Rescue Diver

Purpose

The Rescue Diver course goals are to:

• Increase awareness of diver safety.
• Develop divers' abilities to anticipate and prevent problems as well as to manage them.
• Teach effective rescue techniques and first aid skills specific to diving.
• Prepare divers to manage diver emergency situations.
• Expand diver knowledge in preparation for PADI leadership-level training.

Prerequisites

• To qualify for PADI Rescue Diver training, an individual must be 12 years of age or older.
• The PADI Rescue Diver course student diver must successfully complete a sanctioned course in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR-Primary Care) and basic first aid (Secondary Care) within the past two years (24 months).
• Be certified as a PADI Advanced Diver or equivalent from any other training agency.
• At least 20 or more logged dives documenting experience in deep diving and underwater navigation.

Duration

Approximately 31 hours with a minimum of 4 open water scuba dives

Course Limits

Student to Instructor Ratio ( Living Seas ) not to exceed 6 to 1 during any in-water training and should be adjusted downward to account for bad conditions.

Course Content

The Rescue Diver course is normally conducted over 3 evenings and a weekend trip, with student self preparatory time in advance. Combining lecture and practical (in-water) sessions, this course focuses on the student cultivating skills to facilitate a rescue if called for.

Required Training Materials

• PADI Rescue Diver Manual
• Diving Accident Management Workslate
• * Note: The PADI Rescue Diver Video must be viewed .

Academic Topics

• The Psychology of Rescue
• Being Prepared for a Diver Emergency
• Accident Management
• Responding to Diver Emergencies
• EMS Planning

Land Drills & Topics

• CPR / First Aid
• Casualty Lifts

Required Dive Skills & Drills

• Tired Diver
• Panicked Diver
• Response from Shore/Boat to a Conscious Diver
• Distressed Diver Underwater (overexertion and AAS ascents)
• Missing Diver Procedures and Surfacing the Unconscious Diver
• Unconscious Diver at the Surface
• Egress with an Unconscious Diver
• Accident Scene Management

Equipment Requirements

• Buoyancy Control Device
• Regulator with 1 main and 1 backup 2 nd Stage, 1 1 st Stage
• Exposure suit suitable for local open water conditions
• Mask
• Fins
• Weight belt if needed
• One cutting tool
• Surface Marker Buoy with Finger Spool with at least 20 metres of line.
• Pocket Mask
• Amphibious Notebook