Scuba Diving Medical Questionnaire: A Safe Starting Point

A diver medical questionnaire is a structured starting point before training or a dive activity. It asks about past and current health, symptoms, medication, operations, allergies, breathing, heart and circulation, neurological history, ears and sinuses, and other factors that may affect comfort or safety in the water. Its purpose is not to label you or predict your future; it helps identify whether a conversation with a doctor is sensible before you commit to a class.

The most useful approach is to answer from your actual history rather than from what you hope the answer will be. If you are unsure about a date, diagnosis or medicine name, say so and check your records. Include conditions that are controlled, intermittent or currently symptom-free. Mention previous hospital visits, fainting, chest symptoms, exercise intolerance, seizures, surgery, panic symptoms, recurring ear trouble and any recent change in treatment. A short explanation is more helpful than leaving a box blank because you feel well today.

A questionnaire cannot examine your lungs, heart, ears or ability to equalise pressure. It also cannot account for the exact training environment, workload, equipment, depth or supervision. Treat it as a conversation organiser. If the form indicates medical review, do not edit answers to avoid a referral. Bring the completed form, medication list and relevant reports to a qualified physician, and ask the training provider what activity is planned.

There is no single answer for every diver, course or agency. The training provider may ask you to complete a recognised screening form, and the answers may show that physician approval is needed. A doctor’s assessment is also a sensible next step when you have a significant medical history, new or unexplained symptoms, a recent operation, a change in medication, or uncertainty about whether you can safely perform the planned activity. The decision belongs to the appropriate medical professional, not to a chat message or an instructor guessing from a diagnosis label.

The Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society describes a three-part system: the participant questionnaire, a physician’s evaluation form when approval is necessary, and diving medical guidance for the evaluating doctor. In practical terms, The UHMS recreational diving screening system has 3 parts: a participant questionnaire, a physician's evaluation form when approval is necessary, and medical guidance for the evaluating doctor. This means a questionnaire can lead to an evaluation without meaning that you are automatically rejected. The system aims to identify people who need medical evaluation and to allow as many people to dive as reasonably possible while considering risk. Requirements can vary by agency, provider and activity, so confirm the current process before booking.

If you are sent for assessment, ask whether the doctor has experience with diving medicine or can consult recognised diving medical guidance. Take the exact questionnaire and a clear description of the planned course. A physician may need to understand exertion, pressure changes, breathing gas, likely depth and emergency context. DiveHarbour can clarify the course enquiry and paperwork pathway, but cannot issue medical clearance or replace a clinical examination.

A diagnosis alone does not provide a safe yes-or-no answer. Asthma can involve different triggers, severity and control; heart conditions range from minor histories to issues that require careful assessment; ear and sinus problems may affect pressure equalisation or indicate an active problem. A clinician must consider your symptoms, treatment, functional capacity, examination and the proposed activity. Do not stop prescribed medicine, test yourself in water or attempt to force equalisation in order to ‘pass’ a questionnaire.

For ear symptoms in particular, pain, discharge, infection, recent surgery or inability to equalise deserves attention before diving. Read our guidance on scuba diving with an ear infection rather than treating a general statement as permission to enter the water. If the questionnaire leads to a physician review, the diver medical physician's evaluation form explains the kind of professional step involved.

Breathing and cardiac symptoms also need honest context: when they occur, whether exercise brings them on, and whether treatment has changed. A previous diagnosis that is stable may be assessed differently from current chest pain, wheeze, fainting or unexplained breathlessness. If any concerning symptom is happening now, obtain medical advice promptly. An instructor can adjust learning pace and explain skills, but should not diagnose, waive a referral or promise that a condition is compatible with diving.

A clear enquiry makes the next step calmer. Start with the activity you want: an introductory pool session, a certification course, or a boat-based open-water day. Then explain any relevant health history without trying to interpret it. Ask what form is used, who reviews it, when a physician’s approval is required, and whether the planned session can be changed if the review is not complete. This separates administrative information from medical judgement.

Hong Kong conditions can make the activity feel different across settings: a sheltered pool session, a boat trip and an open-water training day may involve different exertion, access and logistics. That does not create a special medical rule, but it is useful information for the clinician and provider. Tell them if you are new to scuba, returning after a long break, or concerned about motion, stress or water temperature.

You do not have to decide the whole diving journey while you are still clarifying health information. Use the simplest path that answers your question. Someone with no relevant history may only need the current questionnaire and provider briefing; someone with a condition or uncertainty should allow time for a clinician. If you are unwell on the day, postponing a session and getting advice is more responsible than trying to push through because travel or a group booking has already been arranged.

For questions about a cold, medication or alcohol before a session, see can I scuba dive with a cold. If your health or documents have changed, our guide to when to update a diver medical questionnaire can help you decide what to tell the provider. These resources support preparation; neither replaces a clinician’s assessment.

Medical screening and insurance are related but not interchangeable. A questionnaire does not automatically provide travel or dive insurance, and an insurance policy does not clear you medically. If you are comparing cover, read do I need scuba diving insurance in Hong Kong and check exclusions, depth or activity limits, emergency assistance and disclosure requirements directly with the insurer. Keep the policy wording and any medical correspondence together.

Before paying, ask the provider what the fee covers, whether a medical evaluation is arranged by you or by the provider, and which documents must be received before participation. Health information should be shared only with the people who need it for the enquiry or clinical decision. DiveHarbour can explain the available training pathway and help you formulate questions, while the final medical decision remains with a qualified physician and you remain responsible for giving accurate information.