These people work on making DAN better.

Morné Christou is the Chief Executive Officer of DAN Southern Africa. He has a solid background in dive resort management and diving instruction. He also has extensive experience within the diving industry and has a particular interest in diving safety. He continuously promotes dive safety education; support, servicing and training of remote recompression facilities; public relations; marketing, and various dive safety projects. His responsive, ‘can do’ and ‘hands-on’ approach goes a long way towards ensuring that DAN members continue receiving the best quality service possible.

Dr Jack Meintjes is the Medical Director of DAN Southern Africa. He is an occupational medicine specialist and diving medicine expert. He has served as the medical director for DAN since 2007. Dr Meintjes has extensive training and many years of experience in hyperbaric medicine and commercial diving. He is the Course Director for the prestigious Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine programme at the University of Stellenbosch.

Ann Schwaeble is the Chief Financial Officer of DAN Southern Africa. She joined DAN in 2013 as company director. Her role is to ensure that DAN handles its financial affairs diligently and she keeps tight control over DAN’s budget. Together with Morné Christou, Ann is committed towards building up DAN staff as a team to achieve the highest level of service excellence to its members.

Michael Partridge is the Operations Director of DAN Southern Africa. He is a qualified Electrical Engineer and has a Naval background as a Submariner, and that is where his love for diving started. Michael is a qualified Scuba Diver, Technical Diver, CCR Diver, Scuba and Technical Instructor Trainer, DAN Instructor Trainer, DAN Examiner, and DAN Research Co-Ordinator. He is the DAN systems developer that includes the e-commerce platform, members and administration portals, accounting integration, electronic DAN safety tag, and the DAN incident and dive profile database.

Michelle Littlewood has been DAN’s accounting officer working behind the scenes for more than 15-years. All great organisations rely on competent staff who can take care of all the daily financial administration tasks.

Laurel is an Emergency Medical Technologist and is responsible for supporting the DAN medical information and emergency hotline during office hours. She has many years’ experience working at Netcare’s call centre and continues to works closely with Netcare when further assistance or evacuation is required. She ensures that DAN members have a uniquely personal experience when accessing DAN’s emergency and medical services. She provides important quality assurance and continuity of care.

Sel-Marie is in charge of DAN membership services administration. She is the go-to person for membership enquiries. Her pledge is to ensure that DAN membership applications are processed within 48 hours, but her goal is to beat that whenever she and her team can do so.. Sel-Marie’s strength is in her ability to multi-task and to balance workloads with a positive attitude and team approach.

Nicky is a qualified scuba diver and instructor. She worked at several scuba operations in Mozambique, Malawi and South Africa. She qualified as an instructor in 1999 and is currently a certified NAUI instruct. She was also employed in the national and daily media industry as a photojournalist and feature writer. She is DAN Southern Africa’s marketing and social media person.

Dr Frans Cronjé is the founder of DAN Southern Africa. Following his maxim that “success without succession is failure” he passed on the baton of managing director to Francois Burman in 2011. It remains a source of great joy to him to see how DAN continues to grow. He is happy to offer ongoing support wherever his 20 years plus of diving and hyperbaric expertise may be of value.

Dr Mike Marshall is the medical director for the St Augustine’s Hyperbaric Medicine Centre. He has supported the DAN hotline as a diving medical doctor since 2002.

Dr Lourens de Kock is one of the partners in a busy diving, aviation and maritime medical practice in Cape Town.

Dr Gary Morris is a general medical practitioner from Scottburgh, KwaZulu-Natal.

Dr Ajit Daya currently work in a Cape Town based group private practice covering aviation, diving, occupational health, immigration and travel medicine.  He previously worked in SAMHS for the SA Navy in Underwater and Occupational Health, holding post graduate qualifications in both fields.  He has experience in both military and commercial diving as well as hyperbaric medicine.

Dr Blanche Andrews completed her BSc (Hons) degree in underwater medicine and previously worked as a submarine and diving doctor for the SA Navy/SAMHS. She currently specialises in occupational medicine at Stellenbosch University.

Dr LaDonna Davids is an Underwater and Occupational Medicine Practitioner practicing in Simon's Town, Cape Town. She completed her postgraduate degree in Underwater Medicine, Diploma in Occupational Medicine and Hyperbaric Medicine (HBO) at the University of Stellenbosch. She has many years experience in both Diving and Submarine Medicine with extensive knowledge of the Maritime and
Offshore Industry. Dr Davids has a special interest in Aesthetic Medicine and Anti-Aging having completed her Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine at The American
Academy of Aesthetic Medicine (AAAM).

Dr Evert Bouwer has completed his MBChB degree, dive medicine and level 2 operational support qualifications. He is a travel health practitioner and a general practitioner in Durbanville, Cape Town. 

Hey, I’m  Dr Nick Park-Ross and I’m from Durban. I’m excited to be a part of the DAN team! I enjoy the outdoor life and you can sign me up for any water sport especially if it’s in the ocean.  I particularly enjoy paddle boarding,  surfing and freediving. Professionally, I focus on occupational health, in particular the maritime and diving industries.

Dr Louis van Heerden is qualified in Diving Medicine and has a keen interest in Emergency and Sports Medicine. He is currently working in Remote Medicine and also has experience in Cruise Ship Medicine.

Dr Rob Schneider is qualified in Diving Medicine and has a keen interest in Emergency and Sports Medicine. He is currently working in Remote Medicine and also has experience in Cruise Ship Medicine.

Nikita Werthmann is a qualified Emergency Care Practitioner, currently based in Cape Town as a Flight Paramedic. She is also part of the National Sea Rescue Institute and is one of our DAN emergency hotline agents.

Monique Joubert is one of the DAN emergency hotline agents!

Philip Jones is one of the DAN emergency hotline agents!

Taryn Jones is one of the DAN emergency hotline agents!

Mariette Mertz is one of the DAN emergency hotline agents!

DAN's Emergency Hotline staff members are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to provide information, assist with care coordination and evacuation assistance.