Price: $950.00. Each additional person in a private group is $800.0
Duration: One class day, three days in water (1 pool day, 2 Lake Denton days)
The PADI Rescue Diver course is often described as one of the most rewarding steps in scuba training. It shifts your focus from just being comfortable underwater to looking out for others, building confidence, and truly becoming a capable dive buddy. If you’ve ever thought about being the kind of diver who people feel safer diving with, this is where that transformation happens.
What You’ll Learn
- How to recognize and prevent common diving problems before they become serious
- Techniques for managing stress in yourself and others underwater
- Self-rescue skills and how to respond if something goes wrong
- Assisting tired, panicked, or unresponsive divers at the surface and underwater
- Effective communication and teamwork during rescue scenarios
- Emergency equipment use and management
Why It Is Important
- Enhances your awareness of the dive environment and other divers
- Builds confidence to handle real-life situations calmly and effectively
- Prepares you to respond not just to emergencies, but also to prevent them
- Strengthens teamwork and leadership skills—qualities that go far beyond diving
Course Structure
- Knowledge Development: Independent study through eLearning or classroom discussions covering dive stress, emergency management, and rescue strategies
- Confined Water Practice: Pool or calm water sessions to learn and refine rescue techniques in a controlled environment
- Open Water Scenarios: Realistic rescue exercises where you’ll apply skills in simulated emergencies, both on the surface and underwater
Course Highlights
- Realistic scenarios such as handling panicked divers or missing divers
- Hands-on practice in recognizing stress and preventing problems
- Team-based exercises that simulate group diving situations
- Builds directly on your previous training as an Advanced Open Water Diver
Requirements
- Prerequisites:
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent)
- Current CPR/First Aid certification within the past 24 months (PADI Emergency First Response can be taken alongside the Rescue course)
- Minimum age: 12 (with Junior certification)
- Equipment/Gear:
- Standard scuba kit (mask, fins, snorkel, BCD, regulator, tank, wetsuit)
- Surface signaling device (SMB/whistle recommended)
- Pocket mask (for in-water rescue breaths)
Benefits
- Become a more self-sufficient and aware diver
- Gain confidence in your ability to help yourself and others
- Improve problem-solving and decision-making skills underwater
- Stronger foundation if you choose to go on to professional training (like Divemaster)
- Greater peace of mind for both you and your dive buddies
Course Duration
- Typically 3–4 days, depending on local conditions and schedule
- Can be completed over consecutive days or spread across multiple weekends
What’s Included
- Knowledge development materials (eLearning or manual)
- Confined water training sessions
- Open water scenario dives
- Certification upon successful completion
What’s Not Included
- Personal scuba gear (rental may be available if you don’t own equipment)
- CPR/First Aid course (if you don’t already hold a valid certification)
- Travel or accommodation (if diving away from home)
Who This Course is Best Suited For
- Divers who want to move beyond just enjoying the underwater world and become proactive about safety
- Those who enjoy responsibility and teamwork
- Anyone thinking about continuing toward professional-level dive training
- Divers who want to feel more prepared, confident, and capable in any diving situation
Personal Growth and Adventure
The Rescue Diver course is often the point where divers start to feel like they “own” their diving—not just participating, but truly understanding how to manage themselves and help others. Many divers say it’s the most challenging, yet most fun and rewarding course they’ve taken. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll come away knowing you can handle situations that once might have felt overwhelming.
