Diving Medicals by the Midlands Diving Chamber
Call 01788 579 555 to book a dive medical.
Alternatively, fill in this FORM to request an appointment time.
HSE Preliminary
For the Divemaster or Instructor qualification, Saturation Divers, Underwater Cameramen. This is the standard medical for anyone wishing to work as a diver in the UK and is valid for 12 months.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides a fact sheet with further information on the guidelines for this medical.
The HSE also provides a guidance document on the medical examination and assessment of commercial divers. It is suggested that candidates read it before booking a medical to ensure they have no medical issues that might disqualify them automatically.
The HSE dive medical includes the following:
- Full physical examination including BMI and waist circumference
- Spirometry
- Audiometry
- Exercise testing
- Urine analysis (a urine sample will be required)
- Selected additional tests, including full blood count and ECG if clinically indicated
When you attend your first HSE medical, you need to bring a form countersigned by your GP proving you have no serious illnesses. Please download the form and print it off: Medical Questionnaire.
Please note that according to HSE guidance, candidate divers with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of greater than 35 will be found unfit to dive.
If the candidate's BMI is between 30 and 34.9, a waist circumference measurement is taken into account. If this is over 102 cm in males or over 88 cm in females, the candidate will be found unfit to dive.
Additionally, waist circumferences of 94-102 cm (males) or 80-88 cm (females) may lead to a decision of unfitness, or a time-limited (3 month) certificate.
The NHS provide a BMI calculator and useful information regarding waistlines.
To measure your waist:
- Find the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips
- Breathe out naturally
- Wrap a tape measure around your waist midway between these points to find your measurement
HSE Renewal
For divers who had their previous year's HSE medical. If this was not undertaken at one of our facilities, please bring along a copy of the medical. This must be provided in order to issue a new HSE medical.
These medicals can be booked by calling 01788 579 555 or filling in this FORM.