Scuba Dive Medical

You will be required to complete a medical questionnaire before participating in any scuba activities as part of our diver management protocol. The purpose of this questionnaire is to determine whether you should be examined by a dive doctor before participating in scuba activities, and is a pre-requisite on all tourist dive boats in Queensland.There may be a pre-existing condition that has not stopped you diving in your own country, but one that Australian laws do not allow; or a new condition may have developed which will affect your safety while diving now.

If you would answer ‘yes’ to any of the conditions listed on the medical questionnaire you will NOT necessarily be disqualified from participating in scuba activities, however this will indicate the need for a medical assessment prior to any dives. No refunds will be offered for uncompleted dives due to medical restrictions. For information on acquiring a valid Dive Medical Certificate,  for any assistance please contact us.

 

Sample Medical Questionnaire for all Scuba Diving Activities

 

SEVERE RISKS

A severe risk condition implies that an individual will be at a substantially elevated risk of serious injury or death compared with the general population, and should not dive.The principle conditions in this category are:

  • Asthma within the last 5 years
  • Recent heart surgery
  • Serious lung or chest disease (particularly where surgery was involved)
  • Epilepsy, fitting, convulsions and seizures, or taking medications to prevent them
  • Diabetes requiring insulin.
  • Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) even after a surgical procedure designed to prevent recurrence
  • Any neurological abnormality where there is a significant probability of unconsciousness
  • Pregnancy

RELATIVE OR TEMPORARY RISKS

The following conditions are termed a relative risk and will cause a moderate increase in risk, which in some instances may be acceptable. A physician is required to make a clinical assessment of the diver to decide whether diving is contraindicated for this category of medical problem. Some of these medical problems may be temporary in nature, and the Dive Medical will determine if and when the diver can be considered fit to dive. On the list of significant conditions that may disqualify you from diving pending a medical assessment are:

  • Breathing issues including frequent or severe attacks of hayfever or allergy, frequent colds, sinusitis or bronchitis
  • Behavioural health, mental or psychological problems (claustrophobia, agrophobia, active psychosis, panic attacks)
  • Recurring complicated migraine headaches whose symptoms or severity impair motor or cognitive function, neurologic manifestations, or taking medications to prevent them
  • Blackouts, fainting or partial loss of consciousness
  • Head injury with loss of consciousness in the past five years
  • Intracranial Tumor or Aneurysm
  • Frequent or severe motion sickness
  • Dysentery or dehydration requiring medical intervention
  • Past dive accidents or decompression sickness
  • Inability to perform moderate exercise
  • Clinically obese
  • Recurrent back problems, or back or spinal surgery
  • Back, arm or leg problems following surgery, injury or fracture
  • High blood pressure or taking medicination to control it
  • Heart attack, heart disease, angina, heart surgery or blood vessel surgery
  • Sinus surgery
  • Ear disease or surgery, recurrent ear problems, hearing loss, or ear-related problems effecting balance
  • Heamophelia, bleeding or other blood disorders
  • Hernia
  • Ulcers or ulcer surgery
  • Colostomy or ileostomy
  • Recreational drug use or alcoholism, or treatment for these in the past five years
  • Regularly taking prescription or non-prescription medications (With the exception of birth control or anti-malarial treatments)

Being over 45 years of age and having one or more of the following:

  • Currently smoke a pipe, cigars or cigarettes
  • Have a high cholesterol level
  • Have a family history of heart attack or stroke
  • Are currently receiving medical care
  • Have high blood pressure
  • Have diabetes mellitus, even if controlled by diet alone

 

PLEASE NOTE – If you are required to get a scuba dive medical examination all dive medical certificates must conform with Australian Medical Standard AS4005-1 and state this clearly on the form. For information on acquiring a valid medical certificate  if you require any assistance please contact us.

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