PADI Divemaster Medical (UK)

[teas]

I have been trying to book my medical over the last month but I keep getting referred between GP's as they do not think they are qualified to do them

So my question is, can any GP perform fit to dive medicals - or do they need to be specialised doctors in diving?

 

[Hawkwood]

Sorry if this seems like the obvious question, but can your Instructor not provide you with the names of GP's who will do them?

 

[Quero]

A GP should be able to do it. Have you showed the entire 6-page document to the physicians? The good thing about this document is that it provides references for a doctor to seek out if s/he should find an anomaly in the course of the physical examination and needs to evaluate the impact of the anomaly on the diver's health. When I did my own DM course, I spoke to my GP who expressed some reservations about her background being sufficient for what I needed. But when she saw the form she relaxed about it. In my own case, as a migraine sufferer, she needed only to gain a deeper understanding of the potential risks of migraine and scuba and nothing else, so it wasn't a huge amount of extra work for her to do the reading and sign off.

 

[Hawkwood]

A GP should be able to do it. Have you showed the entire 6-page document to the physicians? The good thing about this document is that it provides references for a doctor to seek out if s/he should find an anomaly in the course of the physical examination and needs to evaluate the impact of the anomaly on the diver's health. When I did my own DM course, I spoke to my GP who expressed some reservations about her background being sufficient for what I needed. But when she saw the form she relaxed about it. In my own case, as a migraine sufferer, she needed only to gain a deeper understanding of the potential risks of migraine and scuba and nothing else, so it wasn't a huge amount of extra work for her to do the reading and sign off.

Cool. I was concerned there might have been some differences regarding the Medical Questionnaire and references in the UK (or other Regions for that matter), vs. what I am familiar with in Canada and the US.

Bill

 

[Edward3c]

Cool. I was concerned there might have been some differences regarding the Medical Questionnaire and references in the UK (or other Regions for that matter), vs. what I am familiar with in Canada and the US.

Bill

As your going to be working under the Diving at Work Regulations you must have a HSE (Health and Safety Executive) medical, see this HSE document. You might also want to read this document. which contains:

Recreational Diving

The class of Recreational Diving(37) is defined as diving inland in Great Britain and inshore within United Kingdom territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain (generally 12 nautical miles from the low water line) which is covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001(38) where the equipment and techniques are confined to free swimming using SCUBA in support of:
(a) the instruction and/or guidance of persons diving for recreational diving, that is diving carried out by a person for recreational purposes whilst not at work;
(b) recreational journalism undertaken for commissions and producing.

 

[teas]

I'll be doing my DM in another country, and I'm not sure who my instructor is yet. I won't be working as a DM in the UK so the HSE medical isn't needed.

I was just curious as I've been passed from pillar to post. Thanks for all replies.

 

[Edward3c]

I'll be doing my DM in another country, and I'm not sure who my instructor is yet. I won't be working as a DM in the UK so the HSE medical isn't needed.

I was just curious as I've been passed from pillar to post. Thanks for all replies.

In which case this is the Self Deceleration Medical for divers in the UK. Though some still like to use the PADI liability release which is invalid in the UK.

If you find yourself on the Scottish West coast come and have a dive.

 

[teas]

If you find yourself on the Scottish West coast come and have a dive.

If I get round to manning up and getting my Dry Suit training I may take you up on that offer!

 

[Bubble Junky]

You should be able to get a medical done in whichever country you choose to do your training. Once you know where you will be completing the training, ask the dive centre for their advise. I have worked on small islands with no doctors before, and when people turned up without a medical it would then involve a time-consuming, expensive (well, more expensive than it needed to be) trip to a bigger island/mainland etc...

This should be easy enough to get done in the UK too. Do you have the full 6 page document that Quero mentioned ? If not PM me and I can help you with that...

 

[DevonDiver]

The full (6 page) PADI medical is available here: http://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/forms/pdf/10063-ver2-0.pdf

That's all that is needed for most parts of the world. As Edward stated, a further - more comprehensive - medical is required in the UK, as diving pros are covered under HSE legislation and, consequently need to complete the HSE Diving Medical (chest x-rays etc).