A good diving physical will include several parts that should be examined by a physician. General examination procedures include checking cardiovascular fitness, gastrointestinal function, visual acuity, and barotrauma. Doctors may recommend additional tests to evaluate your diving abilities. It's important to talk with your dive doctor if you have a history of ear infections. Even if you do not have any ear infections in the past, a dive medical will give you all the information that you need.
Cardiovascular fitness:
It is important to assess your cardiovascular fitness before you decide to pursue diving as a hobby, or even as a career. It may seem simple, but it isn't. For example, you shouldn't sign up for a diving course if you can't even walk a block! You should be exercising for 20 minutes at least four to five days a week. Even walking for a mile is not enough.
Examining the gastrointestinal function
Examining gastrointestinal function during a scuba dive physical is extremely important because ischemic colitis can occur during a diving expedition. Divers may exhibit belching and abdominal discomfort, but there is little information on severe gastrointestinal complications associated with the activity. Gastric rupture may occur due to intragastric air expansion, massive pneumoperitoneum, or lung barotrauma. Hemorrhagic and acute ischemic colitis, mesenteric vein bleeding, and acute thrombosis have not been reported to be related to scuba diving.
Examining visual acuity
Dive physicals assess the abilities of divers and evaluate their vision. The diving professional will request that a diver complete a visual ability questionnaire to assess his or her vision. The test is designed to measure a person's vision acuity and distance vision.
Barotrauma screening
Barotrauma should be checked if you are going scuba diving. Barotrauma is a combination of the Greek words baros and trauma. Trauma refers to injury. In a dive, the pressure changes can damage or rupture key parts of the ear. This can happen if the diver is suffering from congestion or a cold. It can also cause vomiting and pain.
Asthma testing
If you suspect you have asthma, you should consult your physician before going on a diving vacation. Your asthma symptoms can become more severe or less severe over time. They can also be triggered by diving. Your doctor can prescribe oral steroids to treat your asthma. You should always keep an inhaler onboard your dive boat as a precaution. Your doctor can also conduct an exercise test to assess asthma symptoms and do a lung function check to determine severity.