You need to see a doctor for an AUSTRALIAN STANDARD dive medical (AS 4005.1) if you want to do dive training (full course or referral) for: OPEN WATER DIVER, RESCUE DIVER, DIVEMASTER, INSTRUCTOR.

For INTRODUCTORY DIVING or RESORT DIVING you will have to fill in a medical questionnaire similar to the one below. If any of the questions are answered with yes, the instructor may decide to insist on a full medical examination before taking you diving.

For recreational sports divers there is usually no medical examination required. However, it is strongly advised to have regular check ups and dive staff can ask you to undergo an examination if they have any doubts towards your fitness.

Dive medicals are performed by independent doctors, not dive companies, and it is ultimately the decision of the doctor whether to pass you as medically fit to dive. If you are diving in North Queensland, your dive medical must be to Australian Standard 4005.1 (1992) or, due to Government regulations, it will not be accepted. A medical examination will cost approx. AU$ 50.

The following doctors specialise in medicals:

Cairns 24 Hour Medical Centre Corner Florence and Grafton St., Cairns
Ph: 07 4052 1119 Email: thedoctors@iig.com.au

Cairns Tourist & Local Medical Services 15 Lake Street, Cairns
Ph: 07 4041 1699 Email: ctlmed@iig.com.au

Cairns Central Medical Centre, Cairns Central Shopping Centre, 112a McLeod St, Cairns
Ph: 07 4031 3717 Email: ccmc@iig.com.au

Sample Medical Questionnaire

• Could you be pregnant or are you attempting to become pregnant?
• Do you regularly take prescription or non-prescription medications? (With the exception of birth control)
• Are you over 40 years of age?
• Has it been more than 5 years since your last dive medical examination?
• Have you had any serious injury or illness since your last dive medical examination?
• Have you ever had or do you currently have: Asthma, or wheezing with breath, or wheezing with exercise?
• Frequent or severe attacks of hay fever or allergy?
• Frequent colds, sinusitis or bronchitis?
• Any form of lung disease?
• Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)?
• History of chest surgery?
• Claustrophobia or agrophobia (fear of closed or open spaces)?
• Behavioural health problems?
• Epilepsy, seizures, convulsions or take medications to prevent them?
• Recurring migraine headaches or take medications to prevent them?
• History of blackouts or fainting (full/partial loss of consciousness)?
• Frequently suffer from motion sickness (seasick, carsick,etc)?
• History of diving accidents or decompression sickness?
• History of recurrent back problems?
• History of back surgery?
• History of diabetes?
• History of back, arm or leg problems following surgery, injury or fracture?
• Inability to perform moderate exercise (walk one mile within 10 minutes)?
• History of high blood pressure or take medication to control blood pressure?
• History of any heart disease? History of heart attacks?
• Angina (heart or blood vessel surgery)?
• History of ear or sinus surgery?
• History of ear disease, hearing loss or problems with balance?
• History of problems equalizing (popping) ears with airplane or mountain travel?
• History of bleeding or other blood disorders?
• History of any type of hernia?
• History of ulcers or ulcer surgery?
• History of colostomy?
• History of drug or alcohol abuse?