Malta and Spain no longer require medicals

[Bretagne]

Glad to hear it. France seem to be going the opposite way and now have a one year medical requirement, plus a €46 licence. Great plan for attracting tourists no?

Chris

Medical certificate yes (valid one year), license no. Only insurance is compulsory. But it is possible that some operators only sell the insurance which is attached to the license (which is an adhesion to the diving federation, not a diving authorisation). Which is a very bad commercial operation, I know that it is practised, but there is nothing in the law which makes it compulsory... as long as you have an insurance which is valid in France.
And the only compulsory insurance is the one which protect the people that you could injured. Not the one which protects yourself;

 

[Peter McGuinness]

Bretagne,
thanks for clearing that up! I may be diving in provence in a few weeks and I had no idea about these special requirements (i'm on to the guy who invited me to let me know if there is anything else I don't know that I don't know).

What qualifies as a medical certificate for diving, and how do I go about getting one? Is this something I would have to get in France or do I need to go to my doctor here in the US (which would cost *considerably* more than the phantom fee which was quoted earlier!)

Thanks for any more info you can give me, such as French diving operators attitude towards foreign qualifications, for instance.

cheers,
Peter

 

[Bretagne]

Normally, a visit to a general doctor in France costs 20 Euros. If it is a lot less expensive than in the US, you can maybe organise an appointment as soon as you arrive (provided that your friend finds someone who speaks English, which is certainly possible). It is not compulsory to have a certificate from a specialist if you do not engage in certification (I suppose you won't).
Now if you and your friend are able to organise dives without going through a commercial or associative structure, and you dive by yourselves, nothing is compulsory, diving is not regulated in this case.

 

[julianmb]

Malta and Spain have finnaly dropped the requirement to hold a current dive medical, you can now self certify at the dive operator. Malta are using the HSE UK system, not sure about Spain

Also Malta have now legalised Nitrox for Rec diving, operators are reported to be fitting the eqiupment now

Thought this info may help someone

Untrue as far as Spain goes i'm afraid, it is still necessary to have a medical, not self cert, no more than 2 years old. I'd be interested to hear where you were told its not necessary?? I know that many centres ignore it for fear of losing trade, but that doesn't mean the law has changed. is is also not allowed to dive under 16 in Spain, whereas in Catalonia they have recently changed the law to allow any age WITH PARENTS CONSENT. In the event of an accident i guess it will depend on whether you get a spanish or catalan judge...

 

[simondancer]

BSAC HQ told me the law in spain requiring medicals was scrapped in January so who knows? Anyway I've just got back from Spain and found a centre that didn't require them so I'm happy.

 

[julianmb]

BSAC HQ told me the law in spain requiring medicals was scrapped in January so who knows?

Well i have just been on the phone to the local Guardia Civil corporal who is responsible for all the diving centres of the Costa Brava, and he tells me quite catagorically that NOTHING has changed in this respect, you still require a diving medical certificate no more than 2 years old issued by a doctor to dive in Spain.

If BSAC think it has changed, perhaps they would be so kind as to inform us of the Official State Bulletin in which it was published?

 

[Paul Evans]

Untrue as far as Spain goes i'm afraid, it is still necessary to have a medical, not self cert, no more than 2 years old. I'd be interested to hear where you were told its not necessary?? I know that many centres ignore it for fear of losing trade, but that doesn't mean the law has changed. is is also not allowed to dive under 16 in Spain, whereas in Catalonia they have recently changed the law to allow any age WITH PARENTS CONSENT. In the event of an accident i guess it will depend on whether you get a spanish or catalan judge...

Self cert in Spain Care off Diver Mag. and BSAC, oh........... and a couple of people who have been

 

[julianmb]

Self cert in Spain Care off Diver Mag. and BSAC, oh........... and a couple of people who have been

LET ME TELL YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN :

SELF CERT IS NOT WORTH ANYTHING IN SPAIN AND BOTH THE DIVER AND THE DIVING CENTRE ARE BREAKING THE LAW. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT YOU WILL FIND YOUR INSURANCE INVALID, AND FACING A LARGE BILL FOR HOSPITAL TREATMENT, OR WORSE IN THE EVENT OF KILLING OR INJURING SOMEONE, AND THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRE RISKS A PRISON SENTENCE. I HAVE SENT AN EMAIL TO BSAC TO ADVISE THEM OF THIS, UNTIL NOW I HAVE NO REPLY.

Is it worth it to save 20 or 30 quid??

If people would talk about facts and not rumours, half truths and bull***t it would help all concerned.

 

[julianmb]

Reply to my email to Diver Magazine:

Julian

Thank you for your email.

In our September issue we erronously said that Spanish requirements for visiting divers to show current diving medical certification had been replaced by acceptance of self-declaration forms on fitness to dive.
But in our November issue news pages we corrected this, quoting Helen Curgenven of S'Algar Diving, who told us: "All divers require a diving medical from a doctor and diving insurance."
After conversations with other operators we added that it would seem, however, that dive centres in different parts of Spain follow the guidelines of their training agencies and local regulations.
We also pointed out that, to play safe, when holidaying abroad divers are advised to check in advance with their centre about current legislation.

Sincerely

Paul Fenner

 

[Paul Evans]

Reply to my email to Diver Magazine:

Julian

Thank you for your email.

In our September issue we erronously said that Spanish requirements for visiting divers to show current diving medical certification had been replaced by acceptance of self-declaration forms on fitness to dive.
But in our November issue news pages we corrected this, quoting Helen Curgenven of S'Algar Diving, who told us: "All divers require a diving medical from a doctor and diving insurance."
After conversations with other operators we added that it would seem, however, that dive centres in different parts of Spain follow the guidelines of their training agencies and local regulations.
We also pointed out that, to play safe, when holidaying abroad divers are advised to check in advance with their centre about current legislation.

Sincerely

Paul Fenner

Well this is interesting, I too, took the trouble to E-mail Diver, this is what I got, My question and his reply :11:

Hi ****
>
> Could you please help, Diver published a article about medicals being no
> longer neserccery in Malta and Spain and you can now self certify, Is this
> true of both countries? There seems to be some confusion as to Spain??
> Please Help
>
> Thanx
>
> Paul Evans
>
>
It is true. However some dive centres want to maintain the revenue stream
that the old way provided.

**

Well well well.
So we have Bsac, Diver, People on this board, more on another board and now a possible explantion why you are SHOUTING SO LOUD :06:

I did not have permission to reprint this E-mail so I have covered the persons name, Somebody who is highly respected in the UK and known through Divernet around the world. I'am happy to pass the original E-mail to a Mod if that is required.

Julianmb, please fill in your profile.............it may help :06:

I have been told,

"Earlier this year the EU issued a directive to harmonise Scuba Diving regulations within the EU, Malta and Spain were the two effected by this"

If this is true, I don't know!! But I'll start a search