Henceforth medical certificates will only be required for first-time learner divers if they are over the age of 45, overweight or have certain medical conditions.

Dive Queensland vice-president Ian McKinnon says the cost of the medicals, ranging in price from $100 to maybe AUS $180, had deterred would-be divers in the past.

Under the new rules stricter head count procedures have been put in place to avoid any more accidents where divers are being left behind at sea. Under the new headcount system, two crew members, instead of just one, will be required to carry out counts and check them against the list of passengers.