in the '60s, and Prof. Albert Bühlmann at the University Hospital of Zurich in the '80s. Bühlmann’s ZH-L16C algorithm still underpins most modern dive computers and remains central to DAN Research’s work. Modern research continues to refine these models, but all progress stands on the legacy of the pioneers. Every diver, whether scientist or enthusiast, is invited to understand the story behind the safety they rely on.

Since 1983, DAN Europe has built the infrastructure to support this awareness, through emergency assistance, first-aid education, and science. With over 130,000 recorded dive profiles including +600 DCI cases, its research turns data into preparedness. Diving safely begins with being aware, knowledgeable, and responsible.

 

MASTER - Turning knowledge into competence

The second pillar, Master, is about transforming knowledge into instinct. It’s not enough to know the rules; divers must internalise them. Mastery means understanding decompression theory, executing dive plans with precision, managing equipment confidently, and applying safety protocols reflexively. It’s about being in control: of your profile, your gear, your team, and your wellbeing.

DAN Europe supports this mastery through the continuous dissemination of medical knowledge and research findings. Its collaborations with diving physicians, educators, and institutions ensure that divers are both informed and empowered. The organization’s editorial integrity and scientific credibility make it the go-to source for divers who want to elevate their practice.

By mastering the fundamentals and staying engaged with evolving best practices, divers reduce risk and increase resilience. DAN Europe’s role is to ensure that this mastery is grounded in evidence, not assumption.

 

MAXIMIZE - Personalising safety through scientific innovation

The third pillar, Maximize, is about applying the latest scientific insights to enhance safety. It’s where Professor Marroni's and DAN Europe’s research becomes transformative. At the forefront of this effort is the Quest for the Perfect Algorithm: a next-generation decompression model that accounts for individual variability. By analysing real-world data, DAN researchers are uncovering how personal and environmental factors such as age, BMI, stress, and altitude, interact with dive physiology.

This work moves beyond traditional bubble models toward a probabilistic, personalised approach to decompression safety. It represents the continuation of Prof. Bühlmann’s pioneering legacy, and it’s made possible by DAN Europe’s unique combination of data, expertise, and mission-driven focus.

The DAN DSL Database (2024) is the most comprehensive of its kind, and its research is shaping the future of dive medicine. For divers, this means access to safer, more tailored decompression strategies. For the diving community, it means a new standard of care.

 

The roots of DAN Europe’s scientific leadership trace back to a profound and enduring relationship between two pioneers: Dr. Albert A. Bühlmann and Prof. Alessandro Marroni. Their collaboration was built on mutual respect, shared curiosity, and a deep commitment to advancing diving medicine.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Marroni and Bühlmann exchanged insights across disciplines, bridging hyperbaric physiology, decompression modelling, and field medicine. Bühlmann’s groundbreaking work on inert gas kinetics and decompression algorithms found fertile ground in Marroni’s applied research and diver assistance programs. Together, they shaped the foundational principles of modern dive safety: precision, personalisation, and prevention.

Their friendship extended beyond conferences and laboratories. Marroni often recalled Bühlmann’s generosity in sharing unpublished data, his openness to critique, and his insistence on scientific integrity. These values became embedded in DAN Europe’s DNA, transforming it from a regional initiative into a global reference point for diving safety and research.

Today, DAN Europe's quest for the perfect algorithm builds on Bühlmann's vision, which Marroni and the next generation of researchers are carrying forward to create the "perfect" decompression model that accounts for individual variability.

This probabilistic, personalised approach to decompression safety is setting a new standard of care.