Contraindications to scuba diving
- Margaux Vandevoorde
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Scuba diving is an activity accessible to everyone, recommended for ages 8 and up. However, we are operating in a specific environment where pressure increases with depth. In addition, breathing is not as easy as it is on the surface. This can have consequences for people with certain medical conditions. It is important to read the list of contraindications, but if you have any doubts, you should talk to your doctor.
A medical certificate is mandatory for training courses starting at Open Water.
The French Diving Federation and the Medical Commission have drawn up a table of contraindications. You can consult their website.
You can access the category you are interested in directly by clicking on it.
CARDIOLOGY
Definitive contraindications: - Symptomatic heart failure - Obstructive cardiomyopathy - Conditions with risk of syncope - Paroxysmal tachycardia - Uncorrected second-degree or complete AV block - Rendu-Osler disease
| Temporary contraindications or contraindications to be evaluated: - Congenital heart disease - Valvular heart disease - Coronary artery disease - Pericarditis and myocarditis - Treatment with beta blockers - Right-to-left shunt - Uncontrolled high blood pressure |
EARS, NOSE AND THROAT
Definitive contraindications: - Unilateral cochlear implant - Petro-mastoid recess - Ossiculoplasty - Laryngocele - Operated otosclerosis - Fracture of the petrous bone - Unilateral or bilateral labyrinthine destruction - Perilymphatic fistula - Uncompensated vestibular deficit | Temporary contraindications or contraindications to be evaluated: - Bilateral hearing loss - Otological surgery - Nasal polyps - Eustachian tube difficulties that may cause barometric vertigo - Vertigo attack or immediate recovery from a vertigo attack - Any unlabeled vertigo - Vestibular asymmetry > or = 50% (consolidated after 6 months) - Tympanic perforation and trans-tympanic aerators - Barotrauma or desaturation accident of the inner ear |
PULMONOLOGY
Definitive contraindications: - Respiratory failure - Fibrosing lung disease - Pulmonary vasculitis - Lung surgery - Bullous disease | Temporary contraindications or contraindications to be evaluated: - Asthma - Spontaneous or traumatic pneumothorax - Infectious disease - Pleurisy - Chest trauma |
OPHTALMOLOGY
Definitive contraindications: - Unstable vascular pathology of the retina, choroid, or optic disc, with a risk of bleeding - Keratoconus beyond stage 2 - Ocular prostheses or hollow implants - For N3, N4, and supervisors: binocular vision with correction < 5/10; if one eye is < 1/10, the other must be > 6/10 | Temporary contraindications or contraindications to be evaluated: - Acute conditions affecting the eyeball or its adnexa until healed - Refractive photokeratectomy and LASIK: 1 month - Phacoemulsification-trabeculectomy and vitreoretinal surgery: 2 months - Corneal transplant: 8 months - Treatment with local beta-blockers |
NEUROLOGY
Definitive contraindications: - Epilepsy - Severe deficit syndrome - Recurrent loss of consciousness - Neurosurgical, ENT, or traumatic meningeal breach - Cerebral motor impairment | Temporary contraindications or contraindications to be evaluated: - Severe head trauma |
PSYCHIATRY
Definitive contraindications: - Severe psychiatric disorder - Chronic alcoholism
| Temporary contraindications or contraindications to be evaluated: - Treatment with antidepressants, anxiolytics, neuroleptics, or hypnotics - Acute alcohol intoxication |
HEMATOLOGY
Definitive contraindications: - Peripheral thrombocytopenia, congenital thrombopathy - Recurrent phlebitis | Temporary contraindications or contraindications to be evaluated: - Blood clotting disorder discovered during an examination for a thromboembolic condition - Hemophilia - Unexplored phlebitis |
GYNECOLOGY
Temporary contraindication: Pregnancy
METABOLISM
Definitive contraindications: - Diabetes treated with oral hypoglycemic antidiabetic drugs | Temporary contraindications or contraindications to be evaluated: - Diabetes treated with insulin - Diabetes treated with biguanides - Tetany/spasmophilia - Severe metabolic or endocrine disorders |
DERMATOLOGY :
Various conditions may lead to temporary or permanent contraindications, depending on their severity or their pulmonary, neurological, or cardiovascular impact.
GASTROENTEROLOGY :
Definitive contraindications - Anti-reflux sleeve | Temporary contraindications or contraindications to be evaluated: - Hiatal hernia or gastroesophageal reflux to be evaluated |
To obtain your medical certificate, we recommend using the template created by the FFESSM, which can be downloaded here
