PADI Rescue Diver – Build Confidence, Leadership, and Strong Problem-Solving Skills Underwater

The PADI Rescue Diver course is widely considered one of the most rewarding and transformative programs in recreational diving. This training sharpens your awareness, strengthens your confidence, and gives you the skills to prevent and manage diving emergencies—both minor and major. Instead of reacting to problems, Rescue Divers learn to recognize issues early and address them before they escalate, all while becoming safer, more capable dive buddies.

You’ll practice real-world rescue scenarios, stress recognition, self-rescue techniques, search patterns, and effective surface and underwater response strategies. The course blends online learning with hands-on training, allowing divers to master new skills at a comfortable pace. By the end, you’ll be more prepared, more confident, and far better equipped to handle challenging situations.

Key Benefits

• Learn to recognize and prevent problems before they occur
• Increase confidence, situational awareness, and self-rescue skills
• Train for both responsive and unresponsive diver emergencies
• Improve buddy skills and leadership-minded decision-making
• Builds the foundation for the PADI Master Scuba Diver and Divemaster programs
• Ideal for divers seeking greater capability, responsibility, and preparedness

What You’ll Learn

• Self-rescue techniques and stress management
• How to assist tired, panicked, or distressed divers
• Effective response to missing-diver scenarios
• Handling unresponsive divers at the surface and underwater
• Search patterns and rescue planning
• Scene management, emergency action plans, and accident prevention

Course Structure

• Knowledge Development: PADI eLearning—study on your own schedule
• Skill Development: Rescue exercises in confined/open water
• Scenario Practice: Realistic training covering both shore and boat diving situations
• Prerequisites: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent) + current CPR/First Aid*
*Emergency First Response / CPR-First Aid training can be completed with us as part of your certification.

What’s Included

• PADI Rescue Diver eLearning access

What’s NOT Included

• Professional in-water rescue instruction
• Confined water skill development sessions
• Open-water rescue scenarios
• PADI Rescue Diver certification

See THIS LINK to learn about the entire process and how you can save money by signing up for the entire course at the same time.
 

Train with Southern Maryland Divers and become the dive buddy everyone trusts—confident, capable, and ready for whatever the dive throws your way.