Medical diving certificate

The diving fitness test is not required by law, but it is for your own safety and also serves as legal protection in the event of an accident. You should therefore be sure to obtain a medical diving certificate before starting a diving course.

Who is authorised to issue a medical diving certificate?

Ideally, the diving fitness examination should be carried out by a specialised diving doctor who is well versed in the subject and can assess the effects of pressure on your body. You can find a list of all diving doctors sorted by postcode here at the Gesellschaft für Tauch- und Überdruckmedizin (GTÜM). If you do not have a diving doctor in your area, you can alternatively visit your family doctor - however, as the majority of family doctors are not divers, it is advisable to take the examination form provided by the GTÜM with you.

What is done during the diving fitness examination?

The diving fitness examination is a thorough examination of your physical and mental health to ensure that your body can withstand the pressure under water. It is essential for every diver to be able to equalise pressure: There should be no diseases of the respiratory tract, nasal, frontal or sinus cavities or ear canals. Your basic physical fitness will also be tested during the diving fitness examination, as the diving equipment weighs a lot and must be able to be carried independently.

The diving doctor should check your lung function, carry out a hearing test, a resting ECG and an ENT examination. The ECG is particularly important as you may sometimes have to swim against the current or a long way with full equipment. Your eyes (diving is generally not a problem for contact lens wearers) and neurological findings should also be in order. During the medical examination for fitness to dive, you should also mention any previous illnesses, information on medication and any pregnancy.

How much does a medical diving certificate cost?

Once you have undergone a diving fitness examination, your GP or diving doctor can issue you with a medical diving certificate. If you go to a general practitioner, please note that there are no internationally standardised examination guidelines: You should therefore make sure that all the necessary examinations mentioned above are carried out and, in particular, that all the requirements necessary for pressure equalisation are met. Depending on which examinations have been carried out, the medical diving certificate is therefore charged differently by each doctor. In most cases, the diving fitness examination costs between €50-80.

How long is the diving fitness examination valid for?

Children should not start diving before the age of 8. Up to around 14-16 years of age, diving is only carried out at shallow depths. A medical diving certificate should be obtained up to the age of 18 and annually from the age of 40 to ensure your personal safety. Between the ages of 18 and 40, it is usually sufficient to repeat the TTU every three years.