Peter B. Bennett

Peter B. Bennett (born 1932) is the founder and former president and CEO of the Divers Alert Network (DAN), a non-profit organization devoted to assisting scuba divers in need.cite book |title=To the Very Depths: A Memoir of Professor Peter B Bennett, Ph.D. |author=Bennett, PB |publisher=Best Publishing Company |isbn=978-1930536470 |year=2008 |pages=229 pages ] He is a professor of anesthesiology at Duke University Medical Center, and is currently the Senior Director of the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology at Duke. Bennett is recognized as a leading authority on the effects of high pressure on human physiology.

Bennett was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. He was employed at the Royal Navy Physiology Laboratory near Portsmouth for 20 years, beginning in 1953. During this time, he formed and headed the Defence and Civil Institute for Environmental Medicine in Canada. [http://www.divessi.com/platinumpro/pp5000_individual.cfm?primary=507 Platinum Pro 5000 Diver Profile:Peter B. Bennett] ]

Research

As a researcher, Bennett has performed studies of nitrogen narcosis, oxygen toxicity, submarine escape, decompression illness, ascent rates, and the effects of flying after diving.cite book |title=Bennett and Elliott's physiology and medicine of diving, 5th Rev ed. |last=Brubakk |first=A. O. |coauthors=T. S. Neuman |year=2003 |publisher=Saunders Ltd. |location=United States |isbn=0702025712 |pages=800 ] Bennett first described and coined the name of High pressure nervous syndrome (HPNS), a diving disorder resulting from too much time breathing a high-pressure mixture of helium and oxygen known as heliox.cite journal |last=Bennett |first=P. B. |title=Psychometric impairment in men breathing oxygen-helium at increased pressures |journal=Royal Navy Personnel Research Committee, Underwater Physiology Subcommittee Report No. 251 |date=1965 |location=London ] Bennett was a consultant on the James Cameron underwater science fiction film "The Abyss", in which a character experiences HPNS.

Bennett is credited with the invention of trimix breathing gas. In 1981, at Duke University Medical Center, he conducted an experiment called Atlantis III, which involved taking divers to a depth of 2,250 feet, and slowly decompressing them to the surface over a period of 31-plus days, setting a world record for depth in the process.cite journal |author=Bennett PB, Coggin R, McLeod M |title=Effect of compression rate on use of trimix to ameliorate HPNS in man to 686 m (2250 ft) |journal=Undersea Biomed Res |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=335–51 |year=1982 |month=December |pmid=7168098 |doi= |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2920 |accessdate=2008-09-08] In 45 years, Bennett has published over 200 scientific papers and six books.

Retirement

Dr. Bennett received the 2002 [http://www.dema.org/ Diving Equipment and Marketing Association] (DEMA) Reaching Out Award for his contribution to the diving industry, and the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2002 award for contributions to business in the life sciences. He stepped down as President of the Divers Alert Network of America on June 30, 2003, after 23 years at the helm. Bennett was pressured by board members to step down, in reaction to alleged improprieties in his handling of the organization's finances. [cite news
last = Strom
first = Jennifer
title = DEEP TROUBLE: Peter Bennett Goes Down for Ripping Off DAN, Divers Alert Network
publisher = Cyber Diver News Network
url = http://www.cdnn.info/news/article/a030118.html
accessdate = 2007-03-31 ] [cite news
title = DAN Founder Retires amid controversy...and serious questions
publisher = Undercurrent
date = January, 2003
url = http://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/articles/DANRetire200301.shtml
accessdate = 2007-03-31 ]

From 2004 to 2007, Bennett served as Executive Director of the international Divers Alert Network. [cite news
title = Scientific Symposium Honoring Dr. Bennett Coming May 1
work = DAN News
publisher = Divers Alert Network
date = 3/9/2004
url = http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/news/article.asp?newsid=377
accessdate = 2007-03-31 ]

As of 2007, Bennett has been serving as the executive director of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. [cite news
title = Peter B. Bennett, Ph.D., DSc., Is Named Executive Director of UHMS
work = DAN News
publisher = Divers Alert Network
date = 6/22/2007
url = http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/News/Article.aspx?newsid=973
accessdate = 2008-09-08 ]

ee also

* Divers Alert Network
* Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society

References

External links

* [http://www.dukemednews.org/experts/detail.php?id=10 Background at Duke University Medical Center]
* [http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/dspace/items-by-author?author=Bennett%2C+PB PB Bennett] UHMS and DAN Publications