Education and debate

Fortnightly Review: Medical aspects of scuba diving

Institute of Naval Medicine, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 2DL.

In this review I will discuss aspects of diving medicine that cause clinical problems but are considered only in specialist postgraduate training. Experience suggests that most problems arise in determining fitness to dive and in recognising and treating medical conditions caused by exposure to raised environmental pressure.

History of diving

People's obsession with the underwater world began long before recorded history. Diving is considered in Greek mythology. Plutarch tells of an extraordinary fishing competition, using divers, between Anthony and Cleopatra, and Pliny refers to the use of military swimmers.

As underwater endurance and depth are limited by the ability to hold breath, people have continually striven to extend their underwater capabilities by mechanical means. From the fourteenth century onwards various designs for equipment have been found, including some attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. The use of diving bells is well recorded, one of the earliest being by Alexander the . . . [Full text of this article]

Summary points

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Relevant Article

Medical aspects of scuba diving Standards for diabetic divers are workable

C J Edge and P Wilmshurst
BMJ 1994 309: 340. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• (2003). British Thoracic Society guidelines on respiratory aspects of fitness for diving. Thorax 58: 3-13 [Full text]  
• Cross, S, Jennings, K, Thomson, L, Sykes, J J W (1994). Decompression sickness Role of patent foramen ovale is limited. BMJ 309: 743a-744 [Full text]  
• Edge, C J, Wilmshurst, P (1994). Medical aspects of scuba diving Standards for diabetic divers are workable. BMJ 309: 340-340 [Full text]