Long term: Rescue Cert?

[rjpv]

Hi folks,

I am a semi-newly PADI OW certified diver (enough dives to realize I need work on air consumption and buoyancy, but not enough to stop gazing fondly at my shiny c card).

My long term goal for diving is to enjoy a variety of dives, safely. Right now I'm in no rush to push ahead with training - plenty of shallower local dive sites I have yet to visit - but I do plan eventually to move to deeper or more advanced (wall, drift, etc) dives. Consequently I plan to take the AOW classes at some point.

My question is, should I go farther than that... ie Rescue Cert? It certainly seems to me I would be a safer diver (for myself and my buddies) with the Rescue Cert, but I don't want to spend time (alot of time conditioning...) and money on training that, as a recreational diver, I don't need. Not looking to ever be a dive professional.

So, what is the verdict? Is the return on Rescue cert worth the effort or should I be content with AOW? Thanks!

 

[divingjd]

Probably the best course you could ever take. You will learn a lot about being a safer diver yourself, being a better buddy, and being able to handle situations. It's not a dive leadership course at all.

 

[divecon15]

Absolutly!!! I can only speak for SSI but it is a great course....At SSI we call it STRESS & RESCUE half the class is on stress and half the class is on rescue. As a recreational diver I pray that you never have to participate in a rescue, but having the knowledge is important. Stress is on the other hand is constantly there, it is almost inescapable, to a certain extent it is almost always there (as new divers) but being able to identify is is what is the most important thing, then you will know what to do and waht your options are.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Ditto.

Rescue should be a required course, IMO. They vary based on the strengths of the instructor, but you'll get something out of nearly any rescue course and a good one is priceless. Ask any diver who has ever been involved in any realworld rescue scenario.

FWIW. YMMV.

 

[Jim Ernst]

rescue!! one of the best and by far one of the most important classes you can take!! it helps you and you buddy!!!

 

[SharkDZ]

I'm a newbie diver and am currently in the Rescue Scuba Diver course. I only intended to complete basic OW, but had so much fun I enrolled and completed AOW last fall. My goal is to have fun and learn as much as possible. I'm not sure if I'll ever be a dive pro, but I still may enter the DM course sometime in the future.

I did my OW rescue scenarios last Saturday and they were challenging, but fun. Wednesday I will complete the course after the final exam. This year I'll also do several specialties, with my uw nav spec. already complete. Next month I'll do Search & Recovery, so I'm on the road to master scuba diver. Again, it's not to impress anyone, but for my knowledge and it sure is a lot of fun. If anything, it keeps you diving and meeting new people and dive buds.

 

[AggieDad]

Do it!

Can you plan on the time when your buddy is tired, cramped up, or worse panics? This will help you to be "ready".

 

[Dive-aholic]

Rescue is one of the best courses you can take. You will learn a lot in it and build your confidence up quite a bit.

 

[Tollie]

I think the best part of the class is developing foward thinking so that you cut off accidents before they happen. You become more atuned to sources of problems... with stress with environment with your buddies and with equipment.

Last, as part of the program you take cpr/first aid. In the last three years I have been called upon to make use of cpr/first aid training on four occasions... all but one on the land. You become a generally more capable person rather than an onlooker.

 

[cleung]

I am just a recreational diver and finished both Rescue and Master Diver. Like you, I always wondered if it was worth it to take these courses. But then someone in one of my local dive shops once said, "more education and training never hurts".

I don't regret taking these extra courses at all. I always learned something new each time. Rescue by the way, was the most challenging dive course I've taken by far.