PADI Rescue Diver

[Rupp]

My daughter and I both have Advanced Open Water certifications. I have Nitrox as well. We enjoy trips to Key Largo, and have enjoyed taking courses which add additional interests during a trip to a fairly familiar area. My basic question is whether the Rescue Diver certification course is really worth it. I want both of us to become more competent at everything. Is taking a course a good idea, or would we be better off just diving?

[dburg30]

I personally am aiming to get RD certified ASAP. I think it would be one of the best courses to take. I mean along with the basic first aid / emergency first responder part for above water, how to deal with someone panicked in the water just seems like something every diver should know.. At least that's my thoughts.

[sink-er-swim]

Personally I thought the rescue course was one of the best courses you can take. I had an excellent instructor who made the course very real to those of us in it. Thankfully since taking the course I haven't needed to "rescue" someone, but it defiantly has put me in a better position to help someone if a situation arises. That being said "just diving" is always good! I say do both!

[nolatom]

Do both--get more dives and take the course. Even if you never have to use it, the knowledge and practice will make you a better diver, and a better buddy.

[motorref]

A well timed question, as I'm curious about this as well; I got certified last year because both of my daughters want to dive.
From the parental viewpoint, I'll be RD certified as soon as I can, "just in case".

KL

[Steve50]

every diver should take it

[muddiver]

The "Old School" programs like NAUI, NASDS, YMCA all included self rescue and buddy rescue skills in their program because as a buddy team, you need to know what to do in an emergency. It is too bad that you have to take a seporate course under the PADI system to gain this criticle knowledge.

Take the course and you will be a better prepared diver.

[merxlin]

It will be a challenge for you with the limited number of dives you have (based on your profile) but as others have mentioned, the information you gain will be well worth the time and effort. Two things you will learn that are typically not thought about- how not to become a victim yourself, and self-rescue. Most people go into the class thinking about how to help someone else.

[tddfleming]

I agree, well timed. My profile looks that same as yours. My plan is to go ahead with it this summer for all 3 of us. Then I will retake the course in a year or so, after I/we get more dives and I am sure we will come out with a better knowledge. But it does not make a lot of since to hold off until you have a lot of dives, as we are in the high risk group now. I believe I can gain a lot of knowledge now and then later have a much better and broader grasp of it.

[mwalsh787]

My daughter and I both have Advanced Open Water certifications. I have Nitrox as well. We enjoy trips to Key Largo, and have enjoyed taking courses which add additional interests during a trip to a fairly familiar area. My basic question is whether the Rescue Diver certification course is really worth it. I want both of us to become more competent at everything. Is taking a course a good idea, or would we be better off just diving?

Rupp, I wondered the same thing a few weeks ago as I was considering taking the course. The feedback was universally in favor of taking the course. I heard things like "It will help you to beome a better diver." "It will enahnce your skills." And, perhaps most persuasive of all I heard from a Divemaster and and a Master Instructor who said "When I know that someone who has successfully completed the Rescue Course is on my boat, I know that there is one less diver that I have to worry about in an emergency." The skills of self-reliance are an important part of being able to dive safely, in my opinion.

As someone who was a lifeguard and a lifegurad instructor for many years, I know that it is nice to have someone around who has the skills and comfort level in the water to help in an emergency. At the very least, depending on the quality of his or her training, they have had to think through an emergency situation. Hopefully, they also have the water skills to be a resource in an emergency situation. It was always good to know when it was my job to keep people safe, that there were others around who may be able to help. You can't always do things alone...having help is a good thing:D

In short, I wanted to take the course to be a better diver...and also a better resource in the event that something goes wrong. I look at taking this course as an example of being a "good dive citizen".

I'll be taking my course in March. Hope you decide to take it and good luck to both of you!

Mike

[Clanggedin]

Rescue is the best class to take. I absolutely loved it. You will be a more aware diver regardless of your skill after taking the class.

[fjpatrum]

In any circumstance, the knowledge gained from a rescue class will be a good thing to have. I've never taken a rescue diver course, but I've taken lots of wilderness first aid and general first responder courses and I assure you, the information is worth the effort of taking the class.

If nothing else you will be exposed to situations (theoretically and perhaps in the dive portion of the class as well) that you most likely will not encounter in real life. As such, you will be more prepared than you would otherwise if you actually do encounter those situations in real life.

Knowledge is always a good thing.

[Peter Guy]

I want both of us to become more competent at everything. Is taking a course a good idea, or would we be better off just diving?
The typical response to this question is that Rescue helps you become a "complete and independent" diver. As I recall from my DM course (PADI), passing the Rescue course finally makes one "a diver."

If the class is well run, you will learn something and it MAY help you become a more confident diver. HOWEVER, it is highly unlikely that taking a Rescue Class will make you a significantly more skilled diver since that is NOT the focus of the course. In fact, the focus of the course is to make you aware of situations that can cause issues/problems so that you can learn how to avoid them in the first place.

So, take the class AND go diving using the skills you have -- and then take some diving lessons now and then from an instructor who has the ability to raise your skill level.

[philmayer]

I assist with Rescue Diver courses several times each year. I've never had a student think it wasn't the best course they've taken.

It not only teaches how to respond in an emergency, I've seen it give divers more confidence in their diving and increase their comfort level significantly.

[paddler3d]

Rescue Diver is an awesome course. A lot of course depends upon the teacher. I wish every diver would take Rescue Diver or Stress and Rescue.

The key is you want to take it at a time when you are comfortable diving.

As a 'victim', specifically a panicked victim, I will try and make you the victim. If you let me, I'm taking your mask, your reg, whatever I can take. I'm going to push you so you know your limits.

To do this, you have to be comfortable diving.

When I did my rescue class it was with a group of us that were going onto DMC. There was one student in particular who talked a big talk. When that student went to assemble their gear it was as if they had never seen the stuff before. The instructor, who was a regular dive buddy of mine, instructed me to swim up to her in a panic, reg out of my mouth, give the OOA signal and if she doesn't give me an air source, take one from her. I did all that, she didn't give me a reg so I took her primary. She panicked and shot to the surface with me in tow. Needless to say, she didn't make it.

The point is, as it turned out she hadn't been in the water in some time and she wasn't comfortable.

Anyway, it is an awesome class. It will help you to be a more confident diver.

[paddler3d]

Removed by poster...it did a duplicate post!

[Bubbletrubble]

So, now that we've convinced you to take the Rescue course, the next logical question is: When would it be best to take it?

I feel pretty strongly that you should have very good buoyancy control and an excellent handle on your basic OW skills prior to taking the Rescue class. The reason for this is that, to make good use of your time spent in the Rescue class, you need to have the bandwidth to attend to what's going on around you. It's impossible to be aware of what's going on in your environment if you're still struggling to control your depth, worried about doing an uncontrolled ascent, don't know where your buddy is, or aren't comfortable with the operation of your gear. As a rescuer, you need to have yourself squared away first in order be able to assist with another diver in distress. For most people, I think having approx. 50 lifetime dives is a reasonable experience level to get the most out of the class. Perhaps others will disagree with me on this point.

[Downing]

At our post-OW cert pizza party, our instructor told us that if we ever took another course it should be the Rescue Diver. I remember thinking at the time, "Hey, right now I've got my hands full just keeping me alive, much less someone else." But I've always remembered her words.

And pretty much everything I've ever read on this board has supported that view.

I'll finally be taking RD this summer and can't wait. I did the American Heart Association EFR course a couple of months ago. Loved it. Finally know how to do CPR.

I got the RD crewpack a few months ago and should have the manual pretty well memorized by June. Then the fun, and work, really begins.

In general, I agree with Bubbletrubble's opinion that it would be good to have around fifty dives under your belt. But if your buoyancy control is good, you're in reasonably good shape and competent in your skills, then I say go for it. The worst that could happen is you don't pass, so you'll correct your deficiencies and pass the next time.

[oreocookie]

I was considering doing Rescue this summer, but that was before I had two trips on my calendar and an intention to get a nitrox card. Reading this thread is making me start to consider it again...

[davetowz]

The rescue class should be essential for all divers. Get some experience after O/W then take it. The scenarios alone will teach you more how to respond when there are issues.

[Bubbletrubble]

Although I recommended getting some experience outside of basic OW certification before taking the Rescue class, I forgot to mention that, if you aren't CPR-certified yet or haven't ever taken a first aid class, please get that training...now. Frankly, I think that this kind of training should be a prerequisite for taking any scuba instruction at all -- it's that important.

You never know when you'll be called upon to assist in an emergency. Encourage your friends and family members to take the CPR class with you. It pays to be prepared.

[paddler3d]

I was considering doing Rescue this summer, but that was before I had two trips on my calendar and an intention to get a nitrox card. Reading this thread is making me start to consider it again...

Nitrox it useful some of the time...rescue is useful all of the time.

[Mayor]

The rescue was the first course that really starts building awareness in the water. You start to look for signs of problems long before thay happen. It's well worth the money as long as you can find quality instruction.

With Nitrox being so easy to find why would you dive anything else? :D

[oreocookie]

Nitrox it useful some of the time...rescue is useful all of the time.

I'll agree with that. The only reason I decided to go for the nitrox card (this summer anyway) is because the price for the Bonaire trip I'm going on with the lds includes nitrox and I'd like to have the option of being able to use it. I guess I'll just have to be extra careful about finding good airfare deals so I can do both classes.

[scubajim 1]

Definately take the EFR and RD courses. This will be your first exposure (in PADI anyway) in decision making. Until this time everything was in absolutes...do this...not that...
In RD you are learning to think critically and make flexible decisions.
It is a great course and if your instructor is good you will find this course will give you a new prespective on your skills and diving in general.

If you are wondering about your skills why not ask to dive with the instructor 1st. He/she may ask you to develop your skills a bit more before taking the course or say you are ready to go.
Enjoy the course and tell us how it went.

[DaMaDo]

Rescue was great! I'd recommend it at any level. I took it after my 15th dive. You'll feel a lot more comfortable afterwards and it opens up your situation awareness towards other divers and deteriorating situations.

I also suggest looking into the DAN courses as well...namely the advanced O2, hazardous marine life injuries, and AED use. If diving deeper, the neuro assessment would also be good.

[Searcaigh]

Rescue was the best course that I ever did albeit many years ago, the instructor I had made me work very hard considering the DMs he had at the time were 6ft+ and in comparison I am a mere 5ft 7in .... my life was not easy, but hey that is what it's all about.

Opened up a whole new world for me photographically too as when I played victim for others laying on the bottom I discovered the macro world watching tiny critters move around that I had never noticed before.

[AggieDad]

Definitely take the Rescue Diver course and the EFR. It is the most challenging and most rewarding class you will ever take in diving. Properly trained, you will become much more aware of problems before they happen (and like my instructor told me....learn who to avoid in the water).

Besides all of that...one of the best benefits is the ability to now come back and be a "victim". That is the most fun....REVENGE.

[2 Big 2 Fail]

I think you have to ask yourself if, in the course of diving, you would attempt to rescue someone in trouble and, if you would, would you rather have some knowledge and practice at making it successful, both in terms of helping the victim and surviving the attempt yourself? Is there any reason to wait for some level of accomplishment? The rescue situation, if it's going to happen, won't wait for that. And maybe even more important, if it becomes a matter of you or no one, is there anything but the RD experience that's going to equip you to make the decision to act or not - or maybe to mean the only decision you can really make is more likely the right one?

(The answers aren't automatically one way or another. How many people who are reasonably good swimmers didn't survive their attempt to rescue another swimmer in trouble? If they had thought about it and had known they could have faced a situation where they could not say no, would they have taken a lifesaving course? Did not having had a lifesaving course give them the option of not attempting the rescue?)

I was going to say that, even if you felt like you wanted more diving time first, there were swimming lifesaving courses of value. Well, dang. In looking around, it seems things are not quite as they were in my youth, and in the US, organizations have largely abandoned things like the old Red Cross and YWCA Lifesaving courses in favor of longer lifeguarding courses. (Canadian YMCA continues to deliver lifesaving under the Lifesaving Society certification.) I guess the US, except for BSA, has nearly completely bailed out of basic lifesaving for swimmers.

[tincan715]

In looking around, it seems things are not quite as they were in my youth, and in the US, organizations have largely abandoned things like the old Red Cross and YWCA Lifesaving courses in favor of longer lifeguarding courses. (Canadian YMCA continues to deliver lifesaving under the Lifesaving Society certification.) I guess the US, except for BSA, has nearly completely bailed out of basic lifesaving for swimmers.

I agree, but I'm not at all sure that's a bad thing. I was a lifeguard at a public swimming pool for five summers in college and today my son is a lifeguard at a local water park, so I have a reasonable basis for comparison. My son's training - and today's approach to lifeguarding in general - is MUCH more rigorous than when I was young. A few years ago, as an adult, I qualified as a BSA lifeguard and that too was much more tougher than my original Red Cross training (and not only because I'm now an old guy). I would argue that only a really strong swimmer with proper training should attempt a rescue and that's pretty much the approach these days.

[Selchie in LB]

Hey All Great Post I had heard that RD was the best class to take if you never take another. I have 32 OW dives to date and have taken the AOW. I am taking the RD and just started this week. Number 1 I have a kick ass instructor that in addition to standard material covered throws out those little nuggets of information that make you stop and think. The other big deal and this is stressed in every scenario we have gone over DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE THEN YOU WILL HAVE 2 DIVERS WHO NEED RESCUING.

Even though we only have done the pool training so far, we go Sunday to complete the OW portion, I have learned so much about other equipment. That has been a real eye opener. It's talked about when doing buddy checks, but when you are actually trying to get someone buoyant and keeping hitting the exhaust button on their 2 in 1 you quickly realize holy crap I don't really have clue! Better yet drop their BCD which was keeping them afloat only have them sink because not everyone uses integrated weights! DUH!

Several who have posted have brought up situational awareness. I have had that stressed over and over. How many stories have I read here where my buddy was 20 feet away when . . . I've heard from other divers, we were cruising along and found this diver alone and it was not a solo diver, but someone who lost their buddy. I have done a handful dives and gotten separated and each time we had surfaced and thank goodness found each other.

I'll get off my soapbox now, but I will sell RD to any diver who hasn't taken it. & I don't even get a kick back!

[geoff w]

My wife and I got certified in '94, immediately took the AOW course afterward, and finally got around to taking the rescue class early last summer (2010). Best class ever? Probably the open water class, because it got us diving. After 170+ dives, taking the rescue class really made me think differently about some situations. I wish I had taken the class 10 years sooner. I didn't feel remarkably more competent as a diver taking the rescue class (we really didn't do much "diving" in the class), but the skills presented will make anyone a much better diver.

Our rescue instructor said we were welcome to come back any time to help out with rescue classes and refresh our skills. Since taking the class, I've gone back to help out for three more rescue classes, and have learned new skills each time, including learning some of the things I should have in the rescue class but didn't. (It's PADI, so everything is squished into just a couple of days.) I'm still going back each time my LDS does another rescue class, even though I'm not working toward being a divemaster or anything. Each time I assist with the rescue class, I feel like I learn more than I did the first time, as well as practicing skills from the class.