PADI Rescue Diver Certification Course
Ask almost any certified diver, and they will tell you: the PADI Rescue Diver Course is the most challenging, rewarding, and fun scuba course they have ever taken! This program marks a crucial shift from focusing solely on yourself to recognizing and managing the safety and well-being of other divers.
By developing greater spatial awareness, problem-solving skills, and stress management, you will become a far more self-sufficient, capable, and confident dive buddy. It is also the essential stepping stone toward professional scuba ratings like PADI Divemaster and Master Scuba Diver.
Price: $469.95
Course Highlights & Fast Facts
- Course Length: 3 Days (1 Wednesday Evening Classroom/Pool + 1 Full Ocean Weekend).
- Ocean Training: Saturday & Sunday (approx. 4–5 hours per day) at Whytecliff Park.
- Course Difficulty: Advanced & Physically Demanding.
- Age Requirement: 12+ years old (12–14 year olds earn Junior Rescue Diver status).
- eLearning Included: Full PADI Rescue Diver eLearning portal included in course fee.
Mandatory Course Prerequisites
- Certification: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification (or qualifying equivalent from another recognized agency).
- First Aid/CPR: Current Emergency First Response (EFR) Primary & Secondary Care training (or recognized CPR/First Aid certification completed within the last 24 months). Proof required prior to start of course.
Detailed Course Schedule & Curriculum
Part 1: Self-Paced eLearning & Wednesday Night Briefing
Complete your digital PADI Rescue eLearning modules prior to the first evening. On Wednesday evening (7:30 PM start), we meet in the classroom to review knowledge development, stress management, emergency action plans, and CPR/First Aid refreshers.
Part 2: Heated Pool Skill Introduction
Following the Wednesday classroom review, we head directly to our heated indoor pool for a 1-hour session. This controlled environment allows you to safely practice essential rescue techniques before taking them to the ocean:
- Recognizing and managing diver stress in others.
- Self-rescue skills and panicked diver management at the surface and underwater.
- Unconscious diver response and in-water rescue breathing techniques.
Part 3: Open Water Scenarios at Whytecliff Park (Saturday & Sunday)
Spend Saturday and Sunday morning (4–5 hours per day) at Vancouver’s premier dive site, Whytecliff Park. Under instructor guidance, you will hone, adapt, and execute critical rescue skills in realistic open water scenarios:
| Skill Category | Core Rescue Exercises |
|---|---|
| Tired & Panicked Diver | Surface approaches, releases, tow methods, and equipment removal assistance. |
| Response from Shore/Boat | Assisting conscious divers from land, non-swimming assists, and emergency equipment deployment. |
| Underwater Search Patterns | Locating missing divers using search patterns, compasses, and controlled ascents. |
| Unconscious Diver at Depth | Bringing an unresponsive diver to the surface safely and managing buoyancy. |
| Realistic Rescue Scenarios | Taking a leadership role in managing full emergency scenarios from search to shoreline exit. |
What We Supply (Included):
- PADI Rescue Diver eLearning access pass.
- Scuba tanks, BCD, regulator set (hygienic mouthpiece required), and weights.
- Specialized emergency equipment for simulations (O2 kits, search lines, rescue floats).
- Classroom instruction, pool practice, and ocean scenario coaching.
What You Supply:
- Personal Scuba Gear: Mask, Snorkel, Fins, Hood, Gloves, Boots, and Wetsuit or Drysuit. (Gear rentals available at IDC).
- Special Drysuit Rental Deal: Flat rate of $99.95 + tax for the entire weekend for qualified drysuit divers (requires Drysuit Specialty certification or logged drysuit experience).
- Safety Gear: Personal CPR Pocket Mask (available for purchase at IDC).
- Transportation: Travel to Whytecliff Park (IDC Rideshare Van available for $15.00/day).
