Winter2016AlertDiver

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Q: I have been diagnosed
with a medical condition,
and I cannot find any
specific information about it at
How can I find out more
about my condition and diving?
A: The International
Classification of Diseases
(ICD), published by the
World Health Organization (WHO)
and used by physicians around the
world, lists 12,420 disease categories
and more than 70,000 diagnostic
codes. The DAN® website includes
specific information about a wide
range of health and medical issues
relevant to divers and potential
divers, but it is impossible to list
every disease and medical condition.
Consider calling the DAN medical
information line at +1-919-684-
2948; DAN medics and physicians
are available to discuss your diving-
related health and safety questions Monday through
Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. DAN medics have
a wealth of knowledge about fitness to dive and diving
with various medical conditions. We also have close
working relationships with several major university
medical centers and a large global network of doctors of
various specialties trained in dive medicine.
Next consider that questions about fitness for diving
with many medical conditions can be answered based
on general guiding principles. Several of the articles
at such as “Cardiovascular
Fitness and Diving,” “Diving and the Body Systems”
and “Psychological Issues in Diving,” can give divers
an understanding of the most important criteria for
determining fitness to dive — even if their particular
medical condition isn’t mentioned specifically.
While each individual’s health status must be
considered on a case-by-case basis, divers with
significant cardiovascular or respiratory disease,
disabling musculoskeletal issues or limited exercise
capacity are usually discouraged from participating in
scuba diving. Diving requires a level of fitness that can
accommodate sudden exertion: a long surface swim to
the boat or shore, fighting a strong current, carrying
gear, climbing a ladder, managing heavy surge or surf
and rescuing oneself or one’s buddy. Poor physical
fitness is a hazard to the diver as well as to dive
buddies and/or potential rescuers.
A diver with physical limitations may wish to
find a program specifically designed for divers with
disabilities. There are a variety of adaptive dive
programs for disabled divers. Some of these are
therapeutic or rehabilitative by design, and these
programs were created with medical support for both
the disabled diver and the dive buddy.
— Marty McCafferty, EMT-P, DMT
RESEARCH, EDUCATION & MEDICINE
FROM THE MEDICAL LINE
58 | WINTER 2016
Can I Dive with My
Medical Condition?
DAN MEDICS AND RESEARCHERS ANSWER
YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT DIVE MEDICINE.
STEPHEN FRINK