History of DDRC - 30 years and counting

In The Beginning

The Diving Diseases Research Centre or 'DDRC' evolved from a small unit founded in converted boat sheds, run by volunteers at the Fort Bovisand diving school in Plymouth, as a facility to treat divers with decompression sickness (DCS) or 'the bends' as it is often referred to. In 1980 DDRC became a registered charity with a remit to research the effects of the undersea environment on human physiology and to use this information to educate and train the diving industry.
DDRC gradually developed into a fully staffed Hyperbaric Medical Centre. Its objectives expanded to include the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) on problem wounds, as well as educating and training personnel in the medical, clinical and diving industries.

The Move

In 1996 DDRC moved into it's current home on Tamar Science Park adjacent to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. Now known as The Hyperbaric Medical Centre, the facility comprises of a two-storey block of offices, treatment areas and classrooms joined to the purpose built chamber room housing the two Comex chambers which were in use at Fort Bovisand and a new larger Krug multiplace chamber and a monoplace chamber.

Expansion into Wales

More information coming

Current Day

In 2010 DDRC held it's 30th year celebrations, the organisation has certainly come a long way since the early days when the organisation operated from Fort Bovisand.

More information coming soon.