Diabetic Diving Overseas

[Adrian Stabler]

I thought I trawl the seas of travel and medical knowledge out there...

I've just passed my diabetic diver medical (again!), and I'm looking forward to diving soon. What I'd like to know is;

Have you or anyone you know had hassle (disallowed, discriminated against etc) diving because of diabetes? What countries have given you grief (Australia was one such for me)? Also have you come across a definitive list of those countries/regions who allow/bar divers with diabetes?

Really good work gets done on this in the UK, but not all countries are so enlightened - better we all know who dives with diabetes than provoke diabetics into being undrrground divers, so to speak!

[Nigel Hewitt]

Get a PADI form signed off.
Carry lots of photocopies.
That's what most dive centres want and what they understand.

I doubt if you get discriminated against. You try to discuss the problem and the alarm bells ring. The more you talk the easier it is to say no. A nice doctor's stamp on a form works.

[Adrian Stabler]

Thanks Nigel, much appreciated. What's the PADI form that you refer to?

[MSutcliffe]

Tell your UK based insurance company everything.

Tell the dive centres nothing. They (almost) invariably have no real understanding, but think they know it all. just sign their disclamer form and get on with it. They don't *need* to know anyway - they are not responsible for your actions, you are! They are only responsible for their actions.

In case you get admitted to hospital from the dive boat (or anywhere), wear a 'medic-alert' braclet or necklace, and any doc/nurse worth his/her salt will find it - they are known well internationally.

--
MS

[Nigel Hewitt]

Thanks Nigel, much appreciated. What's the PADI form that you refer to?
Sorry.
I assumed you'd know.
It's the one everybody gives you to sign.

http://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/forms/pdf/10063-Ver2-0.pdf

[Adrian Stabler]

Hi MS,

Thanks for your forthright advice, which is pretty much what I expected, and my insurance, through Trailfinders/Campbell Irvine/Chase Parkinson (brilliant, highly recommended) know all about it. They rescued me out of the Sahara after I bust a leg on a desert motorbike trip, so they know me quite well already. I've tried telling 1 or 2 dive centres about being diabetic in the past, to the extent of much hassle, so I'll take your advice. I've got a dive medical certificate anyway. Good advice about the Medicalert bracelet. Sounds like you may have had some experience?

[Adrian Stabler]

Hi Nigel,

Thanks for the link, much appreciated!

I have encountered it before, now I've seen it. I'm on the case.

Many thanks.

[IainC]

Never having done a PADI course, I've never seen that form.
Very interesting, sort of a GP's 'diving medicine crib sheet'
Worth a read.

Iain C.

[Nigel Hewitt]

Never having done a PADI course, I've never seen that form.It's the one they expect overseas so if you give them one with a real doctor's stamp and signature on it they don't care that you have two heads, multiple hearts, antenna, tubular bells and hairy palms, they are happy. They have got the form done and that is what they are supposed to do. Tick. See you on the boat. Next customer please.

These are diving centres we are talking about. They know enough diving medicine to be nervous but not enough to 'decide'. That is how it should be.