Diving Medicine – Diving Medical Examinations and Certificates
Medical examinations and fitness-to-dive certificates for recreational and commercial divers, carried out by diving medical examiners.
Diving medicine at Charlottenlund Private Hospital includes medical examinations and certificates for recreational and commercial divers. Four types of examinations are offered: medical certificates for recreational divers aged 12 and over, initial medical examinations for applicants before entering commercial diving school, and comprehensive and annual medical examinations for commercial divers. The examinations are carried out by diving medical examiners, with Bjørn Arenkiel, a specialist in anaesthesiology, responsible for diving medicine at the hospital. For commercial divers, the results are recorded in their diving certificate, while recreational divers receive the doctor's assessment on their medical questionnaire. If you have difficulty equalising ear pressure, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist at the hospital can assess whether treatment is needed.
Which diving medical certificate do I need?
Charlottenlund Privathospital issues four types of diving medical certificates. The type you need depends on whether you dive recreationally or work as a commercial diver—and, for commercial divers, on your age and how long it has been since your last comprehensive examination.
What happens during a diving medical examination?
All four examinations can be booked online. Choose the certificate type that applies to you. At the appointment, the diving medicine physician reviews the medical questionnaire with the diver, then carries out the examination required for that specific certificate. Finally, the physician assesses whether the diver is fit to dive.
What is checked during the basic and comprehensive diving medical examinations?
The examination requirements are set out in the Danish Maritime Authority’s guidelines on the medical examination of divers. The basic examination is an annual check of the functions most important underwater. The comprehensive examination is a full medical examination using the Authority’s medical questionnaire. Candidates and divers having their first examination also complete a work test with an ECG, and must have had a chest X-ray before the examination. Hearing and vision must meet set standards.
When do commercial divers need basic and comprehensive examinations?
Commercial divers must have a valid medical certificate, renewed at least once a year. Under the age of 50, every fifth examination is comprehensive, and the basic examination is carried out in the other years. From age 50, a comprehensive examination is required every other year. A thorough examination is always required following a health-related incident while diving, regardless of when the last examination took place.
Source: Danish Maritime Authority, Guidelines on Medical Examinations for Divers.
Do recreational divers need a medical certificate?
There is no legal requirement for recreational divers to have a medical examination in Denmark—the Diving Act covers commercial diving, not recreational diving. However, diving organisations, clubs and dive centres almost always ask divers to complete a medical questionnaire. The international questionnaire was developed by diving medicine experts and is recognised by, among others, Divers Alert Network and the major training organisations. If you answer yes to any of the questions, a doctor must assess whether you are fit to dive. Charlottenlund Privathospital examines recreational divers aged 12 and over.
A medical certificate is always required for training through CMAS. Many dive centres abroad also ask for a signed certificate, and the recreational diver medical questionnaire can often be used for this.
What should I bring to my diving medical examination?
Commercial divers should bring their commercial diver certificate and logbook so the diving medicine physician can record the result. Candidates must have a chest X-ray arranged through their GP before their appointment and bring the result—with them in print or electronically, or available to view on sundhed.dk. Recreational divers should bring the questionnaire from their diving organisation. Bring glasses or contact lenses, as your vision will be tested. The hospital’s own medical questionnaire is completed on site.
For the candidate examination, arrive 1½ hours before your booked appointment; for the comprehensive examination, arrive 50 minutes before; and for the basic examination, arrive 15 minutes before. This allows time for an ECG, lung function tests and other measurements. Recreational divers should arrive at their booked appointment time.
What happens if the examination identifies a health problem?
The diving medicine physician will declare the diver fit, fit with restrictions on the scope of work, or unfit. Restrictions may mean that certain types of commercial diving work cannot be carried out. If further assessment is needed—for example, by a cardiologist for heart concerns or an ear, nose and throat specialist for the ears, nose and sinuses—it can often be arranged at Charlottenlund Privathospital. The same applies to dizziness and hearing loss. Further assessment is a separate service and is not included in the price of the diving medical certificate.
If the Danish Maritime Authority has concerns about a commercial diver’s health, it can require a new examination by a physician of its choosing. The diver does not have to pay for this examination.
What Can You Do if You Have Difficulty Equalising Ear Pressure?
Ear pain during descent occurs when pressure in the middle ear cannot equalise because the Eustachian tube does not open sufficiently.
For some divers, this can lead to interrupted dives or prevent them from completing their diving certification. For commercial divers, it can also affect their ability to work.
An ENT specialist can examine whether the Eustachian tube is narrowed and assess whether balloon dilation may be suitable.
The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia by Jacob Fisker, an ENT specialist who is also a diver.
Ear pain can have other causes, which are assessed during the examination.
What should I do if I have symptoms after a dive?
A diving medical certificate is intended to help prevent problems, but injuries can occur even when you’re in good health. That’s why it’s important to know the signs of decompression sickness.
Who are the diving medicine physicians at Charlottenlund Privathospital?
Bjørn Arenkiel is a specialist in anaesthesiology and is responsible for diving medicine at the hospital. He holds an EDTC Level 2 diploma in diving medicine, as required by the Danish Maritime Authority for candidate and comprehensive examinations, and has treated divers in a hyperbaric chamber. Charlotte Krebs Albrechtsen is an EDTC Level 1 diving medicine physician, approved by the Danish Maritime Authority to carry out the basic annual examination, which Level 1 physicians have been permitted to conduct since 2024. Both examine recreational divers.
How do I book and pay for a diving medical examination?
All diving medical examinations can be booked online 24/7 or by phone on 44 98 19 21 Monday–Friday, 8 am–2 pm. The examinations are self-pay, and no referral is required. If further investigation or treatment is needed, this may be covered by health insurance. Insurers typically require a referral from your GP and prior approval. Examinations take place at the main hospital in Charlottenlund.
Contact the diving medicine physicians at Charlottenlund Privathospital
Frequently asked questions
Do recreational divers need a medical certificate?
There is no legal requirement in Denmark. However, diving organisations, clubs and dive centres almost always ask divers to complete a medical questionnaire. If you answer yes to any of the questions, a doctor must assess whether you are fit to dive. A medical certificate is always required for training through CMAS.
How often do commercial divers need a medical examination?
Every year. Under the age of 50, every fifth examination is comprehensive and the others are basic. From age 50, a comprehensive examination is required every other year. A comprehensive examination is always required following a health-related incident while diving.
What is the difference between the basic and comprehensive diving medical examinations?
Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.What does the candidate examination include?
The candidate examination is a comprehensive medical examination required before admission to a commercial diving school. It is taken only once, and candidates must be over 18. It includes, among other things, a work test with an ECG, lung function testing, and hearing and vision tests. A chest X-ray must be arranged through your GP before the examination, and you must bring the result. Arrive 1½ hours before your booked appointment.
What should I bring to a diving medical examination?
Commercial divers should bring their commercial diver certificate and logbook; candidates should bring their chest X-ray result; and recreational divers should bring the questionnaire from their diving organisation. Bring glasses or contact lenses. The hospital’s medical questionnaire is completed on site.
What can I do if I can’t equalise?
An ear, nose and throat specialist can check whether the Eustachian tube is narrowed. At Charlottenlund Privathospital, balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube under general anaesthesia is offered to selected patients.
Related Information
If a diving medical examination identifies a condition requiring further investigation, this can often be carried out at another department within the hospital.
→ Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation – When Ear Pressure Cannot Be Equalised → Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) – Examination of the Ears, Nose and Sinuses → Cardiology – Heart and Blood Pressure Assessment → SDizziness – Assessment of Dizziness and Balance Disorders