fifth step -- dive medical

Fifth step -- The diving medical

Well went to the diving medical on the 29^th September 2009 at 14:00, this was done at an indipendant medical company in Derriford, Plymouth. (make sure you take gym gear for fitness test)

At first I thought this was going to be a long day but it wasn’t that bad.

Firstly I went into a room with a nurse where she went through what would be happening and took basic measurements height, weight, BMI (Body Mass Index). Then went on to blood pressure, after all the paper work it was time for a work out. you have to do a step test to a clicking sound which gets quicker every 2 minutes, you have to give a work out rate from 1 to 14 and heart rate reading (from a heart rate monitor that you wear) to nurse after every rise in clicks.

Once the fitness test is over the reading are set out onto a graph which then works out if your fitness is suitable for diving trade, once the nurse was finished you then have wait for the main examiner to do the rest of the testing.

After a short wait I was then taking into the main examiners room where I was first asked a series of questions about my health and any pervious injuries and operations. Then I had a reflex test, bloods taken, hearing test, breathing test and finally a heart echo.

The medical examiner finally came to the conclusion that I was fit to dive unofficially as bloods have to be sent off first he said I would be contact by my AFCO (Armed Forces Career Office) for the official all clear which I finally got after about 2 weeks of tense waiting.

You get a letter to contact a gym in your area to book the PJFT (Pre Joining Fitness Test) which is a 1.5 mile run on a tread mill in 10 MINUTES!!!!

IF I SAY ONE THING WHICH IS IMPORTANT AND THAT’S GET RUNNING IN THE GYM AND OUT AND ABOUT AT LEAST 5 TIMES A WEEK TRY TO RUN 7-7.5 MILES.

Mine is on the 16^th of November 2009 and looking forward to it. Wish me luck – will let you know how I get on.