You jump into the water - and discover your air is off. You’re swimming leisurely along a reef - when your buddy passes out. You’re hanging out on the shore after a dive…when you notice your shoulder starting to ache. What do you do?

The Rescue Diver course teaches you to identify and fix minor issues before they become big problems, and know how to help if big problems do arise. In this course, you will learn to handle emergencies with calm and efficiency, including:

• Prevention and causes of diving accidents

• Managing panic underwater, including how to identify, prevent and deal with passive and active panic in yourself and others

• Self-rescue techniques, including weight system management, mask clearing and replacement, cramp release, alternate air sources, entanglement, controlled swimming ascents, and surface signaling

• Aiding other divers in distress, including surface and underwater rescues, in-water artificial respiration, diver first aid, and oxygen administration

• Hyperbaric injuries, including identifying and providing emergency aid for DCS

• Accident management, including emergency transport, reporting, and legal considerations

Our Rescue instructor, Peter Kibler, is an active tech and cave diver, with personal experience of responding to real-world rescue scenarios. In addition to teaching CPR and Emergency Oxygen Provider courses, he maintains his own active CPR status via continuing education. His patient student-centered approach uses guided self-discovery and constructive feedback to help advanced divers identify, prevent, and respond to diving-related emergencies.

This is a full two-day class. This course can be combined with Emergency Oxygen Provider, for students not currently certified in administering oxygen.

This course requires a current CPR/first aid certification. We recommend enrolling in the American Heart Association’s “Adult First Aid + CPR/AED” from GatorCPR prior to the class.

Prerequisites: Advanced Open Water OR Open Water + 15 dives (SDI only); current First Response Adult and Child Emergency Care Provider and Oxygen Administration Provider - talk to us about these prerequisites, we can help you complete them!

Course Details: PADI Rescue Diver or SDI Rescue Diver (pick your agency when booking)

Estimated time commitment: 2 days (Approx. 12 hours of hands-on confined and open water training scenarios)

Recommended Reading (optional): Diver Down: Real-World Scuba Accidents and How to Avoid Them by Michael Ange

Minimum age: 10 years or older (with parental permission)

Maximum Course Size: 4 Students (exceptions available for large groups upon request)

Course Cost: $375 USD* - Complimentary rental gear is available upon request, at no additional cost. Additional fees may be required for air fills, transportation, and dive site entrance cost. Contact us for more information.

This price includes certification/training through SDI; you may upgrade to a PADI certification for an additional $150.