How to become a PADI Rescue Diver

SCUBA diving is a popular recreational activity, and most divers in North America are certified through the courses of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Even though it is now more accessible, SCUBA diving remains a dangerous sport, which makes achieving Rescue Diver status sensible. Whether it is for the challenge and achievement, a stepping stone in pursuit of Master Diver status, or for the utility of its skills, pursuing Rescue Diver certification is a worthy enterprise for any serious SCUBA diver.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Become a certified Emergency First Responder and Secondary Care Giver (first aid). This is a necessary pre-requisite to becoming a Rescue Diver, and very few dive schools or resorts actually offer Emergency First Responder or First Aid training themselves.

2. Decide where you want to take your PADI Rescue Diver course. If you live close to a diving center that offers the course, you may choose to do it this way. These courses are often geared toward people coming in after work and/or on weekends, and will therefore stretch out over weeks.

3. Consider getting your certification on a diving vacation in a place like Thailand or Malaysia. The course (and everything else) will be cheaper, and the diving will be first rate. Also, you will be able to compress the course into the minimum necessary time.

4. Be prepared for your class. Rescue Diver is not as easy as previous PADI certifications and electives, and deals with such demanding situations as emergency egress to the surface.

5. Complete 25 class hours and 5 field training dives over a minimum of two days.

Tips & Warnings

• To achieve PADI Rescue Diver, a person must either already have Advanced Open Water certification (AOW), or be concurrently pursuing it along with the Rescue Diver course. There is a minimuim age of 15.

Resources

• PADI Rescue Diver information

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