Courses in Diving Medicine

DMAC has established an approval system for courses in diving medicine.

Background

Legal regulations and industrial standards concerning training of doctors involved in examination and treatment of working divers and the medical consultants to diving contractors vary throughout the world. Many professional divers work in different nations as a part of their employment and, even though the guidance on medical standards for fitness to dive is reasonably well established internationally, the training of doctors to conduct those examinations and to provide competent support for diving emergencies is patchy. Accreditation or approval of courses in diving medicine would probably best be achieved if multi-national agencies (such as bodies within WHO, ILO or EU) or well-reputed academic institutions with international connections would accept such a responsibility. However, in spite of agreement for many years on the need for approval, little or nothing has happened.

In 2004 the European Diving Technology Committee (EDTC) produced its guidance on the "Medical Assessment of Working Divers", available from IMCA (the International Marine Contractors Association).

Previously, a joint committee of the European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine (ECHM) and EDTC developed "Training Standards for Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine". At present, this remains the best recognised international standard for such training. However, no organisation has accepted responsibility for administering an approval procedure for these basic courses. Until another recognised body takes on this responsibility, DMAC has accepted the obligation to assess selected courses in diving medicine together with a representative of the EDTC Medical Subcommittee; this alliance is to be referred to as 'DMAC/EDTCmed'.

Two levels of approval are available:

• Level 1 - Medical assessment of divers (Medical Examiner of Divers)
• Level 2D - Medical management of diving accidents and illnesses (Diving Medical Physician)

It is emphasised that DMAC/EDTCmed will approve only the courses and not the competence of those who have attended them.

Applying for Approval

Those interested in gaining DMAC recognition for their course should download the recognition document (see below). This sets out all of the requirements and procedures. A Word version for electronic completion is available to course administrators on request. Any further questions should be addressed to the Secretary.

•   Approval of Diving Medicine Courses
•   Checklist only (for those applying for recognition)
•   Training Objectives for a Diving Medical Physician

Approved Courses

The following courses are currently approved by DMAC/EDTCmed: