SDI Rescue Diver

Rescue Skills · The Gateway to Pro · For Certified Divers

The course that changes how you dive. Rescue Diver teaches you to prevent trouble, spot it early, and handle a real emergency, from a panicked diver to an unconscious one. It's demanding, hands-on, and the last step before the professional ranks. It has real prerequisites, and you'll need your own mask, fins, boots, and snorkel, plus a surface signal (an SMB and reel or a whistle) and a cutting device, while we include the rest of the rental gear.

Veterans can put their GI Bill toward their training, and families can use ESA or ClassWallet funds. See if you qualify.

Starting from

$299.00

Availability: Contact us for booking information

Description
Additional Information

SDI Rescue Diver Course

Rescue Skills · The Gateway to Pro · For Certified Divers

Rescue Diver is the course most divers say changed how they think on every dive, not just in an emergency. You'll learn to spot trouble before it starts, help a panicked or unconscious diver, manage an accident scene, and give first aid when it counts. It's challenging and hands-on, and it's the point where a lot of divers say their training got serious. It's also the last step before the professional ranks.

Before you enroll

Rescue asks more of you up front than earlier courses. You'll need:

To be at least 18 years old, or 15 with a parent's consent
Current CPR, First Aid, and Oxygen (O2) Provider certifications, which a qualified instructor can bundle right into your Rescue course
Your SDI Advanced Adventure Diver certification or equivalent, or an Open Water certification with at least 15 logged dives

Not sure which path fits you? Call us at (480) 881-4013 and we'll sort it out.

What you'll learn

The knowledge side prepares you to prevent accidents and respond calmly when one happens.

Spotting stress and the causes of dive accidents
First aid for dive-related injuries
Recognizing and managing hyperbaric injuries
Accident scene management, reporting, and the legal side

In-water skills

Then you put it to work in the water, practicing the rescues you'd actually perform.

Self rescue and buddy assists
Recognizing and calming a panicked diver
Bringing an unconscious diver up from 20 feet
Towing a diver 150 feet with rescue breathing, then exiting the water

What you unlock

Finish Rescue Diver and you can:

Conduct rescues for divers in distress with real confidence
Enroll in the SDI Master Scuba Diver Development Program
Step into the pro ranks with the SDI Divemaster course

✓ What's included

Classroom and pool session, plus your open water rescue dives
The SDI Rescue Diver course materials and exam
Rental gear for the course: BCD, regulator, tank, weights, and wetsuit
A discount on any gear you buy while enrolled

What to bring

Your own mask, fins, boots, and snorkel (required, we don't rent these)
A surface signal (SMB and reel, or a whistle) and a cutting device (required for this course)
Proof of your prerequisite certifications
Your CPR, First Aid, and O2 cards, or ask us to bundle them
A swimsuit and a towel

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need before I can take Rescue Diver?

You'll need to be at least 18 (or 15 with a parent's consent), hold current CPR, First Aid, and Oxygen Provider certifications, and have your SDI Advanced Adventure certification, or an Open Water certification with 15 logged dives. We can bundle the CPR, First Aid, and O2 training into the course if you don't have it yet.

Do I have to have CPR and first aid already?

You need them by the time you certify, but you don't have to arrive with them. A qualified instructor can combine CPR, First Aid, and Oxygen Provider training with your Rescue course, so just ask and we'll set it up.

Do I need Advanced Adventure first?

Advanced Adventure is the usual path in. If you don't have it, you can qualify with an Open Water certification and 15 logged dives instead.

How long does it take?

It runs over a classroom and pool day followed by a day of open water rescue dives at a local lake. Your instructor confirms the schedule when you book.

What will I actually do?

You'll practice real rescues: helping a tired or panicked diver, bringing an unconscious diver up from depth, towing them to shore while giving rescue breaths, and getting them out of the water. There's also a written exam you'll pass at 80 percent.

What gear do I need to own?

Your own mask, fins, boots, and snorkel, plus a surface signal, either an SMB with reel or a whistle, and a cutting device. Those are yours to own. The rest of your rental gear, like your BCD, regulator, tank, weights, and wetsuit, is included.

What comes after Rescue Diver?

This is the gateway to the pro ranks. From here you can move into the SDI Master Scuba Diver Development Program or start your professional path with the SDI Divemaster course.

Let's. Go. Diving.

Rescue is one of the most rewarding courses you'll take. Register online, or call the shop and we'll get you scheduled and sort out any prerequisites.

📞 Call the shop (480) 881-4013

Prerequisites: SDI Advanced Adventure (or Open Water plus 15 logged dives), current CPR, First Aid, and O2, and age 18 (15 with parental consent). This is the last stop before the professional ranks.

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