Rescue Diver
Become a Critical, Valued Member of the Dive Community
The PADI Rescue Diver course not only teaches you how to avoid and manage problems, but also improves your confidence as a diver. You'll become a better buddy and member of any dive community, enhancing your ability to identify potential problems and practicing dive emergency protocol. The course is challenging, and can feel daunting at times, but our instructor team still makes it fun. Many students tell us that the rescue course was their favorite. It's hard to forget rehearsing through the series of simulated diver emergencies, whether it's calming down panicked divers at the surface or searching for missing divers down below. This course is a pivotal step forward in any diver's dive career. It's one of the most important PADI courses that we offer.
Course Components
Knowledge Development
The academic portion of this course is conduced through the self-paced PADI eLearning curriculm. Fees for the course are paid directly to PADI. Course cost is $196.
EFR Primary and Secondary Care
If you have completed this training within 24 months, you don't need to do it again as a part of the rescue course. If you haven't completed this training or would like to refresh your knowledge, we'll take care of you. Doing EFR training with your instructor is also a rewarding way to start the rescue course. You will go over the AB-CABS Cycle of Care and feel confident with your skills and handling of scenarios to put them into practice in the water, on the boat and underwater.
Rescue Scenarios
All rescue scenarios take place in open water, though we often conduct our initial skills training in a shallow, confined-water-setting to build our confidence and refine our practice. Keep in mind: there is no one right way to accomplish a task, and you'll see through the rescue scenarios that there are many resources and variables that rescuers must draw upon. Your instructor will guide you through how to assess an emergency, how to stay level-headed and calm, and how to best respond given your own strengths and limitations. We'll learn to first think through our options and then respond as efficiently and thoroughly as possible.
Emergency Assistance Plan
Each student diver prepares an emergency assistance plan for the location(s) where the rescue scenario(s) will be held. We assign our locations ahead of time to allow time for you to complete your EAP. An EAP may include information such as local emergency medical contact information, contact information for local authorities involved in evacuating an injured diver, contact for area diver emergency service, or nearest operational recompression chamber. The Emergency Assistance Plan may be credited as meeting the Emergency Assistance Plan requirement in the PADI Divemaster course.
FAQ
What are the course prerequesites?
You must be certified at least as an Adventure Diver/Junior Adventure Diver (or qualifying certification) with completed Underwater Navigation Dive. You must have completed your EFR Primary and Secondary Care training (or qualifying training) within 24 months. If you haven't completed your EFR training, we're happy to do it for you for an additional $125.
How long is the course?
We can do the rescue course in 1-3 days depending on the students in the course. Your PADI instructor can adjust the schedule of the course accordingly.
What is the cost?
If you already have your Emergency First Responder certification, the entire Rescue Course costs $499 (not including the PADI eLearning fee). If you would like to complete your Emergency First Responder certification with us, the Rescue Course costs $649.
Where does the course take place?
You have the option of doing your entire rescue course from shore, or you can opt to do the final portion of the course from the boat. If you choose to do part of the course from the boat, we'll meet the day before at Makena Landing Beach Park to go over the first set of rescue exercises.