Diver medic technician course

Course objectives

Major diving operators worldwide require at least one diver medic as a pre-requisite for both saturation and air diving team selection worldwide.

IMCA also advise that all divers should complete a diver medic technician course as part of their diver training.

To be deemed capable of administering advanced first aid and emergency treatment. To be efficient in carrying out the directions of a doctor in a diving environment.

Entry requirement

To qualify for an IMCA diver medic qualification, applicants must:

• Hold an offshore qualification in diving. This can be an LST, diving supervisor or diving qualification recognised by IMCA (offshore grade)

• Hold a valid diving medical as suitable to go under pressure in a chamber. Sports diving or UKOOA medicals are not acceptable

If you do not hold both of these requirements candidates will be issued with an NHC Certificate. Please contact the National Hyperbaric Centre who will be happy to provide you with further information.

Certification

On successful completion of the course, delegates are given the relevant certification of training. The certificate is valid for 2 years from date of issue. Renewal of this qualification is required as a refresher course between the final three months of validity and 8 weeks after the expiry date. NHC offers regular refresher courses.

Course duration

10 days.

The National Hyperbaric Centre diver medic course, combines intensive practical modules with detailed theoretical modules to offer high quality intensive training, in diving procedures and diving medicine provided by experienced medics and diving doctors. The course makes use of modern training aids corresponding to the DMAC 015 medical kits to offer realistic practical training to diver medic delegates.

Aberdeen courses

Courses ran at NHC Aberdeen have access to the NHC saturation diving system where practical elements of the course can be carried out within realistic chamber environments, giving candidates the best preparation for real-life scenarios. 

For Aberdeen courses, an evening placement is included at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary’s accident and emergency department. This is an ideal opportunity for students to put their new skills in to practice within a real working environment.

Topics include:

• Casualty handling under pressure
• Care of medical equipment/record keeping
• Diving related illness: barotraumas, decompression illness
• Advanced life support
• Control and management of dive related injury or illness
• Insertion of chest drain
• Patient examination
• Basic anatomy and physiology
• Intraosseous infusion
• Use of defibrillator
• Oxygen administration