Phuket is a diving paradise. Before you get in the water, a dive school may ask for a medical form. It is a health questionnaire from PADI or a similar group. If you answer yes to any health question, a doctor must check you and sign the form. This keeps you safe underwater, where small health issues can turn serious.
The good news is that most people pass with no trouble. The exam is quick and calm. A PADI dive medical in Patong takes about half an hour with us. This guide shows what the doctor checks, why it matters, and how to give yourself the best chance to pass.
Why the Dive Medical Matters
Diving puts your body under stress. The pressure changes as you go down and come up. Your lungs, heart, and ears all feel it. On land, a small health issue may cause no trouble. Underwater, it can become dangerous fast. The dive medical is there to catch these hidden risks before they harm you. It is not there to stop you diving. It is there to make sure you dive safely, and come back up feeling fine.
Dive schools ask for the medical when your form shows a possible risk. Common flags include asthma, heart trouble, high blood pressure, diabetes, ear problems, or recent surgery. Being older or taking certain medicines can also trigger it. A yes to any question does not mean you cannot dive. It just means a doctor needs to check first. Often, we sign you off the same day.
What the Doctor Checks
The exam is simple and painless. First, the doctor talks with you about your health history and the questions you flagged. Then they check your heart and listen to your lungs. They look in your ears, since ear health matters a lot for diving. They check your blood pressure and your breathing. They may test how well your lungs move air. If needed, they can add a blood test or a heart tracing. Most of this takes only a short visit.
The checklist below shows the main parts of the exam. Your ears get special care. Diving needs you to clear the pressure in your ears, so a blocked ear or a recent infection can be a problem. Your lungs matter too, since trapped air can harm you as you rise. The doctor checks all of this to keep you safe on every dive.
How to Give Yourself the Best Chance to Pass
A few simple steps help. Come in when you feel well, not during a cold or an ear infection. A blocked nose or ear can delay your sign-off, since you need clear ears to dive. Bring a list of any medicines you take. If you have a known health issue, like asthma or a heart matter, bring any papers from your own doctor. This helps our doctor make a quick, safe call. Being open and honest gives the best result.
Do not hide a health problem to pass. The exam keeps you safe, and a hidden issue can hurt you underwater. If the doctor finds something, they will explain it and help you sort it out. Sometimes a short treatment clears the way. Sometimes you need one more test. We work with you to get you diving safely, not to keep you out of the water.
What the Dive Medical Covers
- A talk about your health history and any questions you flagged on the form
- A check of your heart and your blood pressure
- Listening to your lungs and checking your breathing
- A look inside your ears, which matter a lot for diving
- A test of how well your lungs move air, if needed
- A blood test or heart tracing, if your history calls for it
- A review of any medicines you take
- A signed form so your dive school can clear you
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I always need a dive medical to go diving in Phuket?
Not always. Most dive schools ask you to fill in a health form first. If you answer no to every question, you often do not need a doctor. If you answer yes to any, you need a PADI dive medical in Patong before you dive. A doctor checks you and signs the form.
How long does the dive medical take?
Usually about half an hour. The doctor talks with you, checks your heart, lungs, and ears, and reviews your form. If you need extra tests, it may take a little longer. In most cases, we can sign your form the same day, so you can get back to your dive plans quickly.
I have asthma. Can I still dive?
Maybe. Asthma does not always mean no diving. It depends on how well controlled it is. The doctor checks your breathing and asks about your symptoms. Bring any papers from your own doctor. If diving is safe for you, we sign your form. If not, we explain why and what may help.
I have a cold. Should I still come for my dive medical?
It is better to wait until it clears. A cold can block your nose and ears, and you need clear ears to dive safely. If we check you during a cold, we may not be able to sign you off. Come in once you feel well, and the exam will go more smoothly.
How soon will I get my signed form?
Often on the same visit. If your exam is clear, the doctor signs your form before you leave. If you need one more test, like a blood test, we may sign it once the result is back, often the same day thanks to our on-site lab. Then you are ready to dive.
Walk in on Prachanukroh Road near Bangla, or message us and we reply in minutes. Doctor hotel visits available across Patong and Phuket.
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