Diving Fitness and Health: The Importance of Regular Medical Checks

Diving Equipment|
Diving Equipment|

Back in March, we attended the GO Diving Show at the National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre, Warwickshire. If you haven’t been already, it’s a great event for networking, planning your next trip and to see all the new shiny stuff that will appear in a local dive centre near you.

Reconnecting with Divers: Encounters and Questions

For us, it was a great opportunity to catch up with divers who had previously been treated by ourselves, attended for a dry dive, as well as some divers we had never met before, some of whom didn’t know we existed. The staff on the stand often got repeat questions regarding fitness to dive, medical conditions and when we are running more 50m Dry Dive experiences.

The Increasing Awareness about Fitness to Dive

Fitness to dive has been known to be discarded by some divers, but for others, it’s a major concern. It is good to report that there has been an increase in diver health awareness and the request for diving medicals, especially as the understanding of what ‘Fit to Dive’ means has grown.

However, most of these medical requests have been booked because the diver has ticked a ‘yes’ on their selfcertification form, not because they want to keep an eye on their own diving health. Any diver can book a medical without a health condition at any time, something we should think about as we progress through our diving careers.

Understanding the Self-certification Process for New Divers

All new divers have to fill in a self-certification form before they start their intended course. If a ‘yes’ has been ticked in the health questions section, then a visit to a Diving Physician is required to assess your fitness for diving. It is very rare that you will receive a ‘no’, advice will always be shared to help you meet the goal of you going diving. Your own doctor is not qualified to do this, as the sport requires a specialist assessment.

Guidance from UKDMC on Diving and Health Conditions

UKDMC (UK Diving Medical Committee) have some great advice on health conditions that affect the participation in scuba diving. They are the medical advisors to BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club), SAA (Sub-Aqua Association), and SSAC (Scottish Sub-Aqua Association). The RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council) Medical statement was revised and released in 2020 and is widely used by other training agencies, including PADI.

Age and Health: The Changing Paradigm for UK Divers

The average age of the UK diver is regarded as still high and there are many individual divers who are not doing any training courses, or are attached to a club or a dive centre, so they won’t be required to do a health self-certification. Is this a worry? Yes potentially, we should all be encouraging each other to get checked out. If the covid pandemic taught us anything, it is that our health is important and to look after it.

Assessment Criteria: From Diabetes to Prescription Drugs

Some of the conditions that are listed for assessment are Diabetes, Respiratory and Cardiovascular. What we deemed as normal health when we began our diving careers in our 20s changes as we get older – even a rise in blood pressure is a cause for concern for diving activities. In conversations with divers about their BP (blood pressure), they claim their readings are in normal range 90/60 – 120/80 mmHg. However, when questioned further, they take prescription drugs to achieve that. Some prescription drugs are not compatible with scuba diving and a medical assessment will be required.

Embarking on the UK Diving Season Safely

The UK diving season is well under way, so please take care when exploring our amazing underwater world. If you have any medical questions or would like to book a Fit to Dive or a HSE medical, please contact us here at the Midlands Diving Chamber.

Midlands Diving Chamber
Diving Fitness and Health: The Importance of Regular Medical Checks 2


Emergency tel no: 07931 472602 | Landline: 01788 579555

www.midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk

Midlands Diving Chamber, Redmond House, Hospital of St Cross, Barby Road, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV22 5PX


This article was originally published in Scuba Diver UK #73.

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YouTube Video UEw2X2VCMS1KYWdWbXFQSGV1YW84WVRHb2pFNkl3WlRSZS43RkJGOTAwRDhCOEQ1RjIy

Is This The Best Dive Center Ever? W\@wakatobidiveresort

@sennacher 
#askmark Hi there, regarding DSMBs. I’m no expert whatsoever and normally I deploy it correctly. This weekend we dove on very strong current and I almost lose my breath while deploying it (mouth inflate) as it tangled a bit on my reg. It scared the sh&t out of me so. Is there any “little cylinder” kind of thing in order to keep my reg in my mouth to deploy it safer?  I haven’t tried to do it with my LPI… but asume it would tangle also.
Thanks
Please visit our website for more Scuba news, underwater photography, hints & advice, and travel reports: https://divernet.com/ 

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@sennacher
#askmark Hi there, regarding DSMBs. I’m no expert whatsoever and normally I deploy it correctly. This weekend we dove on very strong current and I almost lose my breath while deploying it (mouth inflate) as it tangled a bit on my reg. It scared the sh&t out of me so. Is there any “little cylinder” kind of thing in order to keep my reg in my mouth to deploy it safer? I haven’t tried to do it with my LPI… but asume it would tangle also.
Thanks
Please visit our website for more Scuba news, underwater photography, hints & advice, and travel reports: https://divernet.com/

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=================================

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Welcome to Scuba Diver Magazine! We’re passionate about everything related to the underwater world. As a free distribution magazine in Europe, ANZ, and North America, we bring you the latest in scuba diving, from epic dive travel destinations and honest gear reviews to expert advice, news, and inspiring underwater stories.

Whether you’re a seasoned diver or just starting your underwater journey, our content is designed to keep you informed, inspired, and ready for your next dive. Get in, explore, and stay connected to the world of scuba diving with us! Join us and never miss an adventure!

For Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

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How Twinset Valves Work In Scuba Diving | Shutdown Drills And Isolator Tips Explained #scubadiving #askmark #twinset

Confused about how to use twinset valves or perform a proper valve shutdown drill? You’re not alone.

In this AskMark episode, Mark explains how valves work on twin cylinders, including how to safely open and close them, how isolator valves function, and why valve drills (also known as shutdown drills or V-Drills) are critical for diagnosing leaks during technical and recreational dives. Please visit our website for more Scuba news, underwater photography, hints & advice, and travel reports: https://divernet.com/ 

Mark also shares tips on muscle memory for reaching your left and right posts, isolator-first vs isolator-last logic, and how to prevent over-tightening or unsafe valve positioning. This guide is perfect for divers transitioning to twinsets, sidemount divers curious about manifold setups, or anyone wanting to improve their gas management skills. 

Let us know in the comments how your instructor taught valve drills and don’t forget to leave your questions using #AskMark to get featured in a future video. 

@mostafametwally1

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▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y6wIOKde48 

=================================

Disclaimer: The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training. This video's content, including text, graphics, images, and information, is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor.

🔎 Related Phrases:

How Twinset Valves Work In Scuba Diving, Shutdown Drills And Isolator Tips Explained, How Twinset Valves Work In Diving, Scuba Valve Drill Tutorial, Shutdown Drill For Twin Cylinders, How To Use Twinset Isolator Valve, Twinset Manifold Explained, Best Way To Close Dive Valves, V-Drill For Scuba Divers, Twin Cylinder Gas Management Tips, Scuba Regulator Shutdown Steps, How To Practice Twinset Valve Drills, Muscle Memory For Valve Shutdowns

#scubadiving #askmark #twinset #scubavalves #shutdownskills #divingsafety #scubatraining #scubatech #divetips #manifoldvalve #valvedrill #scubagear #divingtechniques #scubacommunity #technicaldiving

How Do Valves Work on Twin Cylinders? #askmark
@mostafametwally1
#askmark hi Mark. Could you do a video on how to deal with the valves and manifold on twin cylinders. It’s confusing to remember which way to open the valves and it’s easy to get wrong particularly in emergencies. Thanks
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

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The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

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How Twinset Valves Work In Scuba Diving | Shutdown Drills And Isolator Tips Explained

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Caradonna Adventures
Caradonna Adventures
1 year ago

I completely agree with your perspective on how maintaining optimal health contributes significantly to the overall safety and enjoyment of diving. Regular medical checks not only help identify potential risks or underlying health issues but also ensure that divers are physically prepared for the demands of the underwater environment.

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