medical exam nessicary?

[DrJenn86]

Is it nessicary to have a medical exam before diving for the first time?

My dad recons that back in the dark ages when he was a regular diver everybody had to have a medical before they were allowed to dive, plus a repeat exam every few years. Is he making this up? Cause non of the dive schools I've contacted at home (England) or abroad have mentioned anything about a medical certificate. I suppose it does makes sense since there are plenty of people walking around undetected conditions like PFO. I'm only 19 and perfectly healthy aside from being a little underweight according to my BMI, it is advisable to have a medical exam before I dive?

Thanks.

 

[SubMariner]

Is it nessicary to have a medical exam before diving for the first time?

My dad recons that back in the dark ages when he was a regular diver everybody had to have a medical before they were allowed to dive, plus a repeat exam every few years. Is he making this up? Cause non of the dive schools I've contacted at home (England) or abroad have mentioned anything about a medical certificate. I suppose it does makes sense since there are plenty of people walking around undetected conditions like PFO. I'm only 19 and perfectly healthy aside from being a little underweight according to my BMI, it is advisable to have a medical exam before I dive?

Thanks.

In some countries you are required to have an examination prior to enrolling in a scuba course. Meanwhile, if you answer "yes" to any of the questions on the medical questionaire (required by all agencies) you WILL be required to have a physician's approval to learn to scuba.

Bonne chance,

 

[Rick Murchison]

In the States...
A medical clearance is required, but not necessarily from a doctor. What is required is a medical self assessment. The agencies have a short questionaire designed to determine if you have anything a Doc needs to evaluate - if you do, then a medical clearance from a Doc is required. Otherwise your own assessment of your own health suffices.
That's for open water.
When you go for more advanced courses (Rescue is the first level, if memory serves) then a Doctor's clearance is required.
England may have other rules.
Rick

 

[Otter]

PADI uses the RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council) Medical Questionaire...which I believe has been adopted by a number of agencies. There are somwhere around 30-40 questions that are asked. If you honestly REPLY YES to any of the questions, then you must have a Physican's release. Just because you reply YES does automatically not mean you can't dive.

Edit: Addition to the Above. With PADI, a medical release is required for everyone for Divemaster and above. AOW, Rescue, and the various specialties require the same form.

 

[SubMariner]

In PADI a Medical Statement MUST be filled out with every course taken. As I mentioned previously, a physician's approval is not required unless the diver answers "yes" to any of the questions on this form.

However, at DM and Instructor, the diver must also present a signed form from their physician that they have had a physical within the past year and that the doctor finds them fit for scuba.

The appropriate forms (and guidelines) are all available from the PADI Instructor Manual.