What responsibilities do diving club officers have for ensuring that individuals are medically fit to dive in a pool in a “come and try” session?
Helen A Scuba diving, even in a swimming pool, may be hazardous for individuals with certain medical conditions. Diseases that can cause sudden unconsciousness may lead to drowning. Epilepsy and serious heart diseases are examples. People with significant lung disease can be at risk of pulmonary barotrauma, even in a swimming pool, if they use scuba equipment. Such people must not be allowed to take part in pool try-dives. They will not be permitted to progress to open-water diving, so it would be unfair to whet their appetites with a pool try-dive. So that anyone with these types of medical conditions is not permitted to participate in a try-dive, all those wishing to take part should fill in a declaration of medical fitness. They should declare that they do not have any of a number of diseases listed on the form. If they have any of the conditions mentioned on the declaration, medical advice (usually from a medical referee) should be obtained before the individual is allowed to use s
