Not all medical practitioners and medical specialists are able to render general and emergency medical care to injured divers. Medical practitioners should thus receive additional training and have adequate experience to render medical support to diving operations.

Some medical practitioners have had additional training that enables them to examine divers regarding their fitness to dive. All of these medical practitioners are designated in terms of the Regulations as level 1 Designated Medical Practitioners. These designated medical practitioners are however not competent in providing medical support to diving operations.

Some Designated Medical Practitioners, because of additional training and experience, are able to render medical support to diving operations. All of these medical practitioners are designated in terms of the Regulations as level 2 designated medical practitioners. These medical practitioners are able to perform diving medical examinations on divers AND advise on the emergency treatment of divers, as well as on recompression therapy for diving accidents.

The designation of all medical practitioners lapse after a period of four years, unless the designated medical practitioner attends refresher training prior to expiry of the designation.

All diving operations should secure the medical support of a designated medical practitioner that is competent to do so.