Diver Periodic Health Assessment and Medical Administration - Instruction 4000-04

Oct 6, 2026

Uploaded by ahduag

Instruction 4000-04 sets the requirements and procedures for conducting Diver Periodic Health Assessments (PHA) for Canadian Forces Health Services Group personnel. All individuals undergoing hyperbaric exposure must have a current Diver PHA before exposure. It defines shallow-water and deep-water diver categories, including depth limits and no-decompression compliance, and specifies that the directive applies to CAF personnel, DND public servants, and contractors providing diver health services. Key roles and terminology supporting the PHA process are established.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Purpose

Context

Diver categories and diving limits

Application

Abbreviations

Definitions

Diver Periodic Health Assessment and Medical Administration Document Status: Current Document Type: Instruction Document Number: 4000-04 Original Source: Med Dir 2/05 Approval: Surg Gen SME: D RCN Surgeon OPI: RCN Surgeon Effective Date: 29 Jun 06 Last Reviewed: Background Supersession 1. This Instruction supersedes: a. Med Dir 2/05 b. CFMO 27-07 Purpose 2. The purpose of this Instruction is to provide direction to all Canadian Forces Health Services Group (CF H Svcs Gp) personnel regarding the requirements and procedures for conducting Diver Periodic Health Assessments. Context 3. IAW Ref B , all individuals who undergo hyperbaric exposure (Divers, Diving Medical Officers, Physician Assistants, Aviation Physiology Technicians, SAR Technicians or civilians/others undergoing additional Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) training), are required to have a current Diver Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) prior to such exposure. 4. Shallow Water Divers (SWDs, as defined below) usually dive to a depth of no more than 15m (50 feet) and never exceed 30m (100 feet) . They are all required to dive within the no-decompression limits. Deep Water Divers (DWDs) are comprised of Class 2, 3 and 4 PID and Clearance Divers, who may dive deeper than 30m, and/or beyond no-D limits. Application 5. This Instruction applies to all CAF personnel, Department of National Defence (DND) Public Servants, contractors and sub-contractors who provide health services to CAF members. In particular, it applies to all personnel (CAF, DND Public Servants, contractors, and sub-contractors) who provide health services to CAF members who are Divers (trained or candidates) as described below. Abbreviations 6. The following table contains abbreviations used in this instruction. | Abbreviation | Term in Full | | --- | --- | | ADMO | Advanced Diving Medical Officer | | ADMT | Advanced Diving Medical Technician | | AGE | Arterial Gas Embolism | | AUMB | Aerospace and Undersea Medical Board | | BAvMed | Basic Aviation Medicine | | bc-TTE | bubble contrast – Transthoracic Echocardiogram | | BDMT | Basic Diving Medical Technician | | BDMO | Basic Diving Medical Officer | | CABA | Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus | | CAFDESG | Canadian Forces Diving Effectiveness Steering Group | | CDAC | Clearance Diver Assessment Centre | | CDM | Consultant in Diving Medicine | | CDHM | Consultant in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine (CFEME/DRDC Toronto) | | CDSM | Consultant in Diving and Submarine Medicine | | CF/CAF | Canadian Forces/Canadian Armed Forces | | CFEME | Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment | | CFHIS | Canadian Forces Health Information System | | CF H Svcs | Canadian Forces Health Services | | CF H Svcs Gp | Canadian Forces Health Services Group | | CF HCC | Canadian Forces Health Care Centre | | CFB | Canadian Forces Base | | Cl Div | Clearance Diver | | CLDO | Clearance Diving Officer | | D Med Pol | Director – Medical Policy | | DCS/DCI | Decompression Sickness / Decompression Illness | | --- | --- | | D Dive S | Directorate of Diving Safety | | DWD | Deep Water Diver | | DMO | Diving Medical Officer | | DMT | Diving Medical Technician | | DOHSWG | Diving Occupational Health and Safety Working Group | | DON | Dysbaric Osteonecrosis | | DRDC | Defence Research & Development Canada | | ECG | Electrocardiogram | | FSMO | Fleet Support Medical Officer | | HCP | Health Care Provider | | IAW | In accordance with | | In Att | Inside Attendant (also known as Inside Tender) | | JTF | Joint Task Force | | LBS | Long Bone Series | | MEL | Medical Employment Limitation | | MOC | Military Occupation Code | | MOSID | Military Occupational Structure Identification | | NCM | Non-Commisioned Member | | No-D | No Decompression | | OT | Occupational Transfer | | PA | Physician Assistant | | PFT | Pulmonary Function Test | | PHA | Periodic Health Assessment | | PID | Port Inspection Diver | | PSO | Personnel Selection Officer | | PTT

FAQs

Who must complete a current Diver Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) before hyperbaric exposure?

All individuals undergoing hyperbaric exposure—including divers, diving medical officers, physician assistants, aviation physiology technicians, SAR technicians, and others undergoing additional CAF training—are required to have a current Diver PHA prior to exposure.

What distinguishes Shallow Water Divers from Deep Water Divers in this instruction?

Shallow Water Divers typically dive to no more than 15 m and never exceed 30 m, and must dive within no-decompression limits. Deep Water Divers include specified PID and clearance diver categories that may dive beyond 30 m and/or beyond no-D limits.

Which personnel does the instruction apply to?

It applies to all CAF personnel, DND public servants, contractors, and subcontractors who provide health services to CAF members who are divers (trained or candidates) as described in the directive.

Oct 6, 2026

Uploaded by ahduag