For dive centres

The diver medical questionnaire

The health form is the most delicate sheet at the desk: it decides whether a guest may dive, it contains particularly sensitive data, and it is exactly the document someone will ask for if things go wrong.

What the questionnaire is for

It filters. The questions are built so that a "yes" does not mean "you cannot dive" but "a doctor needs to look at this first". Heart, lungs, ears, seizures, medication, pregnancy, recent surgery - each of these is harmless on its own and not necessarily harmless under pressure.

As a centre you are not making a medical decision, and you should not be. Your job is to ask the question, record the answer, and insist on a doctor's certificate when the answer is yes.

Two routes, one destination

Some guests already carry a dive medical certificate - then the questionnaire is no longer needed. Others fill in the questionnaire and answer no throughout. Both routes lead to a complete check-in, and the guest should be able to choose which one they take.

When a certificate is required

On any "yes" in a health item, unless a doctor has cleared it.
At certain ages, where agencies or local rules require it.
Because the centre says so - for instance where the nearest chamber is far away, or for technical diving.

Certificates expire, and this is where paper reliably fails: in a binder, a certificate from 2023 looks identical to one from last week. Digitally, each certificate carries its expiry date and the guest is reminded before it runs out.

How long a questionnaire stays valid

With Diver ID a questionnaire is valid for one year. After that it is asked again. If a guest visits a different centre within that year, they do not get the whole form but a short follow-up: has anything about your health changed since your last check-in? That is the difference between filling in the same thing three times and confirming it once - and it is why regulars are through in seconds after their first visit.

Health data is a special category

A medical questionnaire falls under the special categories of personal data in the GDPR. In practice that means these sheets do not belong in a binder under the counter that anyone can reach, and they do not belong in a spreadsheet circulating by email. Digitally the rule is: your centre sees your guests' answers and nobody else's, and the guest keeps access to their own. More on this on our page about GDPR at a dive centre.

When a guest is excluded

It is rare, but it happens - and nobody should have to improvise at the desk. In that case the flow does not end in a dead end but with a clear statement of what the guest needs: a doctor's certificate. If you want, you can configure your centre so the questionnaire has to be completed before a dive can even be booked. And a guest who is medically excluded does not use up any credit from your Diver ID balance.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a diver medical questionnaire valid?

One year. After that it is asked again. Within that year, a different centre only needs the short follow-up question of whether anything about the guest’s health has changed.

When does a guest need a dive medical certificate?

As soon as any health item is answered with yes, and whenever the centre or the agency requires one regardless. The certificate carries an expiry date that is tracked and flagged in good time.

Can a guest upload a certificate instead of filling in the form?

Yes. A guest with a valid dive medical certificate uploads it and is done. Both routes lead to a complete check-in.

Does my whole team see all health answers?

Your team sees your guests’ answers, because they need them for safety - and nothing beyond that. Who on your team sees what is set through staff accounts.

Try Diver ID for free

Your account takes a few minutes to set up and the first 20 guest check-ins are on us. No subscription, no base fee, no payment details required.

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