where, in CM, to get a (serious) medical certificate for diving?

[Mitker]

Hello,

I have searched the forum but couldn't find any discussion about it:

I am looking for a place in CM where to get a physical examination for a future diving trip. I rather do it here in CM well in advance for planning and convenience reasons.

I know a useless one can be obtained at any place for 100 THB (the typical weight and blood pressure joke) but I'd rather find a specialized physician who can tell the difference between diving a wall and driving a Honda Dream, and understands the risks involved.

Thanks if you have any information

[PMNL]

Any hospital with ENT doctor to check eat drum, Valsava maneuver , asthma risk and so on. I guess Ram is a place as English is necessary.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Pond Life]

Forget about a specific diving medical, its not going to happen.

Take yourself to Mc Cormick Hospital, 8 in the morning, before having breakfast.

They have a menu of standard medical test you can choose from.

Just make sure it includes a chest xray & ECG.

One of the main things you dont want for serious diving is a hole in the heart of any description.

[thepool]

Any physician can "clear" you for normal recreational scuba diving.

If something more extreme is envisaged a specialist would be needed and would be difficult (impossible?) to find in Thailand

Try Singapore or Australia !

[Mitker]

Thanks for these first replies

This is indeed what I expected. Hard to find a specialized physician here.

I may go for the "own menu" option in a local hospital or try to get it in Europe (more likely on my way this year than Australia )

ECG is a must. Not that keen on X-rays (too many in my opinion)

Will be on board for 5 days with a team of divers from abroad

Want to minimize risks

[thepool]

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Thanks for these first replies

This is indeed what I expected. Hard to find a specialized physician here.

I may go for the "own menu" option in a local hospital or try to get it in Europe (more likely on my way this year than Australia )

ECG is a must. Not that keen on X-rays (too many in my opinion)

Will be on board for 5 days with a team of divers from abroad

Want to minimize risks

Glad to learn you are so "knowledgeable"

Have a look here

http://www.divemedicals.com.au/

Where is the demand for an ECG as a "MUST for recreational diving ?

Here are the routine PADI medical requirements

http://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/forms/pdf/10063-ver2-0.pdf

Edited April 8, 2014 by thepool

[Pond Life]

The OP asked for a "serious" dive medical, not a PADI medical

[Mitker]

I don't pretend to be "so knowledgeable".

What I do know is that during the last decade, we lost two members due to heart ailments during oversea dive trips. I also know by experience what successive dives can mean in terms of physical efforts if conditions get somewhat adverse (currents, temperatures.. no need to go extreme). I thus personally consider an ECG on a periodic basis a clever decision.

It is not a Padi trip indeed.

[sharktooth]

I don't pretend to be "so knowledgeable".

What I do know is that during the last decade, we lost two members due to heart ailments during oversea dive trips. I also know by experience what successive dives can mean in terms of physical efforts if conditions get somewhat adverse (currents, temperatures.. no need to go extreme). I thus personally consider an ECG on a periodic basis a clever decision.

It is not a Padi trip indeed.

Why are you diving in adverse conditions? Plan the dive and dive the plan. If you have current, tell the boat where to pick you up and carry a balloon, if you are diving in cold water then wear the appropriate wetsuit or upgrade to dry suit. No wonder so many scoody doos die every year.

[thepool]

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The OP asked for a "serious" dive medical, not a PADI medical

Here are the requirements for serious diving !

http://www.hse.gov.uk/diving/carr.htm

UK specific but similar "rules" in all Western countries!

You will note that the PADI organisation is included among the list of approved trainers.

There is within the UK 116 approved doctors who undertake "serious" dive medicals.

To my knowledge there are no such medics in Thailand however Approved Medical Examiners of Divers can be found in Australia

Edit

Update

Approved Medical Examiners of Divers in Thailand

– Rear Admiral Suriya Na Nagara

Address: Medical Department, Royal Thai Navy c/o 1009/3 Sathupradit 20, Bangklo, Bangkorlaem, Bangkok 10120

Telephone: +66 2 212 1618, +66 1 634 4064

– Dr Kajit Usaneesawatchai

Address: Royal Thai Navy (Arpakorn Kiattiwong) Hospital, Sattahip Naval Base, Chonburi Province

Telephone: +66 38 436 167

– L Cdr. Dr Kamonsak Tangchai

Address: Royal Thai Navy (Arpakorn Kiattiwong) Hospital, Sattahip, Chonburi Province, c/o 576/2 Soi Suan Plu 3,

Sathorn BKK 10120

Telephone: +66 81 818 0986

– Dr Thanasawat Chaiyakul

Address: Naval Medical Department, 504 Taksin Road, Buccalo, Thonburi, Bangkok 10600

Telephone: +66 2 475 2641

Fax: +66 2 460 1105

Edited April 9, 2014 by thepool

[mickmac]

Would taking the "Bruce Protocol" not be sufficient, proving there is no heart problems while checking under stress?

[DaamNaam]

Any physician can "clear" you for normal recreational scuba diving.

If something more extreme is envisaged a specialist would be needed and would be difficult (impossible?) to find in Thailand

Try Singapore or Australia !

Not impossible at all.

Bangkok hospital does diving medicals. And for professional diving medicals Sattahip naval base does them.