Health conditions for diving: what you need to know

Before any dive — whether it's a Discover Scuba Diving experience or the first day of a PADI course — everyone fills out a standard medical questionnaire used internationally by dive schools and operators. It's not bureaucracy: it's how we make sure diving is safe specifically for you.

Worth being clear upfront: this article is just a general overview, meant to help you arrive prepared and without surprises on the day of your dive. It doesn't replace the official questionnaire, which is more detailed and which you'll fill out yourself before the activity — nor does it replace a doctor's evaluation, if one turns out to be needed.

In practice, it works simply: if you answer "no" to every question on the form, you can dive with no extra steps. If you answer "yes" to any of them, the next step is getting a doctor's sign-off before diving — which, in most cases, doesn't mean you can't dive, just that it's worth confirming with a healthcare professional first.

The questions cover a handful of main areas. On the cardiovascular side: history of heart problems, high blood pressure, heart surgery, or a pacemaker. On the respiratory side: asthma, a prior collapsed lung, or other lung disease.

You're also asked about ears and sinuses — since pressure equalization is central to diving — including ear surgery, significant hearing loss, or recurring sinus problems. Diabetes, epilepsy/seizures, frequent fainting, and recent surgery (including back or spine surgery) are also part of the form, along with pregnancy, since scuba diving isn't recommended during pregnancy.

Significant anxiety, panic, or claustrophobia in enclosed spaces are relevant questions too — not because they automatically disqualify anyone, but because the team needs to know so they can support you properly. Medications that could affect judgment or coordination come up as well.

Worth repeating: having one of these conditions, in most cases, doesn't mean you can't dive. It just means a doctor's clearance is the next step before the activity — an extra precaution, not a roadblock. For Discover Scuba Diving, there's also a minimum age for minors (from 10 years old, depending on the program).

If you already know one of these applies to you, it's best to talk to your doctor with some advance notice, so there's no last-minute scramble. And if you're unsure whether something applies to your case, just ask our team before booking — we'd rather clear everything up calmly than leave any doubt for the day of the dive.