Medical and insurance

[Steve A]

Hi, we are new divers and signed a disclaimer sort of medical form for ssi open water. Now we are returning to Sharm for some diving what kind of medical do we need? Is there a form we can download to give our local gp (doctor) or is it a case of another disclaimer type of form from the divecentre? My wife is a smoker so is it different? We are going to get DAN insurance so want to know the correct Protocol to save any problems in the event of a claim.

 

[mselenaous]

In general, you should only need to complete the medical statement anytime you take a training course. If there are any "yes" answers to the questionnaire your physician will need to sign off approving your diving activities. If you are taking multiple courses through the same instructor & dive center, that physician's approval is good for up to one year.

Each agency has a slightly different medical form but essentially cover the same information. I recommend contacting the dive operator that you will be diving with to verify what they will require. Chances are they have a link to the forms posted on their website in the training section. If you think you might be interested in taking a course of any kind, like Advanced Open Water, or a specialty course like Fish ID or Digital Underwater Photography, you will need a current medical. It can't hurt to travel with it completed, in case you make a spur of the moment decision while on your trip.

I teach in a resort destination and have had divers become interested in taking a specialty class while diving on the boat here, but could not until the had a medical release from their physician back at home.

Have fun and dive safe.

 

[Steve A]

So am I right in assuming if we just want to dive and we are not on any course then we don't need a medical to dive? Do you not need one for DAN insurance? thanks Steve

 

[faze]

I don't believe you need one for Dan Insurance.

It can also depend on where you dive, in Spain, for example, you must have a current medical form by Law (there are regional differences as to whether this is a self cert. or signed by a doctor) and current means within 24 months if you are under 40 and 12 months if over.

For ease I always have a doctor sign mine off.

That said, I don't believe not having one would nullify insurance, it's just that a dive centre may refuse to book you in as they won't be covered.

 

[Steve A]

Cheers

 

[uncfnp]

Just signed up for DAN insurance. No form or health questions. Must be a member of DAN.

 

[RJP]

Hi, we are new divers and signed a disclaimer sort of medical form for ssi open water. Now we are returning to Sharm for some diving what kind of medical do we need? Is there a form we can download to give our local gp (doctor) or is it a case of another disclaimer type of form from the divecentre? My wife is a smoker so is it different? We are going to get DAN insurance so want to know the correct Protocol to save any problems in the event of a claim.

never a bad idea to bring a completed/current medical for with you when traveling on a dive holiday. Have heard of people being told they couldn't dive without one by the odd resort location. Especially if you may have to answer "yes" to any of the questions.

 

[Quero]

Never hurts to have a signed form just in case you feel like taking a course. I went with a customer to a place here in Thailand that insisted on the medical questionnaire for just fun dives, and my customer had had a PFO closure, so they wanted a doctor's clearance, but of course there was no way to get him cleared at that place. Oh man, what a hassle to talk those folks into letting me be responsible for him in terms of liability releases! In the end, I had to contract for the services and subcontract to my customer. As for DAN, this year they asked me for a proof of a physical. I think it is a new company policy here for DAN AP, and probably due to an age cut-off they've got.

 

[Autumnlight]

Not sure if this is of any help/interest, but The Post Office (UK) standard Travel Insurance covers diving to 30m.

Single Trip Travel Insurance from the Post Office

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/sites/default/files/6788_TI policy_Basic_online_tag.pdf