261311
Contributor
So, I hadn't dived in decades and wanted to get recertified. PADI application said I needed to get a doctor's permission. Now, I'm a very healthy 59 YO but my doctor is a fricking nervous nellie. Conversation went like this:
me: Hey, I want to take a SCUBA class, would you please sign this form.
nervous nellie doc: are you nuts, you're 60.
me: let's not get ahead of ourselves here, I want to go diving
nnd: how about a glass bottom boat?
me: I want to see the fishies.
nnd: how about just snorkling?
me: doc...
nnd: have you heard of SNUBA?
me: DOC...
nnd: ok, but you'll need a stress test (this is the guy that straps me into a CAT machine at the drop of a hat)
me: sigh, ok.
$2100 of tests later ($1400 out of my pocket, yikes) I got my signature and now possess a PADI OW cert. The nnd had ordered all sorts of extra stress tests. To add some insult, my doc is about 60 lbs overweight and I am in pretty good shape. Maybe time for a new doctor...
Does he even know what Scuba involves for stresses on the body? I believe the doctor is there to investigate if you're bottom line mentally ready and physically fit (especially related to cardio and respiratory), not treat you like an 89 year old cancer patient. New doc dude.