Physical

[daylight]

I have been accepted for a scientific diving project. We will be in very shallow salt water over a three day period. One of the sponsoring institution's criteria is that I have a physical or note from a Doc stating that I am fit to dive. DAN gave me a referral and I am waiting for the Doc to return my call next week.

What does a typical dive physical entail?
Is this something a GP will even do or do I have to go to a diving qualified Doc?

You comments and sage suggestions are appreciated.

DSAO

 

[TexasMike]

This begs a related question from my experience.

I got my o/w cert in Cairns, Australia, and was told when I booked the trip and before I showed up for class that a dive physical was required. This was fairly simple, usual height/weight/bp/resting pulse/some others and a pft to ensure that I was fit enough for diving.

Do the agencies/shops here in the USA require such a thing before a student can start o/w training? If not, any reason why?

 

[jmsdiver]

From my knowledge, training agencies require a medical form to be filled out, stating that the student doesn't have any of the conditions listed. An example would be the PADI medical, which has the student fill out Yes or No to each item on the list. If the student answers Yes to a question then they need a physical assessment from a Nurse Practitioner or Physician. Each person will probably get a different physical depending on who they see and what condition is being tested.

The physical that I received recently consisted of the routine height, weight, and vitals; the physician asked me a few questions about medications and physical condition and history, then listened to my lungs and heart. He signed it without a hitch. However, you may be subjected to a stress test, blood test, and/or pulmonary function test (PFT) as warranted by your physician and possibly the researchers.

I hope that this helps

 

[Rick Murchison]

The RSTC has developed specific guidelines for physicians to evaluate scuba candidates. Those guidelines give the physician a quick overview of diving stress and then list relative and absolute contraindications to diving for cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, otolaryngological, hematological, orthopedic and gastrointestinal systems as well as metabolic, endocrinological and behavioral disorders. It also specifies pregnancy as an absolute contraindication to diving.
The pamphlet is titled "Guidelines for recreational Scuba Diver's physical exam" and is available from your RSTC (IDEA, NASDS, PADI, PDIC, SSI, YMCA) local dive shop. Though not a member of RSTC, NAUI usually goes along, so they probably have the same form - but I don't know for sure.
Rick

 

[scubadoc]

Hello daylight:

The scientific diving standards and form are located at this web site:
http://www.aaus.org/downloads/AAUSSTDS.doc

OSHA has some guidelines for medical exams.
http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshDoc/Directive_data/PER_8-2_4.html

There are also some forms that you might copy on our web sites at:
http://www.scuba-doc.com/medexam.htm
http://www.scuba-doc.com/mdxphys.htm

Best regards for safe diving!
Ern Campbell, MD
Diving Medicine Online
http://www.scuba-doc.com

 

[daylight]

Doc,

Thank you very much.

That was exactly the information that I needed.

Regards,
Larry