Dear Annie,

I have my PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification and have done 25 dives. Should I take the PADI Rescue Diver course already or get more experience in the water first?

—Rescue Ready

Dear Ready,

Congratulations—you’ve caught the diving addiction! Wanting to learn more and improve your skills is the best mindset you can have as a diver. I truly believe one of the most valuable courses any diver can take is the PADI Rescue Diver course. It builds confidence, emphasizes safety and deepens your understanding of both the physical and psychological aspects of diving. In my opinion, once you qualify for Rescue Diver, it’s never too soon to take the course.

Questioning whether you’re truly prepared is a great sign. As divers, questioning our abilities and assessing different scenarios is a key part of growth. You need 20 dives and an Adventure Diver or Advanced Open Water Diver certification before signing up for the Rescue Diver course, so you certainly qualify. You also need to take a first-aid/CPR course such as Emergency First Responder (EFR) within 24 months of the course. Some dive shops offer EFR classes year-round, while others combine EFR and Rescue Diver simultaneously to cover the first-aid/CPR requirement.

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If you are taking this course with your local dive shop or on your next trip, reach out ahead of time to make sure you have all the equipment needed for your course. A dive slate, cutting device, surface marker buoy and reel, compass and rescue breathing mask are required. To further prepare for your course, you can start mastering knots, including the bowline, square and sheet bend, as these skills will help you in the course. You may also need other special equipment for local diving conditions.

A central concept in the Rescue Diver training is that the best way to manage emergencies is to prevent them. You’ll learn to recognize subtle signs of stress or equipment issues before they become problems. You’ll practice self-rescue skills like cramp release and out-of-air emergencies, and be trained to recognize and assist divers in distress both underwater and at the surface.

One of the most valuable parts of the Rescue Diver course is the scenario-based learning. Instructors lead you through scenarios that teach you to sharpen your instincts and expand your awareness—not just for you and your buddy, but for everyone at a dive site. You’ll step into a leadership role and learn to manage a dive site during and after an incident.

You will start to think about diving differently as your instructor teaches you to understand what it takes to prevent in-water emergencies by catching issues before getting in the water. This shift in perspective is one of the most powerful outcomes of the course.

It’s commonly said that a diver can only manage three stressors before they risk reaching a tipping point. As a Rescue Diver, you’ll learn how to recognize those stressors—whether physical, mental or emotional—and help others work through challenges before they escalate.

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If your hesitation to sign up has to do with personal dive skills, consider signing up for a PADI Underwater Navigation or Search and Recovery specialty course combined with Rescue Diver to gain more dive experience and confidence with navigation, knot tying and using lift bags.

I like to combine classes that complement one another for students that need more time and experience with skills such as underwater navigation. When you are confident in navigation, it becomes an underwater superpower and helps with rescue scenarios such as locating a missing diver.

The Rescue Diver course can be one of the most challenging and rewarding, yet also one of the most fun. It’s hands-down one of my favorite courses to teach because I get to witness divers grow, push past their perceived limits and emerge safer, more aware and more empowered. Keep learning, stay curious, dive safe and remember to have fun. I can’t wait to hear about your successes and lessons learned from your Rescue Diver course!

Ask Annie

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer Annie Crawley answers your most pressing questions about dive etiquette, training qualms and gear analysis with zero judgment and a whole lot of lived experience.

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