Diving Health
Diving Health
Diving is considered an extremely safe sport and has a much better track record for injury than many other adventurous sports.
However, there are known health risks associated with diving, particularly if you suffer from certain respiratory or circulatory conditions. If you do, it does not necessarily mean that you cannot dive, but you will need to see a doctor to ensure diving poses no risk to your health.
At Narima Diving, all our dive staff are fully trained in First Aid and CPR, and are certified Emergency Oxygen Providers. We maintain close links with BadelVeda Recompression Unit at Bangkok-Phuket International Hospital in Phuket, so, in the unlikely event of a diving accident, we can provide you with the highest level of medical care.
Phuket in Thailand is considered to have one of the largest scuba diving industries in the world and they take Dive Medicine seriously. The Bangkok-Phuket International Hospital in Phuket offers medical facilities, technology and specialists to rival any country in the world. They provide multi-lingual staff and private rooms.
You don’t need to be an athlete in order to dive, but you should be comfortable in water, have basic swimming skills, and be in good overall health, particularly your respiratory and circulatory systems. If you are considering diving during your holiday, it is worth consulting the list of health considerations.
If you want to enrol on a diving course, you will have to complete a medical statement. There are slightly different health requirements depending on whether you plan to make a Discover Scuba Diving introductory dive, or take a full PADI course.
If you suffer from any of the conditions listed (or are worried about them in any way) please visit your doctor to get yourself checked out before you go on a diving holiday. If you do suffer from any of the conditions listed and you would like to go diving, we require a letter from your doctor or a completed medical form to say that it is OK for you to dive.
Dive Insurance
Travel insurance often includes cover for scuba diving whilst on holiday. It is worth checking to see if yours does and, if so, whether there are any restrictions. The absolute maximum depth we dive to is 30m, although most dives are to a maximum depth of 18m and last for no longer than 60 mins. You will be accompanied by a PADI professional Divemaster or Instructor at all times.
Both diving students and fun divers can register for a 1-year Chamber Cover card through BadalVeda. This card gives 60% off the price of any chamber treatment (the expensive bit) in any BadalVeda Chamber in Thailand for only 300 THB.
If you would like to purchase your own personal Dive Insurance, DAN is a non-profit Foundation that specializes in diving medicine, dive insurance and dive safety. DAN stands for Divers Alert Network, or as it is familiarly known, the ‘diver’s safety net’. They operate an international network of alarm centres, active 24 hours a day, guaranteeing, specialized assistance, to any diver, anywhere in the world, in the event of a diving emergency.
We recommend that all our divers take out comprehensive diving insurance through DAN (Divers Alert Network) for the duration of their holiday. Please visit their website www.daneurope.org for further information.
Recompression Chamber Facilities
In the unlikely event of a diving emergency we transport you direct to BadalVeda Recompression Chamber at the Bangkok-Phuket International Hospital in Phuket, where they have access to top private medical care, a dedicated team of diving injury specialists and both a mono-chamber and the newest, largest Recompression Chamber in Thailand.
Related Links
Diving Health Guidelines for the Discover Scuba Diving Programme
Diving Health Guidelines for any other PADI Dive Course
If you’re worried about your diving health, please print the Medical Guidelines and take to your doctor.
