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Asthma is one of the most common medical conditions flagged on the RSTC diving medical questionnaire. Whether you can dive with asthma depends on the type, severity, and how well it is controlled.
| Asthma Type | Diving Assessment |
|---|---|
| Exercise-induced only (no other triggers) | May be cleared with physician assessment and normal lung function tests |
| Mild, well-controlled with inhaler | May be cleared with physician assessment and stable management history |
| Moderate, requires daily medication | Requires specialist dive medicine assessment — higher risk |
| Severe or poorly controlled | Generally not recommended for diving |
| Recent asthma attack (within 48 hours) | Do not dive |
The primary risk is air trapping. If an asthma attack occurs at depth, the airways narrow, trapping air in the lungs. During ascent, this trapped air expands, potentially causing a lung overexpansion injury (pulmonary barotrauma) — one of the most serious diving emergencies.
If you have asthma and want to dive Komodo, you need a written clearance from a physician — ideally one trained in dive medicine. Bring this letter with you, as your dive centre will require it at registration. The physician will likely assess lung function, exercise tolerance, and asthma management history before clearing you.
Our advice: If you have asthma and want to dive Komodo, consult a dive medicine specialist before your trip. Be completely honest about your condition on the medical form. Dive centres that take this seriously are protecting your safety.
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