Finished Rescue.... now what?

[Diver0001]

I'm curious what other divers have done after finishing their rescue cert. Did you just continue racking up dives and enjoying? Did you go onto DM or other specialities? What was your next move as a diver and dive education?

I finished rescue this weekend and I'm looking for feedback to see where others have ventured to next.

Any feedback or your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

After rescue I went diving for 15 years and racked up a whole whack of dives. When I moved to the Netherlands I decided to become a DM and took rescue again (assuming, quite correctly) that I had forgotten a lot. Since then I've been making a point of doing some kind of continuing ed course on a yearly basis.

As for your situation I could make a couple of suggestions:

- Nitrox if you don't have it.
- Deep, wreck, drift and cavern specialties to open up some options that you might not have now.

I would suggest spending about 25% of your yearly budget on training. Don't do what I did and go out and just dive a lot and forget to learn. When I finally did get seriuos about diving I looked at my gear for the first time in years and realized that I must have looked like a throwback to a bygone era. I sure felt like one. Put some effort into staying current.

R..

 

[boulderjohn]

Ditto to everyone, and ....

Do not go on to DM/instructor unless you really think it through and want to make a real commitment. It is a lot of work and training. It costs a lot of money, and once you get the cert, you have to pay liability insurance. Do not expect to make a lot of money in this field; in fact, unless you really commit to it, do not expect to make any money in this field. If you are thinking DM, have a serious talk with other professionals in your area first to understand what it involves and what your prospects really are.

 

[TheYellowSubmarine]

I did my rescue in January. Just been diving since then, and doing TDI advanced nitrox and decompression procedures next month. Then just more diving probably for a year or two. Maybe DM then or more technical training

 

[matt_unique]

I'm curious what other divers have done after finishing their rescue cert. Did you just continue racking up dives and enjoying? Did you go onto DM or other specialities? What was your next move as a diver and dive education?

I finished rescue this weekend and I'm looking for feedback to see where others have ventured to next.

Any feedback or your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

After Rescue I completed a few more certs with a good instructor for the Master Diver (Deep, Night, Wreck, Drysuit, and Nitrox). From there I wanted to get entry level tech training. I completed TDI Deco Procedures and Advanced Nitrox. In between these courses I dove as much as I could. Next Summer if finances are together I want to take Entry Level Trimix.

It boils down to your interests. There are lot's of courses to address specific interests. You can really keep your skills fresh (and improve them) by making a point to practice emergency procedures you have learned from your training. Do an air share on your next dive, practice swimming 25' without taking a breath (staying at the same depth) to simulate having to fin a distance to get air from a buddy or such, etc.

--Matt

 

[simbrooks]

What areas of diving interest you, we can keep making suggestions until we dry up the organisations roster, but none of those may interest you. What would you like to do in diving, go pro, stay rec, go tech? Options might include more certs for a PADI like Master Diver (such as Matt has) or the NAUI version where you do 10 dives or so, plus some extra learning, or take DIRF or cavern to get some task loading, reel/lift bag handling, working in stressful situations and problem solving. Of course go out and dive!!!

You already have gotten further than i have on the rec ladder with rescue, i'll get around to it one day soon.

 

[Scuby Dooby]

I'll throw out a new suggestion -

Convince your dive shop (if they don't do it already) to organize a yearly 'refresher' of some sort for rescue and above divers to practice the skills learned in the rescue course. I did one last year, not only did we redo the rescue stuff but we learned a lot more about 02 administration, defribulators and, especially cool, a bunch of different 'lost in the ocean' survival skills taught to us by a specialist in this area. No C card for this if you are a collector but a ton of new information can be worked in and a chance to make sure you don't forget the very important skills from rescue.

just my .02c

 

[Wildcard]

Think about adding some first aid type stuff to your resume. At least O2 and defib. First responder, EMT, it's all good to know.

 

[Otter]

I'm curious what other divers have done after finishing their rescue cert. Did you just continue racking up dives and enjoying? Did you go onto DM or other specialities? What was your next move as a diver and dive education?

I finished rescue this weekend and I'm looking for feedback to see where others have ventured to next.

Any feedback or your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Congrats Lexy!. Did you do the ocean dives alone with Dawn or were there a number of folks?

 

[scuba_katt]

I finished my Rescue course 2 years ago, and since then have just enjoyed diving with that extra knowledge that the course gave me.

of course, I think it is essential to update your First Aid training every 18 months or so, just for your own peace of mind.

Enjoy your dives!!

Cheers
Jules

 

[Hoosier]

Good track. That's what I am looking for this summer, DM and TDI Deco Procedures and Advanced Nitrox.

After Rescue I completed a few more certs with a good instructor for the Master Diver (Deep, Night, Wreck, Drysuit, and Nitrox). From there I wanted to get entry level tech training. I completed TDI Deco Procedures and Advanced Nitrox. In between these courses I dove as much as I could. Next Summer if finances are together I want to take Entry Level Trimix.

It boils down to your interests. There are lot's of courses to address specific interests. You can really keep your skills fresh (and improve them) by making a point to practice emergency procedures you have learned from your training. Do an air share on your next dive, practice swimming 25' without taking a breath (staying at the same depth) to simulate having to fin a distance to get air from a buddy or such, etc.

--Matt