How to Become a Rescue Diver Instructor

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors, or PADI, offers several certifications in diving instruction, including Rescue Diver Instructor. Rescue diver instructors teach divers how to rescue other divers during accidents and render appropriate first aid. If you love diving and love helping others, combine your passions and get on the path to be a rescue diver instructor.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Earn your Open Water Scuba Instructor certification before you become a rescue diver instructor. Obtain dive certification and log at least 60 dives including deep dives, night dives and navigation dives. Have a current CPR certification. Get medical clearance by your physician and work for at least six months as an assistant instructor.

2. Get on the path to become a specialty Instructor. Specialty instructors are open water diving instructors with certifications in a specialty including Emergency Oxygen Provider, and Search and Recovery Diver. As a PADI specialty instructor, you teach the courses that interest you most, including rescue diving.

3. Take specialty courses through an authorized PADI dive center. Locate a PADI diver center or resort near you through the PADI website. Earn specialty certifications and apply to become a rescue diver instructor through a course director or apply directly at a local PADI dive center or resort.

Tips & Warnings

• Master scuba diver trainers are specialty instructors with at least five specialty certifications. Increase your marketability as an instructor and complete the required coursework to become a master scuba diver trainer.

Resources

• Locate a PADI dive center near you.