About Us

The Diving Diseases Research Centre (DDRC), now sited at both its purpose built headquarters the 'Hyperbaric Medical Centre' on the Tamar Science Park adjacent to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and at Spire Cardiff Hospital in Wales, is a charity which aims to promote and take part in the medical treatment, training and research associated with the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of diving diseases and other medical problems. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves patients breathing 100% oxygen while inside a pressurised treatment chamber.
DDRC was founded in 1980 and relocated it's operational HQ to the Hyperbaric Medical Centre, a purpose built research and treatment facility in 1996. DDRC core activity is based around:

• The use of 6 different hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers (4 in Plymouth, 2 in Wales) to treat a variety of medical conditions including divers with decompression illness (DCI) or 'the bends' as it is often called. Medical conditions treated include:
  • decompression illness (DCI)
  • carbon monoxide poisoning
  • smoke inhalation & cyanide poisoning
  • gas gangrene
  • diabetic wounds
  • exceptional blood loss
  • radiation tissue damage
  • skin grafts and burns
  • osteomyelitis
  • delayed radiation injury
  • necrotising fasciitis (flesh eating bug)

• Conducting research into diving diseases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and other medical conditions with respect to the hyperbaric environment.

• Educating and training people from many different backgrounds in the uses and treatment associated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The DDRC training department runs a wide variety of courses for our in house staff and external students. Groups who have recently undergone training at DDRC include:
  • NHS Staff - Doctors, Nurses etc.
  • BBC Film Crews (Including The Blue Planet, War Wrecks of the Coral Sea)
  • British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit
  • Royal Navy
  • European Technical Dive Centre
  • Hong Kong Fire Service
  • United Arab Emirates military