A good dive physical should include a few parts that a professional should examine. A general exam includes checking your cardiovascular fitness, gastrointestinal function as well as visual acuity and barotrauma. Your doctor may recommend additional tests like x-rays to help you assess your diving abilities. If you have had ear infections in the past, it is important to discuss this with your doctor. You don't need to have a history of ear problems, but a dive physical will help you get the right information.
Checking out cardiovascular fitness
It is important to assess your cardiovascular fitness before you decide to pursue diving as a hobby, or even as a career. While this may seem like an easy task, it is far from simple. If you're unable to walk a single block, then you shouldn't register for a diving program. Instead, you should exercise for 20 minutes four to five times a week. Even walking a mile may not be sufficient.
Examining the gastrointestinal function
A scuba dive physical should include a thorough examination of the gastrointestinal function. This is because ischemic complications can arise during diving expeditions. Although divers may experience belching or abdominal discomfort, there is not much information about severe gastrointestinal complications. 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
Diver physicals are used to verify that divers can perform the skills required and to evaluate a diver's eyesight. A visual acuity questionnaire will be completed by the professional to determine if a diver is able to see clearly. Although the goal of the test is to evaluate a diver's near and distant vision, it also measures the person's visual acuity.
Barotrauma screening
You should take extra precautions when scuba diving to avoid barotrauma. Barotrauma derives its name from the Greek words baros which is pressure and trauma which refers to injury. In a dive, the pressure changes can damage or rupture key parts of the ear. If you have a cold or congestion, diving can cause this condition. It can also lead to symptoms like vomiting or pain.
Checking for Asthma
Before going on a dive vacation, your physician should be consulted if you believe you might have asthma. The symptoms of asthma can become worse or more severe, and can be triggered by diving. Your doctor will likely prescribe you oral steroids to help with your asthma. You should always keep an inhaler onboard your dive boat as a precaution. A physician can run an exercise test for asthma to assess the severity of your condition, as well as a lung function test.