Sub-Aquatic Sports & Service in Battle Creek MI has been offered and has accepted the opportunity to take over operation of the hyperbaric chamber facility at Kalamazoo's Bronson Methodist Hospital.

The hyperbaric chamber (also known as a "recompression chamber") is a 10 atmosphere multi-lock system that was initially installed at Bronson Hospital in 1987 for treatment of pressure related injuries and other medical conditions that hyperbaric therapy could benefit.

Since installation, the chamber has been mainly used for educational programs within the SCUBA industry. The Michigan State Police and local county dive teams have used the chamber for various training programs.

Sub-Aquatic Sports will now be in charge of these training programs. Beyond the state and county teams Sub-Aquatic Sports will be offering to the general diving public "dry dives" for certified divers interested in how chambers operate. Sub-Aquatic Sports & Service will also integrate the chamber into their college accredited SCUBA programs at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Albion College, and Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek.

Rick Sass, Owner of Sub-Aquatic Sports is in charge of these educational programs and will be director of chamber operations at the BMH Hyperbaric Chamber. Rick has been a diver since 1973, an instructor for the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) since 1978. He was trained in Diving Accident Management, Recompression Procedures & Hyperbaric Chamber Operations in 1987 when the chamber was installed at Bronson Methodist Hospital.

As of Feb.1, Sub-Aquatic Sports & Service will be offering to the diving public chamber dives, for certified divers. The initial dates will be

Feb. 12th & 19th
March 19th
April 9th and 16th.

The course will meet at Sub-Aquatic Sports for a lecture on chamber history and what to expect during their 110ft dive. And then a short drive to the chamber in Kalamazoo at Bronson Methodist hospital for the dive. Other dates may be set up for dive stores interested in their personal group runs.

For further information on chamber programs for individuals or groups contact Sub-Aquatic Sports and Service at 269-968-8551 or at [email protected]