At the BDSG COVID-19 working group meeting on 28th May, the HSE informed the group that due to the lockdown, they were extending HSE medicals by 3 months for asymptomatic divers or those who have had similar symptoms but been tested negative for COVID-19. The BDSG asked the UKDMC if they also planned to extend Recreational Diving Medicals which expire during the lockdown.
The UKDMC met on Saturday 30th of May to discuss this point and indicated they would not be extending recreational diving medicals and gave clear reasons why.
‘The duration of a recreational diving medical is determined by the assessing doctor based on the anticipated stability of the underlying medical condition and can be up to a maximum of “indefinitely”. When a recreational diver’s medical has expired, it is not just due to time, but because they need a further medical review.’
‘The HSE’s automatic extension is only for working divers in whom “there are no problems and the diver’s last medical certificate was for 12 months”. That means any diver, whether recreational or working, who has problems or whose certification is time-limited, will require assessment by an appropriate medical practitioner in order to extend their certification. As a result, the UKDMC’s approach is wholly consistent with that of HSE’
UKDMC
Although this may not be what divers may wish to hear, the logic is sound as the expiry date of a recreational diving medical is based on a medical risk assessment.
Steve Orange
SAA National Diving Officer
