Medical check-ups?

[Quero]

Here is the link and it is in section 2.3.1. http://www.marine.uq.edu.au/hirs/downloads/bd2.pdf

That's just the site of the University of Queensland. Any institution can make rules that are not necessarily enshrined in law.

[Papa Bear]

Some places maybe lax on requirements and if you read the whole thing it is pretty hard to enforce, but for live aboards I know that people have been turned away! I am glad for your sake they didn't enforce their rules, but they do exist and I would fly half way around the world and take a chance!

[Papa Bear]

Here is another site:http://www.divemedicals.com.au/requirements.htmlhttp://www.divemedicals.com.au/requirements.html

[rubber chicken]

Here is another site:http://www.divemedicals.com.au/requirements.htmlhttp://www.divemedicals.com.au/requirements.html

Which states that a dive medical is required for courses, not for normal recreational dives. I have never been asked for a medical certification on any dive that i've done here. On the dayboats that I have worked on we check C-cards - and will turn you away if you can't produce one- but we never ask for proof of a dive medical.
On the Liveaboards that i've done, I have had to fill in a self certification form as part of the liability release but have never had to provide an form of official certification.
The above notwithstanding, getting a check out from a medical professional on an annual or bi-annual basis is not a bad idea. After all, you get your kit serviced regularly, why not the really important bit that the kit is designed to preserve ?

[Papa Bear]

I just emailed a friend in Australia and if you read the second site it states that if you answer yes to any of the medical questions or are 55 or older then operators are required to ask for you medical. He said you do to learn and then under the above circumstances, but he said there are a lot of rules that are not strictly adhered too! My point is if you are going all that way, from here or Europe, then I wouldn't take a chance, but I am over 55 so for me better safe than a waste!

[Andy]

I see what you mean, I had to get a doctor's certificate to be allowed on the open water course, so hopefully that will be accepted, I will investigate further......

[Andy]

So far the canaries & spain, in Mauritius I had to show my doctor's certificate due to childhood back problems. This is the sort of thing I was worried about - [B]Medical
If you are already certified and just want to dive with us, we’ll ask you to complete the standard RSTC (PADI) medical statement before you dive. As per normal procedure, if you answer ‘no’ to all the questions - no problem. If the honest answer to any question is ‘yes’, please have a medical examination (for your own safety) and get your doctor to complete and sign his section of the form before you come to dive.

If you want to enrol on a certification course (Open Water Diver, Advanced / Adventure Diver etc), local law in Murcia states that you must have a diving medical. There are two options for this:

1. In your home country. Complete and sign the PADI medical statement (we can provide a copy of this on request). Then get a doctor to check your fitness and complete the physician's section of the statement.

2. In Spain. Get a Spanish diving medical certificate, we can give you details of where to go for a while-u-wait medical

[Andy]

Thanks for your input and the links.

[Andy]

Thanks Lottie, it does seem to be the general consensus to get it in advance.