What is medically fit for diving?
Your respiratory and circulatory systems must be in good health. All body air spaces must be normal and healthy. A person with coronary disease, a current cold or congestion, epilepsy, a severe medical problem or who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs should not dive.
What medical conditions can stop you from scuba diving?
Medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and many cardiac conditions were long considered absolute contraindications to scuba diving.
Can you scuba dive on medication?
Many diving medicine doctors will advise that anyone who requires medication to dive should wait until the illness is over before diving rather than diving while using the medication. Consult your physician when you are ill.
Can you dive after surgery?
A general rule of thumb is to wait for at least 2–3 weeks before returning to diving after surgery – when the wound no longer requires any sort of dressing.
Do I need a medical certificate to dive?
Under the Diving at Work Regulations 1997, all divers at work must have a valid certificate of fitness to dive issued by an Approved Medical Examiner of Divers (AMED). AMEDs are approved by HSE to conduct statutory medical examinations on divers to ensure they are fit to dive.
Can I scuba dive if I have high blood pressure?
Having high blood pressure puts you at increased risk whilst diving. It is a major risk factor for having a heart attack or a stroke, both of which could be fatal underwater.
Can you take a Xanax before scuba diving?
ALPRAZOLAM. Brand names: Xanax. Taken for: Calming anxiety or panic attacks. Potential dive dangers: Both the anxiety condition and the tranquilizing drugs can pose serious danger to divers.
Can I scuba dive on antidepressants?
Antidepressants have several side effects that may pose risks when diving with compressed air. These include: drowsiness and sleepiness; convulsions; increased bleeding tendency; hypoglycaemia; mania, dry mouth and blurred vision.
Can I scuba dive with an open wound?
Never dive with open wounds (including recent tooth extractions). Do not dive if you are sick or have an infection. Wash any wounds incurred while diving thoroughly with soap and water. Wear appropriate exposure suits to protect your skin from cuts and scrapes underwater.
Can I scuba dive with a knee replacement?
Knee replacement surgery doesn’t prohibit you from all sports. You can still enjoy low-impact activities that don’t heavily pressure your new joint like sailing, swimming, scuba diving, cycling, golfing, and bowling.
How often do you need a dive medical?
Certain medical conditions develop with age, and the physiological strain of regular diving can damage the body anyway, so a regular dive medical examination is recommended every 5 years for those under 30 years of age, every 3 years for those 30-50 years of age, and every year for divers over 50 years of age.
Why can’t some people scuba dive?
Lung problems (such as a collapsed lung or asthma), ear issues (such as problems with ear equalization), allergies, and certain diseases are all potentially dangerous underwater. Some medications are contraindicated for diving.
Who should not dive?
“If you can reach an exercise intensity of 13 METS (the exertion equivalent of running a 7.5-minute mile), your heart is strong enough for most any exertion,” he says. You also need to be symptom-free. If you have chest pain, lightheadedness or breathlessness during exertion, you should not be diving.
Is scuba diving hard on the heart?
Effects of Pressure Breathing air under increased pressure, as you do when scuba diving, also affects your heart and circulatory system. Increased levels of oxygen cause vasoconstriction, increase your blood pressure and reduce your heart rate and heart output.
What happens if you panic while scuba diving?
Panic is one of the leading causes of death for scuba divers. The death certificate may say drowning, however, in many cases had the diver not panic they would have likely survived. Over 20% of deaths are directly attributed to panic and another 23% list panic as a contributing factor.
How do I calm my nerves before scuba diving?
Overcoming Dive Panic
- Understand the problem.
- Increase your confidence with repeated, easy dives.
- Dive with a supportive instructor or DM.
- Don’t rush diving down.
- Dive with solid equipment.
- Adjust for narcosis.
- Mitigate cold-water shock.
- Prevent overheating.
Can you scuba dive with ADHD?
Medical recommendations for diving with ADHD Diving is allowable if symptoms are mild. No significant comorbidity is present. Individual has insight into and understanding of the condition.
Can you go scuba diving after Lasik?
You can resume moderate water activities such as snorkeling, sailing, water surfing, and kayaking two weeks after your LASIK procedure as long as you wear goggles or other appropriate eye protection.