PADI Rescue Diver Course

The PADI Rescue Diver course continues to develop your existing skills, increasing your skill competence and confidence, whilst introducing new skills that will become valuable additions to your scuba skill-set.

Many divers will tell you the Rescue Diver course is the most challenging diving course they have completed, but also the most satisfying, rewarding and fun.

Become a PADI Rescue diver and be ready to help others in the event of an emergency situation.

Included in the OTB Diving PADI Rescue Diver Course:

• PADI e-manual/eLearning
• PADI Certification card
• Rental of all scuba equipment
• FREE use of Dive Computer

PADI Rescue Diver Course Pre-requisites

• An Adventure diver or equivalent
• Recent diving experience – we recommend completing a scuba review if you have not dived for 12 months
• 12 years of age or older
• Medically fit to dive
• Hold a recognized First Aid and CPR certificate valid within the last 24 months

We conduct the Rescue Diver course over 2-3 days.

The course consists of three sections:

• Knowledge Development
• E-learning conducted prior to arrival or self-study & Instructor led knowledge reviews
• Prepare an emergency assistance plan for a dive site
• Confined or Open Water training sessions
• Demonstrate skills from the Self-Rescue Review & be introduced to Rescue exercises 1-10
• Open Water training
• Final assessments of Rescue exercises 1-10
• Rescue Scenarios 1 and 2 in Open Water

Orientation & Knowledge Development

Choose the e-learning Rescue Diver course option and spend more time on holiday with NO time in a classroom. We can fit in your Orientation & eLearning Rescue Diver Online Quick Review either the evening before we start, or the morning of your first in-water training session.

PADI Rescue Exercises

Initially we will introduce all Rescue skills in shallow water and we start with a demonstration.

You will then have an opportunity to repeat the skill, practice and perfect it until you have mastered the skill.

We will start with the easier skills and slowly build up, as you become more comfortable and confident before moving onto the more challenging skills.

PADI Self-Rescue Skills

Some of the skills you will start with include:

• Cramp release
• Establishing buoyancy at the surface
• Airway control
• Use of an alternate air source
• Overcoming vertigo and re-establishing sense of direction

Once we have completed the self-rescue skills we will progress onto the rescue exercises. In total there are 10 rescue exercises you must master.

• Tired diver tow
• Dealing with a panicked diver on the surface
• Responding to a panicked, or distressed diver from the boat
• Responding to distressed divers underwater
• Underwater search patterns using a compass & finding a missing diver
• Surfacing an unresponsive diver
• Unresponsive diver on surface, including rescue breathing and towing back to boat
• Exiting an unresponsive diver onto a boat
• First Aid for pressure related injuries including administration of Oxygen
• Responding to an unresponsive & non breathing diver from the boat

Once we have introduced you to these skills in shallow water and you have had time to practice and feel comfortable we will repeat them again in deeper water.

We will then start to combine the skills into more realistic drills, working to a point where you are proficient and performing these drills with confidence.

Rescue Scenario – Are you Rescue ready?

Now you are feeling comfortable with your rescue skills it is time for the real excitement to begin. It is time for final evaluation and your Rescue Diver final scenario’s.

You will now put into practice all rescue and first aid knowledge and skills you have learned over the past 3 days into practice with two simulated real life rescue scenario’s.

Rescue Diver Scenario 1 – Unresponsive Diver Underwater

In this scenario you will search for and locate a missing diver during an accident simulation using one of the search patterns you mastered earlier.

You will then bring the diver, who will be simulating unresponsiveness, to the surface using controlled positive buoyancy.

Rescue Diver Scenario 2 – Unresponsive Diver at the Surface

During this second rescue scenario you will respond to an unconscious diver on the surface who is not breathing.

You are required to administer in-water rescue breathing, whilst towing the diver back to the boat, removing the divers equipment, exiting the diver and performing CPR on the boat.