Questions often come up about the need and purpose for the various instructional documents used during PADI educational and experience programs. Because administrative paperwork is so important – and may serve a number of quite different purposes – a quick review is periodically very useful.
For the key required student/participant documents, the primary purpose is diver safety. These forms are designed to help people make informed choices and decide whether or not to take a diving course or program. A potential student/ participant must first understand the inherent risks involved, understand that there are certain medical and health conditions that can elevate the risks of diving, and understand that safe diving practices are crucial to reducing personal risk in the water. Once informed, if the student/participant (or parents/guardians on behalf of minors) chooses to participate, a signature on the form attests to both understanding and acceptance of the forms’ content. The most important documents are:
Assumption of Risk/Release of Liability/Statement of Risk and Liability/Non-agency Disclosure Forms – There are basically two types of these forms – one for use in EU countries (noted by the
“Statement of Risk and Liability” language) and the standard, international version, for use everywhere else. The primary function of the forms is to clearly warn and explain the inherent risks of diving to the student/participant. When the program is for new, noncertified divers, it will likely be the first presentation of the risks they have ever seen or heard. As adults (or as adults acting on behalf of their minor children), they not only need the disclosure and explanation of the risks provided by the forms, but they also need the ability to decide for themselves whether or not to accept those risks and to begin the program.
Medical Statement/Questionnaire/History Form – Similarly to the risk-related forms, the medical form serves the crucial purposes of informing new participants of the medical risks of diving, and as a medical screen. The form has been carefully developed by experts in dive medicine and indicates the various medical conditions and health-related habits that would require approval by a licensed physician before participating in a diving program.
Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding – The PADI Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding form establishes that the diver understands the appropriate dive practices and protocols used while diving once certified, at various levels. In documenting these practices and protocols, the form serves as a reminder of various specific risks involved in diving and effective means of avoiding the consequences of those risks, based upon the training the diver receives.
Your Responsibility:
1. Provide these forms (or related, course specific forms) to your student divers and participants
2. Answer questions
3. Ensure forms are read and signed
4. Maintain a copy the signed forms in your student/participant records
Your Students’ or Participants’ Responsibility:
5. Read the forms
6. Ask questions as needed
7. Accept the information by signing the forms where indicated
