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 well-being 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 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)

A current Scuba Diving Medical is required

Have completed a sanctioned First Aid CPR program within the past 24 months. The Emergency First Response Primary Care (CPR) and Secondary Care (First Aid) courses meet this requirement.

What will I do on the Rescue component of the course?

• 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?

First, you will need to do some home study, and complete the PADI Online Rescue Diver eLearning course, of which we will supply you with the access codes once you are booked in.

The Rescue Diver course runs over two days on a weekend of diving  

On the first day, you will be learning rescue techniques. 

On the Second 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 diving gear: hardware and the basics (your mask, snorkel, boots and fins). 

• A copy of your Scuba Diving Medical
• A sanctioned First Aid CPR program within the past 24 months
• Advanced Open Water Certification
• Logbook if Available or PADI app dive log
• Bathers & towels
• Pen and a notepad
• Food and drinks

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 us 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.

 Rescue Diver 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.