nurture

Dive Medicals

GHFP Nurture is located in Howrah on Hobart's Eastern Shore and provides recreational and commercial dive medicals for divers throughout Hobart and Tasmania. Our dedicated dive medical clinic offers fitness-to-dive assessments for recreational divers, commercial divers requiring annual certification under AS/NZS 2299.1, and individuals returning to diving following illness or injury.

Who Needs a Dive Medical?

We provide dive medicals for:

  • Commercial divers requiring annual medical certification under AS/NZS 2299.1
  • Recreational divers requiring medical clearance for training or certification
  • Divers returning after illness, surgery, injury or extended time away from diving
  • Divers with medical conditions requiring specialist assessment of fitness to dive

Experienced Dive Doctors with a Passion for Diving

Dr Elif Stoneman and Dr Declan Hilder are Tasmanian-based doctors with a shared passion for diving, adventure, and underwater medicine. They both provide recreational and commercial dive medicals with a focus on approachable, thorough, and evidence-based care for the local diving community.

Both completed their medical training through the University of Tasmania and have spent time working across regional and tertiary hospital settings before pursuing General Practice training. With backgrounds in emergency, rural, and acute care medicine, and a genuine love for the ocean, they are passionate about improving access to dive medical services in Southern Tasmania.

Elif and Declan have both completed the ANZHMG Introductory Course in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, held in WA. Declan is currently working within the Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine at the Royal Hobart Hospital, further developing his experience in underwater and hyperbaric medicine.

Outside of medicine, Elif and Declan are both keen divers who have done the majority of their diving in Tasmania’s cold-water environment. They have also dived extensively around the world, including Indonesia, the Galapagos, Mexico, and Colombia, and share a strong interest in promoting safe and accessible diving within the community.

Commercial Dive Medicals (AS/NZS 2299.1)

We provide commercial diving medical assessments in Hobart in accordance with AS/NZS 2299.1. These assessments are suitable for divers working in aquaculture, marine construction, scientific diving, environmental monitoring and other occupational diving roles.

Commercial dive medicals include hearing assessment, spirometry, cardiovascular assessment, medical examination and certification of fitness to dive.

Recreational Dive Medicals

Recreational dive medicals are available for divers throughout Hobart and Tasmania undertaking training courses, returning to diving after a medical condition, or seeking medical clearance for safe participation in recreational scuba diving.

Book a Dive Medical

Appointments can be booked online or by contacting GHFP Nurture on (03) 6169 0005.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What does a dive medical include?

1. Pre-appointment

  • Review of previous dive medicals (please provide a copy if you have had one before)
  • Self-completed medical questionnaire
  • Chest X-ray (if not completed within the last 5 years)*
  • Cardiovascular disease risk blood test (if required and not completed within the last 6 months)*

* If required, you will be sent forms to complete these investigations at least 72 hours before your appointment.

2. Appointment with nurse (45 minutes)

  • Measurement of height, weight, BMI, waist/hip circumference, blood pressure, and heart rate
  • Visual acuity (eye test)
  • Screening audiometry (hearing test)
  • Spirometry (lung function test)
  • ECG* if indicated or over 45 years of age (heart electrical trace)
  • Urinalysis

3. Appointment with doctor (45 minutes)

  • Comprehensive medical history to assess medical conditions, risks, and relevance to diving
  • Thorough physical examination
  • Review of all results
  • Discussion regarding diving safety
  • Determination of fitness to dive

* Completing a dive medical does not guarantee that you will be found fit to dive. You may be found medically unsuitable to undertake diving activities or may require further investigation and follow-up. Additional fees may apply.

* GHFP is currently unable to provide commercial dive medicals for saturation divers or offshore commercial divers.

How long does a dive medical take?

Allow approximately 90 minutes for nurse testing and doctor assessment.

Do you provide commercial dive medicals?

Yes. We provide commercial dive medicals in accordance with AS/NZS 2299.1 for many occupational diving roles.

Do you provide recreational dive medicals?

Yes. We assess recreational divers, dive students and those returning to diving after illness or injury.

Do I need a dive medical?

Some training agencies require a dive medical if you answer "yes" to specific medical screening questions or have certain medical conditions.

Where is the clinic located?

GHFP Nurture is located in Glebe Hill Village Shopping Centre, Howrah on Hobart's Eastern Shore and provides dive medicals for divers throughout Tasmania.

How much does it cost?

  • Commercial dive medical: $440 (including GST)*
  • Recreational dive medical: $357.5 (including GST)

Both Commercial and Recreational dive medicals include pre-appointment review, nurse assessment and testing, and comprehensive doctor assessment.

Please note that dive medicals are not Medicare rebateable. Follow up appointments may or may not be eligible under Medicare.

*Commercial dive medicals may be eligible for reimbursement from your employer or may be claimable as a tax deduction.

What do I need to do before my appointment?

To help ensure your dive medical can be completed on the day, please:

✅ Complete your pre-appointment questionnaire

This is essential and helps identify any medical conditions, risks, or additional investigations that may need to be arranged before your appointment.

✅ Send through any relevant medical information before your appointment where possible

This may include:

Previous dive medical reports

Specialist letters or reports (e.g. cardiology, respiratory, ENT, neurology)

Recent investigation results relevant to your medical history

Providing these documents in advance allows our doctors time to review them before your appointment and may reduce the need for follow-up visits or additional delays.

✅ Bring a current list of medications

Including any regular medications, inhalers, supplements, or recent medication changes.

✅ Be honest and thorough in your responses

Providing accurate information is important for both your safety and compliance with diving medical standards.

✅ Bring identification and arrive 10–15 minutes early

This allows time for registration and any pre-assessment paperwork.