A good dive exam should cover a number of different areas that a doctor should be looking for. A general exam includes checking your cardiovascular fitness, gastrointestinal function as well as visual acuity and barotrauma. Additional tests may be recommended by doctors to assess your diving skills. If you have had any ear infections in the past it is important that your dive doctor be consulted. You don't need to have a history of ear problems, but a dive physical will help you get the right information.
Examining cardiovascular fitness
It is important to assess your cardiovascular fitness before you decide to pursue diving as a hobby, or even as a career. Although this might seem easy, it's not. If you are unable to walk a block, don't sign up for a diving class. It is better to exercise 20 minutes four to five time per week. Even walking a mile may not be sufficient.
Examining the gastrointestinal function
Because ischemic colitis is possible during a diving expedition, it is crucial to check the digestive function of divers. Belching and abdominal discomfort are common symptoms in divers. However, very little information is available on the serious gastrointestinal complications that can result from diving. There have been rare cases of gastrointestinal problems, such as gastric rupture caused by intra-gastric air expansion or massive pneumoperitoneum. This is due to lung barotrauma. Scuba diving has never been associated with hemorhagic colitis, acute ischemic and mesenteric vein embombosis.
Examining visual acuity
Dive physicals are done to make sure divers can perform the necessary skills and to assess a diver’s vision. A visual acuity questionnaire will be completed by the professional to determine if a diver is able to see clearly. Although the test's objective is to assess the distance and near vision of a diver, it also measures their visual acuity.
Barotrauma screening
Scuba diving requires you to be extra cautious in order to prevent barotrauma. Barotrauma comes from the Greek words trauma (meaning injury) and baros (meaning pressure). The pressure changes that occur during a dive can cause injury or damage to key parts of the ears. You can get this condition if you are suffering from a cold, congestion, or while diving. You may also experience nausea or vomiting.
Asthma screening
You should see your physician if you suspect that you have asthma before you dive. Asthma symptoms can worsen or wax and wane, and they can even get triggered by diving. Your doctor will likely prescribe you oral steroids to help with your asthma. As a precaution, you should keep a supply of inhalers on board your dive boat. Your doctor can also conduct an exercise test to assess asthma symptoms and do a lung function check to determine severity.