Fitness to Dive Medical Guide

The underwater world is amazing, but you need to be aware of your health and fitness before you get in the water. Dive medicals are a critical assessment to make sure you can safely enjoy this sport. In this guide, we’ll cover the importance of fitness to dive medicals, types of exams, common medical conditions that affect diver fitness, tips for preparing for your exam and legal requirements and responsibilities for divers and dive operators. Dive in!

Diving and hyperbaric medicine is the assessment of all general and specific risks associated with diving and the range of applications for diving including recreational and professional.

Dive medicals play a crucial role in ensuring safety and managing risk for would be scuba divers. These assessments evaluate a divers physical and psychological abilities to ensure they meet the Australian Standards AS 4005.1 for recreational divers.

Medical practitioners assess a diver’s fitness to identify and manage health issues. So divers can dive with confidence and peace of mind.

Hyperbaric medicine is a specialty of medicine that uses increased atmospheric pressure to treat various medical conditions, including decompression sickness and other diving-related illnesses. In dive medicals, hyperbaric medicine plays a big part in determining a diver's fitness to dive. Hyperbaric medicine, with its understanding of the human body’s reaction to pressure changes, helps medical practitioners identify potential risks and make informed decisions about a diver's ability to dive safely.

There are three types of dive medicals: entry-level training medicals, continuing education and certificated divers, and occupational divers. Each type of medical assesses the diver’s fitness for a specific type of diving so the diver is well prepared to handle the unique challenges and risks of that type of diving.

In Australia, dive medicals must comply with the Australian Standard for Dive Medical, which assesses the diver’s physical and psychological capabilities to ensure they meet the Australian Standard AS 4005.1 for recreational divers. This standard is based on the South Pacific Underwater Medical Society (SPUMS) dive medical examination, so divers meet a high standard of medical fitness worldwide.

Medical practitioners must have a level of training approved by the Australian Standards to perform dive medicals. Not meeting this requirement would be noncompliance with the law. A dive medical must be performed less than 12 months before diving so the diver’s fitness is current and relevant to their current health.

By having these high medical standards, Australia ensures the safety of its divers as they go underwater.

There are different types of dive medicals each for different types of diving and diver experience. This section covers the following types of dive medicals:

Understanding the different types of medicals and their requirements will help you be prepared and medically fit for your diving.

The dive medical questionnaire is a big part of the medical process and ensures divers provide accurate information about their health and medical history. Resort divers for example must fill up a medical declaration and undergo an assessment to determine if it’s reasonable for them to dive. Filling up false information on the questionnaire can be a hazard to yourself, instructors and other divers.

Please be honest and thorough in filling out the questionnaire. Disclose any medical conditions, medications, and prior diving experiences that may affect your ability to dive safely. The information you provide depends on your safety and the safety of those around you.

Entry Level Medicals

As an entry level trainee diver you need to have a dive medical certificate from a doctor stating you are fit to dive. If you have a pre-existing medical condition you will need to have a full dive medical. In some areas like Queensland if you answer yes to any of three questions you will need to have a dive medical. Trainee divers must be at least 12 years old so they have the physical and mental maturity to participate safely in scuba diving activities. The ‘Basic and Advanced Medical Officer Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Course’ covers the essential qualifications and topics for diving and hyperbaric medicine.

Getting a dive medical involves a full health and fitness assessment by a qualified medical practitioner. This is a crucial step in your diving journey and prepares you for the challenges and risks of scuba diving.

Continuing Education and Certificated Divers

Continuing education and certificated divers also have medical requirements, here are the guidelines:

1. A medical declaration for continuing education courses ensures divers are medically fit as they progress in their diving skills and experience.

2. If anything is raised during a medical assessment of a certificated diver, it’s recommended the diver doesn’t dive without getting medical advice first.

3. Medical advice must approve the diver can dive or an instructor or certified assistant must accompany them on each dive.

Continual assessment of a diver’s fitness is key to their safety and others. Updating your medical declaration and getting professional advice when needed is important part of being a certificated diver. Ongoing training in diving and hyperbaric medicine is important for certificated divers safety and fitness.

Occupational Divers

Occupational divers, like commercial and scientific divers, face unique challenges and risks in their jobs. Adhering to dive safety standards, especially the Dive Medical assessment that meets Australian Standard AS4005-1 is crucial for personal safety and risk management. As a result they need to have annual medicals according to the medical guidelines in Australian/New Zealand Standard 2299.1. Before starting training all diving trainees must be assessed by a doctor who is trained in underwater medicine. Occupational divers often do specialized training in diving and hyperbaric medicine to manage the unique challenges and risks they face.

The medical questionnaire for occupational divers helps to identify any health issues that would prevent someone from a career

Medical Conditions that Affect Diver Fitness

Diving is an exciting experience but you need to be aware of the common medical conditions that affect diver fitness. These include ear infections, decompression sickness and the effects of prescription medication and the pill. Diving and hyperbaric medicine plays a big role in understanding and managing these common medical conditions.

This section covers these medical conditions, what are the symptoms, causes and prevention and treatment so you can have a safe and enjoyable diving experience.

Ear Infections and Other ENT Issues

Diving can increase the risk of ear infections and other ENT (ear, nose, and throat) issues due to pressure changes and the presence of water in the ear canal. If left untreated, these issues can result in hearing loss, vertigo, and other complications. There are two common types of ear infections: middle ear infections (otitis media) and outer ear infections (otitis externa).

Utilizing earplugs or other protective devices when diving, avoiding swimming in contaminated water, and keeping your ears dry are methods to prevent ear infections and other ENT issues. Treatment of ear infections typically involves antibiotics or other medications, depending on the cause, and in some cases, surgery may be necessary.

Regular check-ups with a healthcare professional can help catch any potential ENT issues early, ensuring your continued safety and enjoyment while diving.

Decompression Sickness

The bends is a medical condition that can happen when you surface too quickly from a deep dive. The rapid ascent causes a rapid pressure drop and symptoms like joint pain, disorientation, extreme fatigue and breathing difficulties. The main cause of the bends is the rapid pressure drop which can be caused by a faulty dive computer, bad ascent practices or equipment failure.

Preventing the bends:

• Gradual ascent from a dive

• Using a dive computer or other equipment to monitor your ascent rate

• Knowing your own limits and not diving beyond your comfort zone

• Regularly check your dive techniques and equipment

By following these you can reduce the risk of decompression sickness and have a safe dive.

Prescription Medication and Pill

Some prescription medications and the pill can affect a divers fitness. These medications can increase the risk of decompression sickness, barotrauma and cardiac events for divers. Divers need to be aware of the effects of their medications and see a doctor before diving.

When preparing for a dive medical you need to disclose any prescription medications or the pill and any changes in health or medication since the last assessment. This will help your doctor assess your fitness to dive and have a safe dive for yourself and those around you.

Tips for Preparing for Your Dive Medical Examination

Before your dive medical examination is an important part of having a safe and fun dive. Here’s some tips on finding approved medical practitioners who can do your dive exam, collecting your medical records and being transparent about your health and fitness. Understanding the principles of diving and hyperbaric medicine will help you prepare for your dive medical.

By following these tips you’ll be dive exam ready and taking care of your health and safety while diving.

Find Approved Medical Practitioners

Finding approved medical practitioners for dive medicals can be done online or by contacting your local public health department for a list of registered medical officers in your area. When looking for a research-approved medical practitioner, make sure they are ADMA certified and have experience in dive medicals.

Choosing a qualified and experienced medical practitioner is important to get an accurate and thorough dive medical. By finding approved medical practitioners you can be sure your exam will be done by a professional who knows what they are looking for.

Gather Relevant Medical Records

Get your medical records before your dive medical so your doctor can do a proper assessment of your health and fitness to dive. Get all medical records, including previous dive medicals, medical history and any other medical info.

To get your medical records contact your doctor or medical provider. Give them a full and honest medical history so your dive medical can assess your fitness to dive and keep you and those around you safe while diving.

Be Honest

Being honest during your dive medical is key to your safety while diving. Not disclosing any health issues or conditions that may affect your fitness to dive can have serious consequences, decompression illness or other medical emergencies.

During your dive medical be honest about any medical conditions, medications and previous diving experience that may affect your ability to dive safely. If you have any changes to your health or physical condition since your last dive medical tell your doctor or medical provider before the exam.

Your honesty and transparency are key to ensuring a safe and enjoyable diving experience.

Legal Requirements and Responsibilities

Both divers and dive operators have legal requirements and responsibilities regarding dive medical examinations. This section explores the responsibilities of divers in maintaining their medical fitness for diving and the responsibilities of dive operators in ensuring their divers' medical fitness and providing necessary support.

Understanding these legal requirements and responsibilities will help ensure a safe and enjoyable diving experience for all involved.

Diver's Responsibility

As a diver, you must provide full and accurate information about:

• Medical history

• Current health conditions

• Medications you are taking

• Past diving experiences

During a dive medical. You must also disclose any recent illnesses or injuries that may affect your diving.

You must provide full information and follow the advice and recommendations of the examining doctor to be fit to dive.

If you have any changes in health or medication before diving you must inform your doctor or medical provider as it may affect your fitness to dive. Keeping up to date with your medical fitness and disclosing any changes in your health will ensure a safe and enjoyable dive for you and those around you.

Dive Operator’s Responsibility

Dive operators are responsible for:

• Medical evaluations

• Medical assistance

• Divers are aware of any medical conditions that may affect their ability to dive safely.

Dive operators must also provide medical support to divers by giving medical advice, medical assessments and medical equipment. By doing so dive operators can ensure a safe and enjoyable dive for all divers under their care. Dive operators should also provide resources and information on diving and hyperbaric medicine for diver safety.

Conclusion

In summary, knowing the importance of dive medicals, the types of exams, common medical conditions that affect diver fitness and the legal requirements and responsibilities for divers and dive operators is key to a safe and enjoyable dive. Diving and hyperbaric medicine is critical to diver safety and fitness. Follow these tips and guidelines and you can dive into the blue with peace of mind. Dive on!

FAQs

How fit do I need to be to be a diver?

To be a diver you should be able to swim 200m, snorkel 300m and tread water or float for 10 minutes. You should also have good cardiovascular health, a mature attitude and good judgment.

What do they test for in a dive medical?

A Dive Medical is an assessment of a diver’s health covering the heart, lungs, ear, nose and throat, neurological functioning and general health. It’s to identify any potential risks and conditions, with follow-up treatment or referral to a regular GP if required.

What are the medical exclusions for scuba diving?

Due to the risk of unconsciousness, those with spinal cord or brain abnormalities can’t dive. Also those with coronary disease, a cold or congestion, epilepsy, severe medical conditions or under the influence of alcohol or drugs should not dive.

What body type is best for diving?

Divers are better with low body fat and small body size. Therefore an anthropometric profile that includes body size and composition is part of diving fitness.

Where can I find an approved medical practitioner for a dive medical? 

You can search online or contact your local public health organisation for a list of medical officers.