Medical Fitness

Occupational Diving Doctors

The doctor who assesses your medical fitness for occupational diving must be trained in hyperbaric medicine.  To help you find a doctor, or to find more information about the requirements for a doctor, follow the links below.

South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS)

International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) – Medical Examination of Divers, Asia-Pacific Initiative

Are You Medically Fit?

Occupational diving can be a very demanding career. It requires a high degree of physical and psychological fitness that means you will need to be very fit initially and will need to keep yourself in excellent condition. There are a number of neurological, cardiac and pulmonary conditions that are not compatible with occupational diving.

All students wanting to enroll into ADAS diver training must pass an occupational dive medical examination in compliance with the requirements of AS/NZS 2299.1. Appendix L of the Standard includes a medical questionnaire and a certificate to be filled in during your medical appointment. You can download these documents here, and you will be asked to provide your ADAS school with a copy of the certificate  The examination is to be carried out by doctor specifically trained in underwater medicine to ensure you are medically fit to dive.

The doctor also needs to make you aware of any underlying health problems, which could affect your fitness in the future. If you pass the medical you will be issued with a certificate of medical fitness to dive, which is valid for up to 12 months (with the exception of entry into an ADAS Part 1 course where the medical certificate must be issued three months prior to the beginning of the course).

The medical certificate must be renewed annually and may include chest X-rays in some cases.

The cost of the examination will vary depending on any further tests that may be required. Your hyperbaric doctor may state restrictions about the types of diving work you can do, for example, the depth to which you can dive.

If you are an existing occupational diver, you are required to pass an occupational dive medical annually in accordance with AS/NZS2299.1.

Notes to General Practitioner

Occupational diving is generally subject to the Australian/New Zealand Standard 2299.1 which requires divers to undertake annual medicals according to the medical guidelines. Before beginning training, all diving trainees must be examined by a doctor specifically trained in underwater medicine (Occupational Diving Doctor – see appendix K AS/NZS 2299.1). If passed fit, the diving doctor will issue a certificate of medical fitness to dive.

Prospective divers may wish to consult a GP to identify from their records whether they have any health problems that would cause them to fail the diving doctor’s examination. The GP consultation is optional but could save the diver from incurring unnecessary expense in undertaking a full medical examination. Certain medical conditions, such as those listed below, can exclude individuals from a career in diving. Some health problems such as mild asthma or certain Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) conditions are relative contraindications and will require further assessment.

General considerations