Divers Medical Questionnaire

[Dave H]

For my 40th birthday, my wife is offering me a diving course in the Caribbean whilst on holiday . I appreciate that I am on the BSAC forum and the course will be PADI however I am sure that the medical standards will be the same and as such value the opinions of those who dive, please.

I have looked at the BSAC & PADI medical questionnaires and have unfortunately have to answer 'yes' to several questions.

1.I have a slight 'wheeze' (smoker) particularly in the morning and about 10 years ago for a short period was prescribed both the blue and brown inhalors for what was considered asthma which I used for the first 6 months only but since then have no prescibed medication for the last 9 or so years. I recently did a peak flow which averaged 400.

2.I broke the coccyx in my lower back 6 years ago although I still get the odd 'twinge' it does not stop me undertaking other activites including dinghy sailing.

3. I have suffered sinusitus on several occasions but have no problems popping my ears although this has never been tried in diving.

I am not a particularly fit person (6'3'' & 15 stone) and regret that I am more a couch potato that an athlete, although not a 'beached whale.'

Where do I stand with regard to completing medical questionairres and where do I go from here (apart from the swimming pool!)

Any advice would be welcomed. If it is considered that I am fit enough to undertake the course safely and enjoy it, I hope it will lead on to taking up the sport here in the UK.

[David G]

It is probably best to contact a medical referee for advice.
You will find a list here:

http://www.bsac.org/page/101/medical-referees.htm

Hope that helps a little.

David.

[Ben Panter]

Hi Dave,

I'm afraid with your medical history probably the only next step is to contact a medical referee and talk to them. Often they're happy to chat on the phone and will be able to offer you advice on whether it is safe for you to dive - at the end of the day that is what is important.

I'm a diving asthmatic, and wheezing was explained to me as mucus in the aveloii - the important bits of your lung. If air gets trapped in there by the mucus it can be very bad news when you're ascending and the air expands.

Find a medical referee from the UK Sports Diving Medicine Council (http://www.uksdmc.co.uk/main/Medical%20referees.htm) and see what they say.

If that is not sucessful, have a look at snorkelling - esp. in the Caribbean that can be an excellent choice - here's some photos I took snorkelling there a few years ago (http://www.roe.ac.uk/~bdp/diving/bocas/).

Good luck,

Ben

[Keith Lawrence]

Hi Dave - I think you may have some problems with this one. Have you decided where you would like to go? Because the best advice I can offer is to contact them and ask them what they will accept. In the UK we would insist that you saw a medical referee (link in the forum heading) and they would give you a certificate of fitness.

However... don't assume that this will be accepted in the Caribbean! Some years back I went to Sandals in St Lucia with my (now ex) wife, she wanted to do a resort dive. As she was slightly asthmatic we went to a UK medical referee and got her a certificate of fitness. The dive shop initially refused to accept it.

That's why I suggest contacting the dive shop, see what they would like you to do.

HTH

Keith L

[Nigel Hewitt]

However... don't assume that this will be accepted in the Caribbean! Some years back I went to Sandals in St Lucia with my (now ex) wife, she wanted to do a resort dive. As she was slightly asthmatic we went to a UK medical referee and got her a certificate of fitness. The dive shop initially refused to accept it.I have to have a medical every year due to complications from a previous hobby and I make sure I turn up with a copy of the PADI form. It always gets signed along with the UKSDM one my insurers and club like but when a PADI shop passes me a form I pass them back a photo-copy - it looks like what they expect, it has a Doctor's signature and stamp justifying the list of problems and they are happy. It's a simple trick and saves a dive shop having to try and make a decision about medical matters, something they are not really tooled up to do.

A web search will turn the form up in moments.

[Dave H]

Thank-you all for you replies and will phone 'my local' medical referee listed.

Keith just out of interest, I am going to the Dominican Republic in 3 weeks where I believe there are several dive schools one of which is at the hotel. I had hoped to undertake the Open Water course and convert it to BSAC on return.

Obviously I need to speak with the medical referee in the first instance (is there normally a charge for that?) Am I right is saying that if I answer 'yes' to anything on the questionairre it will necessitate a medical in order to obtain the 'fit to dive' slip (or told barred from diving.) Just for instance he is happy talking to me over the phone, how will I get the completed fit form, will it require a charge for completion of forms or a visit to him.

I must sound a pain and sorry for being a nuisance, I haven't been in this situation before.

[paul_c]

off topic i know buy where are you going in the dom rep? i dived in suura bay on the north coast near playa dorado and puerta plata and it was fantastic if a little expensive. and had issues with the dive school/ companie i was with.

[Keith Lawrence]

Hi Dave

No, you are not being a nuisance - it was a damn good question actually! The only person who can now correctly answer your questions is the medical referee. There may be some cost as you are taking the doctors time but it is money well spent, I believe that it is possible to clear some conditions by telephone but if there is any doubt at all they will call you in for a proper medical.

Nigel gave a good tip as well - get a PADI medical form signed at the same time. With that little lot in place the very worst that will probably happen is that they may wish to send you to the local witch doctor out there for his signature.

Good luck Dave and we hope to catch you on your return as a qualified diver. Ben's right as well, in case you cant dive just snorkelling is brilliant - when tropical I tend to spend much more time snorkelling that I do diving.

Keith L

[TerryH]

For my 40th birthday, my wife is offering me a diving course in the Caribbean whilst on holiday . I appreciate that I am on the BSAC forum and the course will be PADI however I am sure that the medical standards will be the same and as such value the opinions of those who dive, please.

I have looked at the BSAC & PADI medical questionnaires and have unfortunately have to answer 'yes' to several questions.

1.I have a slight 'wheeze' (smoker) particularly in the morning and about 10 years ago for a short period was prescribed both the blue and brown inhalors for what was considered asthma which I used for the first 6 months only but since then have no prescibed medication for the last 9 or so years. I recently did a peak flow which averaged 400.

2.I broke the coccyx in my lower back 6 years ago although I still get the odd 'twinge' it does not stop me undertaking other activites including dinghy sailing.

3. I have suffered sinusitus on several occasions but have no problems popping my ears although this has never been tried in diving.

I am not a particularly fit person (6'3'' & 15 stone) and regret that I am more a couch potato that an athlete, although not a 'beached whale.'

Where do I stand with regard to completing medical questionairres and where do I go from here (apart from the swimming pool!)

Any advice would be welcomed. If it is considered that I am fit enough to undertake the course safely and enjoy it, I hope it will lead on to taking up the sport here in the UK.


To be honest with that history and the possibilty of disapointment on the
day I would pre-empt any disclaimer hassles and get a medical.

As others have said there is the UKSDMC medical refferees forms
downloadable on here, but I would also get hold of the actual PADI ones,
They are very simple and I'm sure the same Doc will sign both.

But to give you an idea checkout the attachment.

HTH :D

[Chris Cherrington]

... Am I right is saying that if I answer 'yes' to anything on the questionairre it will necessitate a medical in order to obtain the 'fit to dive' slip (or told barred from diving.) ...

Yes, its only about 40 quid. You have already said yes so you might as well just go do the medical IMO. Get both the UK sports diver certificate and the PADI one - they are just photocopied forms and the doc will sign (or refuse) both.

Chris

[Rod Bateman]

All you need is to take a PADI medical form to your GP and if he will sign you off as fit to dive then PADI will accept that. If you PM me your email address I can send you the PADI form in PDF if that is any help.

Rod

[Chris Cherrington]

All you need is to take a PADI medical form to your GP and if he will sign you off as fit to dive then PADI will accept that. If you PM me your email address I can send you the PADI form in PDF if that is any help.

Rod

Mmm... this may be all that is needed but I would advise against it. Most GPs do not have the knowledge to advise on scuba diving matter. A UKSDMC member is the person to talk to. I also recall a gentleman on here that was quoted £100 by his GP while £40 is nearer the mark for a dive med.

Self-certification also allows the option of blatent dishonesty saving a further 40 quid at the risk of DCI or worse...... I do not advise that route either.

Chris

[Rod Bateman]

I also recall a gentleman on here that was quoted £100 by his GP while £40 is nearer the mark for a dive med.


My GP does them for nothing as he is a diver.

I personally need an HSE one so go to Dr Edens at St Johns Wood.

[Richard Whitcombe]

I was told to expect £80 and in the end got charged £10 for the PADI medical.

(FWIW my doctor happens to have one of the medical referees working there and he did the medical)

[Dave H]

Thank you all once again. With only ten days to go to holiday, I have decided not to rush this through and try my hand at snorkelling whilst on holiday.

On return (in the Spring) I intend to go for a medical and join the local dive school/club and take my time in training. I have made a few tentative enquiries to that effect.

Many thanks to all of you for your help.

[beglobal]

I also think you should talk to a medical referee... :rolleyes:

[Dave H]

Hello all

Got checked out by my GP, got the thumbs up, went on holiday had a fabulous time, went to the diving school which was very good (and the instructors' very patient! (so was the wife!!)), did the SD parts 1-3 and then decided to do parts 4&5, completed the course and came home with a PADI OW certificate.

Thanks to all for the advice and getting me started.

Dave

[Tony F]

Hello all

Got checked out by my GP, got the thumbs up, went on holiday had a fabulous time, went to the diving school which was very good (and the instructors' very patient! (so was the wife!!)), did the SD parts 1-3 and then decided to do parts 4&5, completed the course and came home with a PADI OW certificate.

Thanks to all for the advice and getting me started.

Dave

Congratulations, well done :)