Aquamarine Medicals

As we start to see the divers again who were first through for HSE medicals when things opened up last year, this has prompted me to put pen to paper and reflect on the past 12 months. As a doctor, I have been fortunate to continue working. I am not sure how I would have coped with being confined to the house or being furloughed. It has been a tough year for everyone but there has been good stuff as well which I think is good to remember on the rainy days. I thought I would write this as looking back – lots of people have helped us, and where able, we have tried to help other people too. It sounds a bit naff, but keeping an eye out for other folk, rubbing along together in a socially distanced manner and helping others is what is going to help us all get through this.

Thank you to Tom for coming to see Aquamarine Medicals for his HSE Diving Medical and writing this blog about HSE dive training and studying at Plymouth University. The HSE SCUBA course is offered by Plymouth University as part of a degree course, and Plymouth is the only University to offer this as an option. Tom has been through the HSE SCUBA training and is now helping to teach on the course.

Thanks to Dan Smale, from the Marine Biological Association, for coming to see us for his HSE Diving Medical and writing ‘A cry for kelp’ for us. Dan is a marine biologist whose research focusses on understanding how key habitats such as kelp forests and seagrass meadows are affected by environmental changes, including ocean warming and invasive species. His team conduct diving-based fieldwork around the UK and elsewhere to collect valuable information on the ecology of inshore habitats. We hope you enjoy the blog and that Dan’s passion for marine ecosystems comes through!

Thanks to Kieran, from Diving in Depth, for writing this blog for us and coming to see us at Aquamarine Medicals for his HSE Diving Medical. A little bit about Kieran: Kieran is a professional technical diving instructor, with a particular interest in wreck diving and the stories that accompany those wrecks. Kieran has a focus on teaching closed circuit rebreathers (CCR) and open circuit (OC) technical courses, as well as leading trips and expeditions to locations throughout the world. We hope you enjoy this blog and ‘find your fins, and find some positives post Covid-19’.

Working on board ships is always great fun, you rapidly become part of the family. People spend months on board working so it’s important to respect the ship as your home.

Thanks to Warren ‘Sal’ Salliss from Commercial Diver Training for working with us at Aquamarine Medicals. We hope this blog gives you a real world insight into commercial dive training and medical problems that more commonly occur.

Links to organisations with resources to help the mental health of you and your colleagues – have a look and share.

Tim is the Master of the RRS James Clark Ross, a scientific research vessel for the British Antarctic Survey. In February 2021, the RRS James Clark Ross left Rothera Research Station for her last voyage for BAS. We hope you enjoy Tim’s stories and photographs that give us a glimpse into what it is like to work in one of the most unique and remote places on Earth.