Physical exam required to dive in Thailand?

[miketsp]

Hello all,

I'm a pretty new diver (OW certified Feb 2005, AOW certified June 2005) and a newbie ScubaBoard member. I have been searching for a while for a post on my question but can't seem to locate it -- must be doing something wrong. So I apologize in advance as I am sure someone has already asked this.

I am planning a 3 week trip to Thailand and hope to dive on the Gulf side. Do I need a doctor's signature on a physical exam for this? Is there a form I can download from somewhere that I can have a physician sign off on? I am 35 years old and in good health, with no pre-existing conditions which may disqualify me as a diver. I remember I had to have a doctor's signature for my OW checkout dives, but don't know if I need one for each dive trip.

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Asami

It is rare that anyone will ask if you are showing your c-card, but it does occasionally happen and can ruin a holiday, so every year when I do my annual checkup I give my doc a copy of the recreational guidelines and then get him to sign a medical certificate based on the UHMS format in 5 languages (German, French, Italian, Portuguese and English).
The interesting thing is that this certificate doesn't actually say you are fit to dive, it merely states that no condition has been found which would stop you from diving.
And those are clearly spelled out in the guidelines.
So even a non-diving doc feels at ease signing this certificate.

 

[Kim]

I wasn't asked to actually prove anything last year. I just signed the normal release papers.

 

[cleung]

I would just check with your dive operator in Thailand just to be sure. You need one for many European places.

 

[SubMariner]

Moved from Introductions & Greets forum.

 

[gogoasami]

Thanks, everyone! I just didn't want to arrive and find out I can't dive because I didn't have one sheet of paper.

asami