Scuba diving in Cairns, Australia

[Toni Taft]

I am an insulin dependent diabetic that wants to dive the Great Barrier Reef in February, 2024. I am in good control and will have a PADI medical release and letters from my doctor. When I visited many years ago I was told by a dive shop in Cairns that I would also need a dive physical by a local doctor. I was told a clinic to visit to get this done. When I went to get the physical I was denied seeing a doctor as they said they would not even talk to me as they would not approve diabetics to scuba dive. I had been told by a diver operator in Port Douglas I could dive there using my PADI medical release. I was forced to snorkel on the first day in Cairns as they would not allow me to dive. I called and dove the next two days in Port Douglas.

Has anyone more recent information on diving in Cairns as an insulin dependent diabetic?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[happy-diver]

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[Toni Taft]

Why You Should Ask for Forgiveness, Not Permission

The real meaning behind Admiral Grace Hopper’s advice

aninjusticemag.com

Are you indicating most diabetic divers do not disclose their condition? I have always let them know for safety but am very cautious when I dive to ensure I never have a problem.

 

[diver257a]

Has anyone more recent information on diving in Cairns as an insulin dependent diabetic?

Hi Toni,

I would suggest that you could ask "Aquapro Dive Services" who is active on Scubaboard and who is an diving industry service provider in Cairns for a local update on this matter. This is because there may be higher standards of practice involved in the Cairns marketplace or in the state of Queensland generally. You can make contact via a PM on Scubaboard or via Aquapro's Facebook page.

You could also contact the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS) for comment and general advice. Before making contact, I would suggest that you download and read the relevant parts of the following document from its website - "SPUMS Full Medical". This is actually a document called "Guidelines on medical risk assessment for recreational diving"

Also, there are a number of dive professionals living in Queensland who are active on Scubaboard and who may be able to comment on your situation via this thread.

 

[happy-diver]

No. I am providing a link of interst for everyone to read

 

[Toni Taft]

Hi Toni,

I would suggest that you could ask "Aquapro Dive Services" who is active on Scubaboard and who is an diving industry service provider in Cairns for a local update on this matter. This is because there may be higher standards of practice involved in the Cairns marketplace or in the state of Queensland generally. You can make contact via a PM on Scubaboard or via Aquapro's Facebook page.

You could also contact the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS) for comment and general advice. Before making contact, I would suggest that you download and read the relevant parts of the following document from its website - "SPUMS Full Medical". This is actually a document called "Guidelines on medical risk assessment for recreational diving"

Also, there are a number of dive professionals living in Queensland who are active on Scubaboard and who may be able to comment on your situation via this thread.

Thank you for the information. I greatly appreciate it.

 

[Toni Taft]

No. I am providing a link of interst for everyone to read

Thank you!

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Thank you for the information. I greatly appreciate it.

Hi Toni,
I see this post is quite old so hopefully yoi managed to find a solution. Basically if yoi are a certified diver you would have done a medical to get clearance at the time.
Every operator has to provide a medical declaration form and as long as there are no medical changes you should be fine.

However, as diabetes can be a progressive illness it's generally safe practice just to get another supporting letter from your GP to get clearance.
At the end of the day, it's for your own safety, and the crew need to be aware of any condition you may have. It certainly won't stop you being able to dive.