Australia is one of the safest destinations in the world to go scuba diving. This is due to its strict safety regulations and Dive Standards. Recreational divers must complete a Recreational SCUBA Diving Medical before they can train or dive with official diving operators. Accredited General Practitioners must conduct diving medicals. In other words, doctors who have completed a course in Diving Medicine and follow the Dive Standards for Medicals.
Dive medicals are valid for 12 months. Unless equal to (or better than) the AS 4005.1 standard, overseas medicals are unacceptable in Australia.
Scuba diving can be dangerous and even fatal if the diver has a pre-existing medical condition. Medical conditions or disorders may cause a diver to experience disorientation, impaired judgment, impaired mobility, unconsciousness or decompression sickness whilst they are underwater. Some conditions such as asthma and epilepsy are incompatible with scuba diving. However, snorkelling and free diving may be possible.
Diving Medical Examination
In short, there are two types of examination – recreational and commercial. Both examinations require a medical questionnaire, and include a number of tests. For example:
- hearing
- eyesight
- urine
- lung function
- blood pressure
- height and weight
A chest x-ray is also required at additional cost.
Certain medical conditions develop with age, and the physiological strain of regular diving can damage the body. A dive medical examination every 5 years is recommended for people under 30. For those aged 30-50 years of age every 3 years, and every year for divers over 50 years of age.
Immersion Therapy™
All clients of Determine2 must undergo a medical assessment with an approved doctor before any full-body immersion sessions take place. The assessment is done in line with the Immersion Therapy Key Medical Standards. Dr Eben Viljoen is an approved doctor to conduct these medical assessments. The certificate received as part of the Immersion Therapy assessment is not a Fitness to Dive certificate. The document certifies the client as medically fit to participate in Immersion Therapy. The certificate is not valid for any other purpose. The certificate DOES NOT certify fitness to participate in open water diving or in any use of Scuba equipment outside of the authorised application of Immersion Therapy. For more information visit Determined2.
Book an appointment for a diving medical with Dr Eben Viljoen.
