Join VARS for $50
Become a member of the Victorian Artificial Reef Society
and help us to get, prepare, sink and dive the ex HMAS Canberra.
VARS Membership Form
(Adobe PDF | 25.98 KB)
Volunteer Today
VARS needs your help! Whatever your skills or interests,
there are plenty of ways you can help us. Just fill out the Volunteer Application
and we will get you started immediately!
VARS Volunteer Application
(Adobe PDF | 38 KB)
Dive Medical
While we all like to enjoy ourselves underwater there are risks involved, especially for those with some medical conditions. The Australian Standards organisation, various state and federal regulators, together with the diving industry and representatives of recreational divers, have combined to put in place requirements and medical standards for SCUBA diving in Australia that are amongst the strictest in the world.
To undertake training with most diving operators, or to dive using their equipment, under their supervision, or on a dive they coordinate, they require you to have a Recreational SCUBA Diving Medical to Australian Standard 4005.1. Overseas medicals are not accepted unless they are equal or better than the AS4005.1 standard. When starting a diving course, the dive medical must be valid within 12 Months of starting a course or a new one is required.
The requirement for a Dive Medical is ultimately for your own safety.
Where To Get A Dive Medical
Some of the diving doctors we know and recommend are:
| Dive Medical Doctors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor | Location | Telephone |
| Dr Pamela Dagley | Eltham | 03 9439 2222 |
| Dr Vanessa Haller | Carrum Downs Medical Centre 115 Hall Road Carrum Downs VIC 3201 Melway 100 H2 |
03 9782 6666 |
| Dr Guy Williams | 1239 Point Nepean Road Rosebud VIC 3939 |
03 5981 1555 |
| Dr John Roth | Mornington Medical Group 258 Main St Mornington VIC 3931 |
03 5975 2633 |
| Dr Adrian Murrie | Sorrento Medical Centre 166 Ocean Beach Road Sorrento VIC 3943 Melway 157 A8 |
03 5984 4322 |
The South Pacific Underwater Medical Society (SPUMS) has a full list of AS4005.1 certified physicians.
Cancelling The Right To Dive Anyway
Regardless of whether you have a current Dive Medical Certificate, a dive operator has the power to exclude you from participating in diving activities. All Victoria dive operators reserve the right to do this.
More Information
For more information about Australian dive medicals and dive medical requirements, please visit the informative web site Dive Medicals Online.