Medical Certificate for Scuba Diving
Dive medical clearance from a UK GP, accepted by PADI, BSAC and dive operators worldwide.
Your dive centre or operator needs medical clearance before you enter the water. No appointment needed.
✔ Accepted by PADI, BSAC and international dive operators.
✔ Covers recreational and technical diving, holiday dives and courses.
✔ Most Same day or by 9AM next morning. From £89.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
LET'S GET STARTED 
All consultations subject to clinical assessment. Issued only where clinically appropriate.
Standard Service
£55 - Receive your medical certificate within 2-4 business days
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Express Service
£59 - Your request prioritized and certificate issued within 24hrs or sooner
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How It Works
Complete a short online questionnaire
No appointment required. Complete a short medical questionnaire and upload any supporting evidence.
Doctor reviews your evidence
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your submission individually. No automated approvals.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
Receive your certificate
Most certificates arrive same day or by 9AM next morning, delivered via email a signed PDF. All consultations subject to clinical assessment. Issued only where clinically appropriate.
Very happy, I ordered my Medical Certificate in the early morning hours and before noon time of same day I had it on my inbox. Speedy service and they present the health condition precisely, get to the point.
They meet the incredibly fast turnaround stated (certificate/letter sent before 9am the following morning if the doctor feels that a letter/certificate is appropriate) which is incredibly quick and I am really grateful for the help provided!
Very easy and quick to get my certificate. And the certificate was approved from the specific company to travel with my dog. I will use them again. Well done.
Second time using this company and they are fabulous! Always great, fast, friendly service. Highly recommend!
This was my second time using Medical Cert, and once again the service was exceptionally quick and professional. Everything was handled efficiently, with clear communication throughout.
I found the service very straight forward and quick. Exactly what I needed to get my Padi medical form signed before our holiday. Thank you very much.
Process was easy and responses were quick. I would recommend their service.
Fast efficient service for medical certificates. I used the not fit to fly service and was provided with a certificate the next day, the price is very reasonable and enabled a flight credit refund with my airline. Would recommend and would use again if needed.
A fast and efficient service. It wasn't complicated and the Fit-to-fly note was accepted by the Airport without any further questions. Thank you.
Ideal for me, I am looking to get a certificate for some medical issues I have. So this is the perfect solution for me, uploading docs was easy and the forms very straightforward to fill in. Will definitely use them again. Many thanks.
Excellent service. Easy to use and certificate issued in less than 24 hours. £39 as opposed to the £150 my GP charges. Highly recommended.
Quick and reasonably pain-free. Received their standard certificate as well as my requested bespoke certificate, by email, by 9am the following morning. Both completed properly, signed and stamped as required. More expensive than my GP, but infinitely quicker and easier.
One of the best experiences. It's easy to get a GP note.
Excellent. My GP refuses to issue DWP MED 3 Fit Notes to students. MedicalCert were excellent and extremely helpful in providing a necessary certificate. Highly recommended.
You were amazing, you kept me updated and replied promptly to any queries I had. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
They helped me, they were very professional and nice.
Very pleased. Quick service with very professional letter provided.
Great service, pretty straight forward and easy to use the website.
I was recommended Medical Cert by a friend and was so impressed with the service received. I would recommend using a laptop rather than a phone. Overall a fantastic and fast service.
Scuba Diving Medical Certificate Online — GP Letter for Fitness to Dive
Dive schools, PADI centres, BSAC clubs, holiday dive operators, and overseas diving destinations usually require a self-declaration or medical questionnaire before allowing participation in recreational scuba activities. Medical clearance is typically needed when a diver answers "yes" to any health question on the questionnaire, has concerns about fitness to dive, or when an operator routinely requires a GP letter regardless of questionnaire outcome. Without GP sign-off, most operators will not allow a diver to enter the water.
MedicalCert provides online scuba diving medical certificates and GP letters for recreational diving, following individual clinical review by a GMC-registered doctor. Complete a detailed health questionnaire, upload relevant medical records or evidence, and receive your signed diving medical clearance same day or by 9AM next morning. Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued on clinical grounds.
Most approved certificates issued same day | Full refund if we cannot issue | GMC-registered doctors
Which Type of Diving Medical Do You Need?
There are three distinct types of diving medical assessment in the UK, and they are not interchangeable. The right one depends on whether you dive recreationally or commercially, and whether your diving organisation requires a GP letter or a specialist referee sign-off.
| Assessment type | Who it covers | Who conducts it | Can MedicalCert help? |
|---|---|---|---|
| GP fitness to dive letter / recreational diving medical certificate | Recreational divers (PADI, SSI, BSAC, resort diving) who have flagged a health condition on their pre-dive questionnaire, or whose operator requires a GP letter | Any GMC-registered GP following clinical review of health history | ✔ Yes — online, same day |
| UKDMC Medical Referee assessment | BSAC divers whose condition requires referral beyond a GP, as specified by BSAC medical guidance or their branch | A UKDMC-registered Medical Referee — a specialist with specific diving medicine training | ✗ No — contact the UK Diving Medical Committee for a referee list |
| HSE commercial diving medical | Professional and commercial divers working under HSE regulations (Diving at Work Regulations 1997) | An HSE-approved diving medical examiner — in-person examination required | ✗ No — cannot be completed remotely; contact an HSE-approved examiner directly |
What This Online Diving Medical Clearance Covers
MedicalCert issues recreational scuba diving fitness certificates and GP letters following clinical review of your health information. Understanding the scope prevents applying for the wrong document.
✔ Suitable for
- ✔ PADI medical certificate requirements, SSI, NAUI, and other recreational dive agency courses where the operator requires a GP letter due to a flagged health condition
- ✔ BSAC recreational divers who have answered "yes" on the BSAC self-declaration medical form and need a GP supporting statement or fitness to dive letter
- ✔ Holiday and resort dive operators requiring medical clearance before recreational dives
- ✔ Divers with managed conditions (for example, controlled hypertension, well-controlled asthma, treated diabetes) who need a GP to confirm fitness to dive recreationally
- ✔ Overseas dive centres requiring a signed fitness to dive certificate or GP letter as a condition of participation
⚠️ Not suitable for
- ✗ HSE commercial diving medicals, which require an HSE-approved diving medical examiner and in-person examination. These cannot be completed remotely.
- ✗ UKDMC Medical Referee sign-off for BSAC, where BSAC specifically requires a UKDMC-registered referee rather than a GP letter
- ✗ Technical or saturation diving, which requires specialist hyperbaric medicine assessment
- ✗ Divers with absolute contraindications to diving. Where clinical review identifies a condition that cannot be safely reconciled with recreational diving, the certificate will not be issued and a full refund will be given.
BSAC Medical Certificate and GP Letter Requirements
The British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) requires all members to complete a self-declaration medical form before diving. If you answer "yes" to any health question on the BSAC form, you need a GP to review your condition and provide a supporting statement confirming fitness to dive. This is the BSAC medical certificate requirement that MedicalCert can fulfil for recreational BSAC divers with managed conditions.
✔ GP sign-off via MedicalCert
Where BSAC requires a GP supporting statement after a "yes" answer on the self-declaration form, a GMC-registered GP can review your health history and provide a fitness to dive letter. Some conditions flagged on the BSAC self-declaration may also require advice or clearance through UKDMC Medical Referee processes. This is the standard pathway for BSAC members with managed conditions such as controlled asthma, treated hypertension, or stable diabetes.
⚠️ UKDMC Medical Referee needed
Some conditions require referral to a UKDMC-registered Medical Referee rather than a GP. If your BSAC branch or the BSAC medical guidance specifies a UKDMC referee for your condition, MedicalCert cannot replace that assessment. Contact the UK Diving Medical Committee directly for a list of approved referees in your area.
Why Scuba Diving Requires Medical Clearance
Scuba diving places specific physiological demands on the body that do not apply to surface sports. Changes in ambient pressure, breathing compressed gas, and exertion at depth create genuine clinical risks for divers with certain conditions. These are the primary reasons dive operators require a fitness to dive certificate or GP letter before granting clearance.
Lung and respiratory health
The lungs must equalise pressure during ascent and descent. Untreated asthma, spontaneous pneumothorax history, COPD, and bullous lung disease carry increased risk of pulmonary barotrauma and require GP assessment before diving clearance.
Cardiovascular fitness
Scuba diving demands sustained cardiovascular exertion, particularly in currents or emergencies. Uncontrolled hypertension, recent cardiac events, arrhythmias, and significant heart disease require clinical assessment. Well-controlled conditions may still be compatible with recreational diving.
Neurological and consciousness risk
Any condition that could cause sudden loss of consciousness underwater, including epilepsy, uncontrolled diabetes with hypoglycaemia risk, or certain medications, presents a direct safety risk. These conditions are assessed individually and are not all absolute contraindications.
ENT and equalisation
The ability to equalise pressure in the middle ear and sinuses is a fundamental diving requirement. Chronic ear problems, perforated eardrums, severe sinusitis, and Eustachian tube dysfunction may affect suitability and require GP review before clearance is issued.
Medications and prescription drugs
Certain antihistamines, sedatives, antidepressants, and cardiovascular drugs can have effects amplified under pressure or affect a diver's emergency response capacity. PADI requires GP sign-off for divers on prescription medication in many cases.
Diabetes and metabolic conditions
Controlled diabetes is not an automatic bar to recreational diving, but requires careful clinical assessment covering hypoglycaemia risk, medication type, exertion, and depth limits. A GP fitness to dive letter is required for diabetic divers at most dive centres, in line with UKDMC and DAN guidance.
What Your Scuba Diving Medical Certificate Includes
How to Get Your Scuba Diving Medical Certificate Online
Same day delivery | GMC-registered doctors | Full refund if we cannot issue
Scuba Diving Medical Certificate — Frequently Asked Questions
Guidance and Standards Referenced
The clinical assessment approach used by MedicalCert GPs for recreational diving fitness is informed by the following recognised UK and international sources:
📚 Referenced sources
- 📋 UK Diving Medical Committee (UKDMC) — the body responsible for recreational and professional diving medicine standards in the UK. BSAC medical referee pathways are governed by UKDMC guidance. ukdmc.org
- 📋 Diving Alert Network (DAN) — internationally recognised authority on diving medicine, including guidance on diabetes, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions in recreational divers. diversalertnetwork.org
- 📋 Health and Safety Executive (HSE) — Diving at Work Regulations 1997 — governs commercial diving medical requirements in the UK. Recreational diving is outside HSE scope; these regulations apply to professional divers only. hse.gov.uk/diving
- 📋 British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) — sets medical self-declaration requirements for BSAC club members and specifies when GP sign-off or UKDMC Medical Referee assessment is required. bsac.com
- 📋 General Medical Council (GMC) — registers and regulates all doctors practising in the UK. All MedicalCert reviewing GPs hold active GMC registration. gmc-uk.org
