21 replies to this topic

[happy2dive]

My air consumption rate is also pretty good although I never connected that to being asthmatic.
I had the DM act surprised when I signal how many bar of air I have left. He would then ask to see the gauge to make sure I'm not under narcosis.

[No Pressure]

Dan and H2D are great examples of folks with a certain medical condition that the uninformed MD may have restricted from a sport that is as safe for them as for any of us. The real message I get from their posts is that someone who knows their limitations/ physiology/ abilities/ whatever else you want to call it.... is a safe diver. The goal here is just as much to inform the rest of us that various medical conditions are NOT necessarily contraindications to diving, but rather just things to be aware of and add to the factors that we all use to "size up" a diver on our boat, or as our buddy.
I would be much more comfortable diving with someone who "takes a couple of puffs" from an inhaler before the dive, and is honest and straight forward talking about their condition, than dive with someone who says they are an "advanced diver" but who fumbles with the tank, regulator, forgets their weight belt, fins, etc, and brags about their deepest dive.
Thanks for sharing, you guys.

[peterbj7]

I've never knowingly (some people lie) permitted an asthmatic to dive at my dive center because I've always seen the risks as just too great. Same goes for people with angina, though in both cases a recent medical from an established diving doctor would over-ride my concern to an extent.

On a holiday in the Keys a few years ago I had to rescue someone. I was buddied with someone I didn't know who faffed around for ages after everyone else had gone in and then said he couldn't dive - wrong color snorkel, I think. So I jumped in by myself and surface swam to the line as instructed. There I found a middle-aged man who looked breathless, who said his buddy had gone down without him (great!) and he would join him once he got his breath. He had to have been there over 5 minutes, so I towed him back to the stern and once the crew had him carried on with what became a very short dive. When I got back on the boat he was on oxygen. We abandoned our second dive and took him back, where he admitted to a doctor that he had had angina for several years but didn't like taking his medication.

This man inconvenienced many other people, plus putting himself and to an extent others at considerable risk. I'm glad to say the dive center confiscated his C-card.

[Daniel]

Let me start with saying I am not in the medical profession.

I do believe however in following the rules that are for ALL of our safety and pleasure when diving. For that reason I get a physical prior to each trip out of my area and have a currently signed release form.

Yes I had one with me Walter when whe did the dive at Venice on October 3, 2004,(thanks again it was GREAT) it was signed on September 23, 2004, and would have provided you with it if neded.

In fact when I did my nitrox certification u at Crystal river on Oct 6, 2004 I provided it to the dive shop.

That being said, dont throw stones if you live in a glass house.

:::::Waving the PADI Medical Release form above head for all to see:::::

Hummm,...Page 1 left side To the participant: the purpose of this questionaire is to find out if you should be examined before.........you all know what it saids. and

line 3 reads,...Are you over 45 years of age and can answer YES to one or more of the following?
.currently smoke a pipe, cigars or cigaretts

That is why its up to the MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, to make medical decisoins, he knows the medical science, his/her patients and lots of personal information to base his medical decision upon, thats why they have the title of Doctor.

Peace out
Keep diving

Dan
PADI AOW, Nitrox

[chinacat46]

In NZ where I got certified it's required to have a physical before they let you take the OW class. So everybody no matter what age or condition must take a physical. I for one thing it should be like that everywhere. I had to have a Doc sign off before I started my Divemaster class. It was nice to know I'm good shape and BP is good, etc... My blood work was excellent according to my Doc. I think a lot of people lie on the PADI med form cuz if they answer yes then they have to get a Doc to sign off on it. Which if you are on trip to some exotic place can be a pain in the A**

[Dive_Girl]

Hmm, this is an interesting issue. As a dive professional, I thought I'd offer what I have experienced in connection with the asthma issue – since I deal with medical issues and questions of potential students often.

To take any PADI certification course (I'm a PADI instructor), a medical statement is required prior to being put on compressed air (although it is my understanding that not all certification agencies have a medical statement requirement). I am thankful for the medical statement requirement, as yes there have been physicians who have refused to sign people off to become divers based on various physical conditions. Unfortunately, asthma is a common one. In most cases, the person's practitioner sends them to a specialist and under further review the specialist did not sign off the medical statement. The idea being if a person goes into an asthmatic attack there is no underwater remedy, thus the risk is too high.

In other cases, I have had mild asthmatics, get clearance from their physicians. In these cases I have asked many of the same questions people have posted above - what are the triggers, make sure gear is appropriate fitting and comfortable, watch air consumption...etc. as I believe any prudent diver would want to be supportive of their buddy - just as you would if your buddy disclosed something they needed you to know challenges them: e.g. long surface swims, difficulty with strong current...etc.

But as a dive professional, I do rely on medical statements and the opinions and advice of medical professionals, since I am not one. Diving is unfortunately not "in the cards" for everyone. Some medical conditions or limitations should not be ignored and in no circumstance should the desire to become a diver out-weigh the person's safety.

I will add, that lying on medical statements is absolutely stupid for obvious reasons I don't need to state. And if I was ever made aware that someone lied on their medical statement to get certified, they'd be out of my class or if in a recreational diving scenario, no, I would not dive with them. Although certifications don’t expire - your physcial condition does change with age. So it's a good idea to check in with your doctor annually and let them know you are a scuba diver – a pressure related sport. My doctor knows I am a dive professional and she applies that knowledge when I see her to make sure I am fit to dive and teach.

If you want to know about your body and diving, I encourage you to take a rescue class. The physiology portion is invaluable.

Edited by Dive_Girl, 21 October 2004 - 04:56 PM.

[peterbj7]

My doctor knows I am a dive professional and she applies that knowledge when I see her to make sure I am fit to dive and teach.

In the UK it's a serious offence to work as a dive professional (underwater) without having an annual medical examination set by the HSE (Health & Safety Executive - sort of like OSHA but with much bigger teeth). Only a few doctors can conduct the examination (typically they're more than 50 miles apart) and it is very demanding. Quite a few people fail it. It's considerably more demanding than a private pilot's medical. To work without it can produce a fine of £10k ($18k) or more. A second offence can result in prison. And HSE inspectors patrol all inland dive sites and hang around coastal dive centers - there's a high probabality of being caught.