A rescue diver is a trained and certified underwater professional or recreational diver skilled in recognizing, preventing, and managing diving emergencies, from assisting panicked or unresponsive divers to administering emergency oxygen and first aid, shifting focus from self to buddy safety to handle stressful situations and perform life-saving underwater rescues. They develop proactive awareness, learning to spot stress and potential problems before they escalate, and practice skills in simulated scenarios for managing accidents and assisting others in distress.
Key Skills & Responsibilities
- Emergency Response: Responding to distressed or unconscious divers, managing stress, and providing in-water care.
- Accident Management: Handling complex situations, providing emergency oxygen, and performing first aid.
- Accident Prevention: Anticipating problems, monitoring buddy's condition (breathing, body language), and fostering a proactive mindset.
- Self-Rescue: Techniques for managing personal emergencies and stress.
- Search & Recovery: Locating missing persons or evidence for law enforcement or salvage operations.
Training & Certification
- Prerequisites: Typically require Advanced Open Water certification and First Aid/CPR training (like EFR).
- Course Content: Combines theory with practical, hands-on scenarios, including underwater problem-solving and surface rescues.
- Agencies: Offered by major agencies like PADI, SSI, NAUI, and SDI.