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 Dive Medical Queensland  |
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RodH
300+ Posts
Doncaster
Australia
342 Posts |
 Posted - 26 February 2012 : 9:44:14 PM
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Hi Guys
Am planning a family holiday on Magnetic Island and the kids have decided to learn to dive whilst there (probably e-learning). Can someone from up there tell me if an actual medical is needed or just the PADI medical questionaire.
Thanks
Rod |
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Richard Taylor
300+ Posts
Sydney
Australia
598 Posts |
Posted - 26 February 2012 : 11:26:02 PM
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Rod,
As far as I am aware in Qld a Dive Medical is still required.
Cheers
Richard. |
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Alien
1200+ Posts
Melbourne
Australia
2232 Posts |
Posted - 27 February 2012 : 10:51:32 AM
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| RodH how old are your kids? |
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vmf
30+ Posts
Cairns
Australia
144 Posts |
Posted - 27 February 2012 : 3:01:52 PM
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From Workplace Health and Safety Queensland,
http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/recreational-diving-recreational-technical-diving-snorkelling-cop-2011.pdf
Recreational Diving
Recreational Technical Diving and Snorkelling
Code of Practice 2011
2.3.1.2 Medical fitness of Entry-level certificate divers
The person conducting the business or undertaking should ensure that any person training for an entry-level recreational diving certificate is certified as being medically fit for diving in accordance with Appendices A and B of Australian Standard 4005.1 2000 Training and certification of recreational divers - Part 1: Minimum entry level SCUBA diving. The 2 appendices, that is A and B, give medical information and show the medical form which should be used for a pre-diving medical examination for prospective recreational divers. The medical certification should be provided in English, preferably by a medical practitioner with experience in diving medicine, within 90 days prior to the commencement of training.
The person conducting the business or undertaking should ensure that persons undertaking training for an entry level recreational diving certificate are at least a minimum of 12 years of age. Due regard should be had to the other requirements in AS 4005.1 2000. If the diver is under the age of 18 years, parental or guardian consent is required for the diver to undertake training for an entry level recreational diving certificate.
Regards,
vmf |
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Alien
1200+ Posts
Melbourne
Australia
2232 Posts |
Posted - 27 February 2012 : 3:15:14 PM
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| Do the course in Vic and save the medical costs and they can learn colder water diving as well. Well 23 degrees at the mo'. |
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Sharky
150+ Posts
The Back Paddock
Australia
296 Posts |
Posted - 28 February 2012 : 9:00:15 PM
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Do the course in Vic and save the medical costs and they can learn colder water diving as well. Well 23 degrees at the mo'.
How brain dead is that statement!!!!!
Thats so smart to risk your kids to something that might show up in a medical and to top it off why would you learn to dive in melbourne in average diving when you can experience some of the best coral in the world on the barrier reef....
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David G Flew
Dive-Oz Supporter 2009/2011
Melbourne
Australia
469 Posts |
Posted - 28 February 2012 : 9:58:40 PM
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If you put diatribe and the snide comments about merits of Melbourne diving aside, why would you NOT want to do a dive medical?
Please don't tell me it's about saving money, a dive medical is one of the few diving related things where you won't buy it and later on find it didn't suit you.
David |
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DA
300+ Posts
brisbane
Australia
482 Posts |
Posted - 28 February 2012 : 11:57:39 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by David G Flew
If you put diatribe and the snide comments about merits of Melbourne diving aside, why would you NOT want to do a dive medical?
Please don't tell me it's about saving money, a dive medical is one of the few diving related things where you won't buy it and later on find it didn't suit you.
David
Actually David, it is!
Unless you've got financial strain you wouldn't understand what its like to be living from month to month- $120+ for the cheapest proper dive medical(some want a x-ray too which then takes it over $200), instead of a regular stick your tongue and cough ,BP/pulse check which you can bulk bill or have subsidy from medicare.
Things add up people are really hurting now in the low classes. Most are underemployed. A dive is good it stops the worries of where the rent is going to come from next month....
It's 3speed economy- people that have civil service jobs, mine related industry and then the rest of the "not so luckies", no so clever or well connected. Figures tell a story to make the government look good.
So should these people preclude themselves from diving? |
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Saspotato
Dive-Oz Supporter 2008
Melbourne
Australia
1876 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 07:36:54 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by DA
Things add up people are really hurting now in the low classes. Most are underemployed.
Less so than in the past actually. And Australia's unemployment is actually very low compared to the past. If you want a job you can get one.
quote:
So should these people preclude themselves from diving?
Yes. If you can't afford to do something, don't do it. If more people followed that motto then you would not have as many people 'hurting'. |
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David G Flew
Dive-Oz Supporter 2009/2011
Melbourne
Australia
469 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 09:31:00 AM
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Damon
The original question was in relation to someone about to take up diving, not about continuing to dive. I don't think it is a good idea for anyone to take up scuba diving without a thorough medical check. I accept that not everyone is flush with money, but it's an expensive pastime to get into. Training is much more expensive than the medical, let alone buying even basic personal gear. I wouldn't suggest someone went scuba diving without any training either.
David
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scubaplus
30+ Posts
Echuca
Australia
79 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 09:56:10 AM
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Dependant upon where you live also relates to how easy it is to access a SPUMS Doctor in order to complete the official dive medical, I had to organise a day off work and travel an hour each way in order to get mine. So the cost of the petrol, losing a days work and also the medical, became very expensive and I had to go back to get x-rays (had a chest infection a couple of weeks before SPUMS appointment but again, because I'd organised a day off work for this appointment, not simply a case of rescheduling).
If I could have avoided having the SPUMS and just have my local doctor perform the tests, would have saved me over $500.
I'm not saying not to get the medical, but I'm saying that most of the time, you're normal GP can perform the same tests as well, main one being a lung funtion test. |
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Adder
300+ Posts
Grafton
Australia
350 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 12:45:46 PM
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I'm planning a trip to Europe later this year and made some enquiries about diving the Zenobia in Cyprus.
They sent me application forms plus two medical questionnaires, one to be filled out by me and another for my doctor and a request for a scan of my qualification cards. I have never been asked for anything like this before for just diving, only for courses.
I am tdi adv trimix qualified. |
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RodH
300+ Posts
Doncaster
Australia
342 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 1:06:53 PM
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Thanks Guys and Gals
Just had some conflicting info from the dive shops up there, I thought it was still needed but one of the shops said it was only if they thought one was necessary after seeing the forms??
Terri; I agree it would be better to learn down here but!! |
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DA
300+ Posts
brisbane
Australia
482 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 2:29:45 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Saspotato
quote:
Originally posted by DA
Things add up people are really hurting now in the low classes. Most are underemployed.
Less so than in the past actually. And Australia's unemployment is actually very low compared to the past. If you want a job you can get one.
quote:
So should these people preclude themselves from diving?
Yes. If you can't afford to do something, don't do it. If more people followed that motto then you would not have as many people 'hurting'.
A-Typical, response from someone that's doing "alright".
Watch your back, because it'll touch you soon enough....
18months to go!
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Edited by - DA on 29 February 2012 3:15:43 PM |
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Alien
1200+ Posts
Melbourne
Australia
2232 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 2:37:32 PM
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| Many divers do now not get diving medicals before OW course. I would still prefer they do especially those with potential metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors. Yes I was being a little facetious (and boy did Sharkey bite) about saving money but it is true. I talked about Melbourne as that is where they are from. Then they can put up with the boring bright colours of the Wall dives, the really boring wrecks, WWI subs, piers,scallops, abalone, crayfish and then when they go on hols and can also dive in Qld, etc as well. Gives them a greater breadth of training. |
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DA
300+ Posts
brisbane
Australia
482 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 2:42:07 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Adder
I'm planning a trip to Europe later this year and made some enquiries about diving the Zenobia in Cyprus.
They sent me application forms plus two medical questionnaires, one to be filled out by me and another for my doctor and a request for a scan of my qualification cards. I have never been asked for anything like this before for just diving, only for courses.
I am tdi adv trimix qualified.
Yes, this what I think should happen here!
Not a extensive test that will cost way and above a general visit to your regular doctor- it's rec diving FFS not a profession.
Legislating to create growth in taxable compliance obligations is anti-productive to an economy which is under strain....
95billion dollars in debt is the QLD Government!
The federal Labor government is 200billion dollars in debt!
All I see is a growth in rules and laws most to justify additional costs to the individual,the diminishing of our personal freedom and right to decide for yourself.
If you can't run a government without debt, don't tell me how I should live my life!
Watch the civil servants defend this lode of bollocks, 100,000 extra public servant jobs over the last 5years of labor gov and the private industry employees have bled for it. |
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DA
300+ Posts
brisbane
Australia
482 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 3:04:46 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by David G Flew
Damon
The original question was in relation to someone about to take up diving, not about continuing to dive. I don't think it is a good idea for anyone to take up scuba diving without a thorough medical check. I accept that not everyone is flush with money, but it's an expensive pastime to get into. Training is much more expensive than the medical, let alone buying even basic personal gear. I wouldn't suggest someone went scuba diving without any training either.
David
David
I understand your opinion and partially agree with it.
My biggest problem is how your gp can't just write you a note instead of the need for government standard "certificate", this only legitimizes the bloat of the public sector further- one which is already out of control and throwing money away....
Here after 45years old they want it annually, which is different to the other states.
I thought it is relevant generally to the Queensland part of the question. Seems hes knows this is looking like the requirement for a medical for "scuba discovery" and "refresher course" is being look at and will most like be removed.
This is a knee jerk reponse by the Bligh Gov. to a growing issue about the "State" exceeding its role and becoming exceedingly intrusive to peoples private lives and the right to make their own choices in their lives.
I can't see this ever getting a serious independent cost benefit analysis and showing it will be worthwhile TO THE TAXPAYER!
"The Nanny state"
This rational will end at the next election. |
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DA
300+ Posts
brisbane
Australia
482 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 3:18:49 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Sharky
Do the course in Vic and save the medical costs and they can learn colder water diving as well. Well 23 degrees at the mo'.
How brain dead is that statement!!!!!
Thats so smart to risk your kids to something that might show up in a medical and to top it off why would you learn to dive in melbourne in average diving when you can experience some of the best coral in the world on the barrier reef....
Well lets see it as a compulsory to all kids, not just the children that want to dive, then lets subsidize it with tax payers money......
How about the dentistry too!
Where does this PARANOIA stop? |
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dteubner
Dive-Oz Supporter
Adelaide
Australia
834 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 4:34:06 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by DA
[quote]Originally posted by David G Flew
David
I understand your opinion and partially agree with it.
My biggest problem is how your gp can't just write you a note instead of the need for government standard "certificate", this only legitimizes the bloat of the public sector further- one which is already out of control and throwing money away....
Here after 45years old they want it annually, which is different to the other states.
I thought it is relevant generally to the Queensland part of the question. Seems hes knows this is looking like the requirement for a medical for "scuba discovery" and "refresher course" is being look at and will most like be removed.
This is a knee jerk reponse by the Bligh Gov. to a growing issue about the "State" exceeding its role and becoming exceedingly intrusive to peoples private lives and the right to make their own choices in their lives.
I can't see this ever getting a serious independent cost benefit analysis and showing it will be worthwhile TO THE TAXPAYER!
"The Nanny state"
This rational will end at the next election.
Even by your standards, DA, this almost incomprehensible claptrap.
The whole problem is that dive medicals aren't covered by medicare at all, that's why they are so expensive because the whole cost t is covered by the person having the medical. So the cost to the poor old taxpayer is zero.
The QLD government (and it certainly wasn't Bligh) decided in their wisdom that only doctors with training in dive and hyperbaric medicine can do dive medicals. This is not an unreasonable position to hold. The list that SPUMS maintains tells you who has this training. SPUMS is an organisation, funded by its members, which has absolutely nothing at all to do with the public service or government.
If you need a dive medical for an open water course (which I don't personally passionately believe) then it is absolutely bizarre that you don't need one for Discover Scuba. The exposure is the same so the risks are the same. About the only thing that p!sses me off about the Divers Emergency Service phone is calls from Discover Scuba operators in QLD asking me to pass people as fit to dive from 2000km away.
Dave T |
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Tiptopperoo
300+ Posts
Melbourne
Australia
340 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 5:33:20 PM
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| I am well and truly in the camp with those that believe people under 45 with no significant medical history need not go anywhere near a doctor before they learn to dive. It's bollox. Answer the questionnaire, if you're all sweet, you're all sweet! |
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kaybradj
30+ Posts
Jakarta
Indonesia
60 Posts |
Posted - 29 February 2012 : 5:57:35 PM
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I've been on the receiveing end of a DA rant but I find myself agrreing with him on this one. A sign-off from a GP should be adequate.
There are a thousand other activities far more life threatening than SCUBA which dont require a govt mandated checkup. They'll even let you behind the wheel of a car with nothing but an eye test. |
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Dive Medical Queensland |
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