Dive Medicals

Question:

I just had my yearly physical examination and was wondering if there is a yearly (or every other year) "diving physical"? In other words, if I wanted to make sure I was fit for diving what would I specifically want checked that wasn't looked at in the normal physical?
Larry, Australia.

Answer:

The need for diving medicals has been an ongoing controversy. Many consider them to be unnecessary for most divers and that a comprehensive questionnaire will identify anyone with a medical condition that increases risk, and only the people so identified should have a diving medical. I disagree.

I believe anyone contemplating scuba diving should ideally have a medical with a doctor with special training in diving medicine. No other sport gives such a variety of physical and psychological stresses, so frequently, in such complex combinations and over such short periods of time. The diving population is ever widening in age and fitness level.

A thorough medical with special emphasis on ears, sinuses, lungs and heart is merited. Risk factors for heart disease especially need to be noted and stress tests of the heart performed in anyone with several factors. Many diseases that seem to be irrelevant to diving may indeed have special significance. Any added risk, whether major or minor, can be identified, its implications and ways to minimise it discussed.

This is the true purpose of a diving medical. It's not a question of being fit or unfit but of risk identification, risk minimisation, and risk acceptance or refusal.

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