Do not ever say you are a rescue diver

[Joneill]

Here is a general observation about some of the sentiments I see expressed in this thread. I am going to start with a far-flung analogy that seems completely unrelated. Bear with me.

In my career in education, I came upon an interesting study contrasting the way a teacher with a very strong education in a subject area teaches with the way a teacher with more a more minimal subject area expertise teaches. The teacher with a lesser command of the subject matter tends to focus instruction on memorization of facts, while the better educated teacher focuses on thinking about the facts and using facts to draw conclusions. Conjecture on why that would be true includes this: the lesser educated teachers overestimate their preparation, thinking their knowledge base is much closer to totality than it is. The more educated teachers have a better understanding of how truly vast is that sea of knowledge and how very far they all are from that totality.

I believe something similar happens in diving. The way dive agencies promote continuing education, many and probably most relatively beginning divers think certifications for Rescue Diver and Divemaster put them near the top of the scuba learning curve. 50-60 years ago, that was true, but it has not been like that for a long time, so others will see those certifications as early steps in scuba instruction.

The reason that I pursued my Padi Rescue Diver Cert was that I was going to Rangiroa and did not want to be limited to shallow dives (they go by CMAS and AOW is only considered as CMAS 1 star and limited to 20m depth) - Simple as that!

I thought it was a good course and would certainly try to help other divers if I saw the DM was not doing so, but only if it presented no risk of self injury - while I might take that kind of risk with a friend or family member, there is no way I'm doing that for a stranger/insta-buddy.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Standard Temperature and Pressure please.

Oh wait, nevermind. We have already seen that on display here.

According to my friends who were in the Navy in westpac, that would be Sexually Transmitted Portfolio.

 

[Jafo19D]

Do you hold a certification? That’s qualified.

You might not be a competent/confident rescue diver but if you have a card that says “Rescue Diver” on it, you are qualified

I did Combat Lifesaver before every one of my 3 deployments and I personally applied emergency aid once during one of those deployments. My CLS just meant that I passed the minimum qualifications and that I was better than nothing. BTW, the last time I did CLS they had the maneqquins that groan, that was a trip.

 

[Jafo19D]

Another thing to consider is how current that Rescue cert is. That is one reason I have held off on taking it, PADI might consider me certified forever but I consider it a perishable skill. Hell, I had to take CLS before each deployment and rightfully so.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

Do you hold a certification? That’s qualified.

You might not be a competent/confident rescue diver but if you have a card that says “Rescue Diver” on it, you are qualified

I always felt that certified simply means that you have a piece of paper, or plastic or plaque on the wall.......and that qualified means that you actually have the current ability, knowledge and skills to perform. For example, there are many persons who are certified divers but only have experience in warm tropical water. Many of these "certified" folks are not "qualified" to dive cold water. But now that you point that out.....I think I'll change my signature quote to "Competent beats Certified Every Day of the Week"

 

[boulderjohn]

Another thing to consider is how current that Rescue cert is. That is one reason I have held off on taking it, PADI might consider me certified forever but I consider it a perishable skill. Hell, I had to take CLS before each deployment and rightfully so.

Yep. We can easily lose the skill set required to

• find an unconscious, non-breathing diver below water
• bring the diver to the surface
• call for help
• Attain buoyancy for both of you
• begin rescue breaths
• remove both sets of gear one item at a time while maintaining steady rescue breaths and while moving the toward some sort of hard surface so CPR will be possible
• Bring the inert body onto the surface unassisted
• begin CPR.

Every time I run into that situation during a dive, I am thankful my skills have not deteriorated too much in the months since I had to do it last.

 

[jt15550]

I'm not going to announce it to the 15+ divers on the boat, but when I review my information with the shop or liveaboard divemaster at the start of the week, I'm going to make them aware. So they know I can be a resource that can set up an oxygen kit, assist with an impromptu search, or otherwise help in event of an emergency. I can't imagine having the ability to assist someone in need and not having the desire, and I certainly hope that others would assist me should the need arise.

 

[MB NZ]

There is a difference between helping out to the best of your abilities in an emergency and being expected to baby sit fellow paying customers. The latter serves nobody, but the dive company who are running their trip on the cheap to maximise profits. I'm quite clear that I won't do it unless remunerated.

 

[admikar]

I'm not going to announce it to the 15+ divers on the boat, but when I review my information with the shop or liveaboard divemaster at the start of the week, I'm going to make them aware. So they know I can be a resource that can set up an oxygen kit, assist with an impromptu search, or otherwise help in event of an emergency. I can't imagine having the ability to assist someone in need and not having the desire, and I certainly hope that others would assist me should the need arise.

Agree, but see bellow......

There is a difference between helping out to the best of your abilities in an emergency and being expected to baby sit fellow paying customers. The latter serves nobody, but the dive company who are running their trip on the cheap to maximise profits. I'm quite clear that I won't do it unless remunerated.

Definitely agree

 

[boulderjohn]

I'm quite clear that I won't do it unless remunerated.

If they remunerate you for those services, then you are acting as a professional. If you are acting as a professional and things go bad, you can be sued. That is why professional DMs and instructors carry liability insurance, and it isn't cheap.

Now for the other side of the coin: of a dive operation asks you to do something like that and things go bad, they can be sued for putting someone who is non-certified and uninsured in a position of trust.

The only time I ever did anything like this on behalf of a dive operation, it was after I volunteered for the work when I heard they were short a needed professional for an upcoming dive. I had my instructor card and insurance card with me, and they checked both. They just needed the numbers for insurance purposes--I really didn't do anything I was not planning to do as a customer. They discounted my dive.

In short, asking someone who is not an employee of a dive operation to take on a position of trust is a bad idea, which is likely why I have never seen it done.