Yes, Rescue is worth it. I believe all divers should take it as they become better buddies in the process!
It's a very rewarding course to take. You need to be able to work through various rescue skills and the two final scenarios, which gets the adrenaline really pumping. Hence I'd say it's more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge. But it will feel like you've accomplished a lot at the end.
There will mainly be surface skills, like towing a diver, throwing a rope, entering the water to rescue someone, approaching a panicked diver properly. A few things you'll do underwater are self-rescue (cramp release) and a shared air ascent with a buddy.
The actual rescues involve things like finding a diver underwater, bringing them to the surface, removing their gear and giving them simulated rescue breaths, dragging them out of the water, and administering further aid such as O2. You will learn all of the necessary skills in the course.
It's not really a diving skills improvement course, so buoyancy control is mainly helpful for the search portion of the rescue skills and scenario, where you may do a circular or square search pattern underwater, but it sounds like once you find neutral buoyancy, you're fine. I don't see that being an issue. Surfacing an unresponsive diver from the bottom doesn't require neutral buoyancy, just the ability to add and remove air from their BCD to control your joint ascent.
There is no requirement for logged dives, just having the Adventure Diver (PADI). But you have the AOW, so you can do it any time. I believe I did mine after about 35 dives.
Now, maybe the bigger question is what/where you feel you'd like to improve. Rescue won't do much for dive skills whereas practice, good examples, or a good PPB instructor will. Rescue will create more awareness of your surroundings and buddies, making you a safer diver, and boost overall confidence in dealing with inwater emergencies and the general first aid (EFR) is helpful anywhere.
It's a very rewarding course to take. You need to be able to work through various rescue skills and the two final scenarios, which gets the adrenaline really pumping. Hence I'd say it's more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge. But it will feel like you've accomplished a lot at the end.
There will mainly be surface skills, like towing a diver, throwing a rope, entering the water to rescue someone, approaching a panicked diver properly. A few things you'll do underwater are self-rescue (cramp release) and a shared air ascent with a buddy.
The actual rescues involve things like finding a diver underwater, bringing them to the surface, removing their gear and giving them simulated rescue breaths, dragging them out of the water, and administering further aid such as O2. You will learn all of the necessary skills in the course.
It's not really a diving skills improvement course, so buoyancy control is mainly helpful for the search portion of the rescue skills and scenario, where you may do a circular or square search pattern underwater, but it sounds like once you find neutral buoyancy, you're fine. I don't see that being an issue. Surfacing an unresponsive diver from the bottom doesn't require neutral buoyancy, just the ability to add and remove air from their BCD to control your joint ascent.
There is no requirement for logged dives, just having the Adventure Diver (PADI). But you have the AOW, so you can do it any time. I believe I did mine after about 35 dives.
Now, maybe the bigger question is what/where you feel you'd like to improve. Rescue won't do much for dive skills whereas practice, good examples, or a good PPB instructor will. Rescue will create more awareness of your surroundings and buddies, making you a safer diver, and boost overall confidence in dealing with inwater emergencies and the general first aid (EFR) is helpful anywhere.