Project Oxygen: Abaco Strong’s Lifesaving Mission to Secure Reliable Hyperbaric Care in The Bahamas

A community-driven initiative in The Bahamas is stepping up to address one of the most pressing safety challenges in diving today: the shortage of operational hyperbaric chambers. Local nonprofit Abaco Strong Inc has launched Project Oxygen, a fundraising campaign to equip Abaco’s only hyperbaric chamber with a permanent oxygen generation system, ensuring it can operate independently and respond rapidly in medical emergencies.

The issue could not be more timely. As reported recently by The Scuba News in “Bermuda’s Hyperbaric Chamber Closed Amid Staff Shortage” and “Divers Be Aware: The Crisis Continues in Emergency Hyperbaric Treatment Availability”, many regions around the world are struggling to maintain these essential facilities. For divers suffering from decompression sickness, or for patients requiring oxygen therapy for wounds, infections, or carbon monoxide poisoning, delays in treatment can mean the difference between recovery and lifelong injury.

Abaco’s chamber, located at the Integrated Medical Centre in Marsh Harbour, is one of only a handful in the Caribbean region capable of treating such cases. However, it currently depends on imported oxygen cylinders that must be refilled off-island, leaving the system vulnerable to supply interruptions and limiting its readiness for back-to-back emergencies.

Project Oxygen aims to resolve this by funding a self-sustaining oxygen generator system, allowing the chamber to operate continuously and safely. The technology will not only enhance diver safety but also expand access to medical oxygen for the wider community across Abaco, strengthening the island’s overall healthcare resilience.

“Every diver knows that access to a functioning chamber can save lives,” says the team at Abaco Strong. “But beyond diving, this system supports the entire island’s medical capacity. It’s an investment in safety, sustainability and self-reliance.”

Abaco Strong has been instrumental in rebuilding and supporting local infrastructure since the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. The group’s mission extends from sustainable agriculture to youth empowerment, and now, through Project Oxygen, into critical healthcare support.

This initiative comes at a pivotal moment. As The Scuba News’ recent coverage has shown, hyperbaric chamber closures are not isolated events but part of a growing global concern for diver safety. The Abaco project offers a hopeful example of how local action and community partnerships can fill the gaps left by declining medical infrastructure worldwide.

To support this vital cause and help secure the future of hyperbaric treatment in The Bahamas, visit the official fundraising page and donate to Project Oxygen. Every contribution brings Abaco closer to a fully operational, lifesaving system, ready when it is needed most.