Diving medical where from?

[Simon A]

I am a PADI diver and I am going to need a medical for diving in Malta, how do I go about getting a medical?
do I just tell the diving doctor that I want a medical and they'll have a standard diving medical?
Also this is the interesting bit (fortunately not for me) does anyone know of a diving doctor who is also a heart specialist?
as near to Reading as possible would be nice.

Thanks for any help

Simon A

[Dr Stevil]

See the post: BSAC medical referees at top of dive medicine forum for link to list of UK-wide medrefs (NB they're not only for BSAC divers )

[peter k]

This guy is a Cardiologist as well as the SSAC Doc;

Dr S K Glen, Striling Royal Infirmary, Livilands, Stirling, FK8 2AU
Tel: 0131 537 1000 (s) Fax: 0131 553 2209 Email: secretary@uksdmc.co.uk

I know he's not in Reading but he's the only one I know that does hearts as well

HTH
Peter

[Conor]

have a look at e-med, they will deal with general queries over email and refer you to a doctor who can sign you off.

The Medical in Malta takes a couple of minutes and costs a few quid, but if you have something that raises a question or will show up in the self-decl form then you would be safest to talk to a doc before you go. But emed may be able to give you an email/letter to bring with you to get around the issue.

I believe you may just need a letter rather than full certification (if it is one specific issue)

Hope this helps

Conor

[Phil Ennis]

<font color='#810541'>The easiest way is to take the PADI medical form to your GP, check first that he does sport medicals.

[Simon A]

where do I get a PADI medical form from? I assume it isn't just a self cert with a covering letter.

A medical In malta could be fun as I have no feeling in my legs and they don't quite index properly (however if I didnt tell them they'd never know).

The heart thing could be far more interesting.
I can just see them saying &quot;oh yes I need a diving medical, and by the way I have a hole in my heart&quot; (a VSD if anyone knows about this sort of thing).

Simon A

[Conor]

if you search for PADI medical questionnaire you should find one, I think they are downloadable from padi and emed websites.

Did you not have to do the self declaration etc for your open water?

[Phil Ennis]

<font color='#810541'>Sorry Simon, didn't see the bit about your heart. I don't think your GP would do it for you, I think you will have to see a specialist, unless your GP can state that your heart condition is not a contra indication to diving.

Good luck.

[Simon A]

Fortunately the question about the heart is not for me, it's for a friend who wants to take up diving.
As for the no feeling in the legs there is nothing on a PADI self cert which has to be ticked the wrong way for it.
and when i consulted my neurologist he said that there was no problem with diving. (and yes I did ask him if he understood what diving did to your body).

Simon A

[Helen F H]

<font color='#000080'>I am an asthmatic and have to get a proper medical done. &nbsp;I went through my medical referee and had no problems at all.

As for the hole in the heart, it can let bubbles travel from one side to the other without getting trapped in the lungs as normal. &nbsp;This can lead to a CNS bend. &nbsp;There are computers that allow for that kind of thing out there, but they are so conservative its unreal.

Maybe speak to the DDRC and see what they have to say.