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Chapter 38 — 7
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
FORMAT
There is little doubt amongst responsible diving instruction
groups and diving medical associations, that mandatory full and
comprehensive medical examinations should be performed on all
divers before commencing scuba training. It is also needed
before using scuba apparatus – even in such shallow and
apparently safe locations as a swimming pool.
During a recent workshop on diving medical examinations, the
following consensus was achieved with this advice for
recreational divers:
• All diving candidates must be examined according to an
established diving medical Standard. An example is the South
Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS) Medical Format
(included in this Chapter) prior to commencing any use of scuba
apparatus – even if only in a pool.
Fig 38.4
• The medical examiner must have been trained appropriately (at a recognised course) in
diving medicine.
• Should any doubt exist as to the 'fitness' of an individual, then that person must be
referred to a specialist diving medical practitioner (i.e. one with extensive training and
experience in diving medicine).
This textbook is not aimed at instructing medical practitioners in Diving Medicine – although it
will serve as a useful primer for those interested in this type of medicine. A list of recommended
courses of instruction and reading texts is included in Appendix A.
A copy of a typical
Diving Medical Format
follows. It is suitable for candidates wishing to
experience Scuba diving or to subject themselves for diver training. It must be performed and
interpreted by a physician trained in diving medicine by an accredited body.
It comprises 3 sections:
(1) Medical history
(2) Diving [and diving medical] history
(3) Clinical examination and investigations.
Each is necessary and every item except for identification data, is of relevance to diver safety
and diving limitations.