BrianV
Contributor
I'm about to be AOW and have about 20 logged dives. I am really interested in doing the rescue diver course for a few reasons:
a) you get the added benefit of the CPR course which I think is beneficial for all. I took it once in high school but never mastered it. About a year ago I witnessed a huge car wreck and was unable to perform CPR; fortunately about 90 seconds later someone came to perform it. I felt kind of bad.
b) I think it will teach me tools that will make me a safer diver and a calmer diver when little issues come up under water.
I'm only 24 and although I'm not in awesome shape I'm in decent shape. What exactly is involved in the entire process. Do you who have it feel it was a beneficial course?
I really want my g/f to do it with me, but she doesn't really want to, she feels AOW is enough.
Finally, one of my co-workers who's a very experienced diver told me to be careful because if some dive operators see you're PADI rescue diver and something happens you could be somewhat liable for not helping. Those weren't his exact words, but it something about limited liability in emergencies. In addition, I don't want to sound selfish here, but there's only so much I'd personally risk for saving another. If someone falls down to 200', sorry nothing I can do since I'm not trained in deco. If someone is fighting with me too rough down there and I can't get it under control, at a certain point I'd have to protect myself and get away from the situation. Maybe I can be taught tactics to deal with these, but every situation is different. Please chime in with your thoughts on.
Thanks
a) you get the added benefit of the CPR course which I think is beneficial for all. I took it once in high school but never mastered it. About a year ago I witnessed a huge car wreck and was unable to perform CPR; fortunately about 90 seconds later someone came to perform it. I felt kind of bad.
b) I think it will teach me tools that will make me a safer diver and a calmer diver when little issues come up under water.
I'm only 24 and although I'm not in awesome shape I'm in decent shape. What exactly is involved in the entire process. Do you who have it feel it was a beneficial course?
I really want my g/f to do it with me, but she doesn't really want to, she feels AOW is enough.
Finally, one of my co-workers who's a very experienced diver told me to be careful because if some dive operators see you're PADI rescue diver and something happens you could be somewhat liable for not helping. Those weren't his exact words, but it something about limited liability in emergencies. In addition, I don't want to sound selfish here, but there's only so much I'd personally risk for saving another. If someone falls down to 200', sorry nothing I can do since I'm not trained in deco. If someone is fighting with me too rough down there and I can't get it under control, at a certain point I'd have to protect myself and get away from the situation. Maybe I can be taught tactics to deal with these, but every situation is different. Please chime in with your thoughts on.
Thanks