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PADI Rescue Diver

Course Overview

The PADI Rescue Diver Course is a crucial step in the development of a diver whose desire is to expand his or her knowledge and experience beyond a purely recreational level. This rating is also a prerequisite for all PADI leadership training: Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, and Open Water Instructor.

The course is designed to develop the necessary knowledge and skills for individuals to effectively perform diver rescues and assists, manage diving accident situations, render proper first aid and qualify for PADI Divemaster training.

Prerequisites

  • PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or PADI Junior Advanced Open Water Diver certification (or equivalent)
  • First Aid and CPR certified within the past 24 months
  • Minimum age: 15 years old (12 years old for Junior Rescue Diver)

Course Structure

Students must watch the PADI Rescue DVD, read the PADI Rescue Manual and complete the questions at the end of each chapter before the first class. (Please give yourself enough time to complete the study). This is followed by 3 pool sessions, and open water training. Recommended course hours are 25, and the minimum open water training is 5 sessions over 2 days. In all, 10 skills are covered.

The PADI Rescue Manual deals with the following topics:

  • The psychology of rescue
  • Being prepared for a diver emergency
  • Accident management
  • Responding to diver emergencies
  • Review and written exam

The 3 Pool Sessions concentrate on the following skills:

  • Self rescue review, tired diver, panicked diver, and scenario practice
  • Response from shore, boat, or dock (responsive diver) and scenario practice
  • Distressed diver underwater, missing diver, and scenario practice
  • Surfacing the unresponsive diver, unresponsive diver at the surface, and scenario practice
  • Exiting the unresponsive diver, first aid for pressure related injuries, O2 administration, response from shore, boat or dock (unresponsive diver) and scenario practice

The open water sessions are based around:

  • Four emergency scenarios
  • Developing an Emergency Assistance Plan

Equipment

Each student must provide his or her own complete set of equipment including an alternate air source.