Professional Diving

Common absolute contraindications to professional diving (not a complete list)

Psychological Problems

Panic attacks
Claustrophobia
Psychotic episodes
Manic episodes
Lithium therapy
Bupropion 450 mg/d

Ocular Problems

Glaucoma filtering surgery
Intra-ocular gas postoperatively

Pulmonary Problems

Spontaneous pneumothorax (personal or family)
Asthma induced by cold or exercise
Significant airway sensivity
Significant scarring of the lungs following trauma or infection
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Emphesyma
Significant loss of pulmonary capacity
Smoking tobacco or other
Previous diving pulmonary barotrauma with sequelae
Previous arterial gas emboli with sequelae

Cardiovascular Problems

Stable angina
Significant myocardial damage following myocardial infarction
Prolonged QT syndrome
Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome
Excessive ventricular premature beats
Atrial fibrillation
Defibrillator
Pacemaker with unsustainable rhythm if failure
Significant valve stenosis
Changes in myocardial architecture
Patent foramen ovale with symptoms
Right to left shunts
Anticoagulant therapy

Neurological Problems

Loss of consciousness more than 5 minutes
History of seizures in the past four years
Transient ischemic attacks (TIA)
Cerebro-vascular accident (CVA)
Neurodegenerative disorder
Head injury with sequelae
Neurological sequelae of decompression sickness
Narcolepsy with cataplexy

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Pregnancy is an absolute contraindication to diving
Vaginal delivery for the following 4-6 weeks
Cesarian delivery for the following 6-8 weeks

Medication

Lithium
Tricyclic anti-depressants
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI)
Bupropion 450 mg/ d
Amphetamin / dextroamphetamine
Methylphenidate
Anticoagulants
Beta-blockers
Ace-inhibitors if cough
Tadalafil (Cialis)
Anti-histamines first generation
Pseudoephedrine
Mefloquine
Varenicline (Chantix)
Anti-emetics
Herbal agents w ephedrine, kava kava valerian st john's wort

Diving Medicine: Fit To Dive

All Dives Are Technical Dives