PADI Rescue Diver Course

Rewarding and fun – this best describes the PADI Rescue Diver course. This course will expand your knowledge and experience level: Rescue Divers learn to look beyond themselves and consider the safety and wellbeing of other divers. Although this course is serious, it is an enjoyable way to build your confidence.

What do I need to start?

You can enrol in the Rescue Diver Course as a certified Open Water Diver (or have a qualifying certification from another training organization) and participate in the Rescue Diver knowledge development and rescue training sessions, in confined water only.

To participate in the rescue training sessions in open water, and to participate in the open water rescue scenarios, you must be certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.

Minimum age: 15 years old (12 for PADI Junior Rescue Diver)

Successful completion of a sanctioned CPR program within the past 24 months. The Emergency First Response Primary Care (CPR) and Secondary Care (First Aid) course meet this requirement.

What will I do?

Rescue Diver training will prepare you to prevent problems and, if necessary, manage dive emergencies. During the five open water sessions, you’ll cover:

Self-rescue and diver stress

AED and emergency oxygen delivery systems

Diving first aid

Swimming and non-swimming rescue techniques

Emergency management and equipment

Panicked diver response

Underwater problems

Missing diver procedures

Surfacing the unconscious diver

In-water rescue breathing protocols

Egress (exiting the water with an injured diver)

First aid procedures for pressure related accidents

Dive accident scenarios

How does it work?

The Rescue Diver course runs over four days. Two of these are theory nights, and then a weekend of diving. The first day you will be learning rescue techniques in the pool. On Day 2 you will head into the open water and practise these techniques, then participate in rescue scenarios.

What will I need?

At this level of training you should be thinking about having your own diving gear. However if you do not have your own gear, we will supply all the dive gear except your personal items (your mask, snorkel, boots and fins). You will also need to get yourself to the dive sites.

Where can I go from here?

The PADI Rescue Diver certification is a prerequisite for all Professional level PADI courses, beginning with the PADI Divemaster certification. Contact Aquatic Adventures to enrol in a PADI Rescue Diver course and prepare yourself to Go Pro.

The Master Scuba Diver certification also requires that you have Rescue Diver certification. This is the highest non-professional level in PADI and is attained when you have Rescue Diver certification, 50 logged dives and five PADI Specialty certifications.