Notes on Diving Medicals

Before commencing your PADI Open Water Dive Course, you are required by law to undergo a diving medical examination to determine your physical fitness to do a recreational diving course. You have two options:

1. Complete the medical with your own physician. If you elect to take this option your doctor must clearly state on your diving medical documents that you have undergone a diving medical examination in accordance with AS 4005.1 Supp 1-2000 standard and that you are fit to undertake a recreational diving course.

2. Arrange to have your dive medical in Cairns or the Whitsundays before commencing your course. This is the option taken by most students because it is convenient and generally far less expensive.
   The cost is about AUD$50. Many hundreds of diving medicals are done in these areas so we have very professional doctors services with a great deal of experience.

To book your Dive Medical in Cairns

You can arrange your own medical any time by calling "Cairns 24 Hour Medical Centre" on 07 4052 1119. Alternatively, the doctor comes to the training facility on day 1 of your course to conduct the diving medicals.

To Book Your Dive Medical in the Whitsundays

If you have chosen to do your course at the Airlie Beach Training Centre you will need to have completed your diving medical before the course starts. The medical cannot be done once the course has commenced so the latest that you can do your medical is on the day before the course starts. You have 2 options:

1. Contact "The Doctors" located in the main street (Shute Harbour Road) of Airlie Beach. Phone 07 4948 0900 Monday to Saturday.
   
   
2. Contact "The 121 Medical Centre" at Cannonvale - Open 7 days - Phone 07 4946 4622

If you would like to download a PDF version of the medical form you will first need a copy of the Acrobat Reader. You can download it for free at Adobe

Once you have the reader installed you can open the Medical Form

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT FLYING AND DIVING

Remember when booking your Great Barrier Reef diving vacation, you should be aware of the following recommended altitude limits after diving:

1. For day trips and short liveaboard trips you must wait a minimum surface interval of 12
   hours prior to ascent to altitude (this includes travel by commercial airliner) after diving,
   although it is always better to have a delay of 12-24 hours.

2. For longer liveaboard trips or if you have made multiple daily dives for several days or
   have made dives that include decompression stops, an extended surface interval of more than
   24 hours before flight is recommended.
   

3. There is no time limit for flying before diving.