Rescue advice

[O'Malley]

I recently certified OW in the last week of May and have now signed up for August AOW and September Rescue classes. I had set a goal for myself to certifiy Rescue by summer's end...34 logged dives later (18 of which were in waters with 3-10' viz and bottom temperatures as low as 48 degrees...the very same waters in which I will be doing the Advanced and Rescue open-water skills) and comfortable with my buoyancy, I feel prepared for the upcoming challenges. Although my regular set-up is a Knighthawk with Atomic Aquatics SS1 alternate, I will be diving an octo as well for all practical purposes. If there is any additional equipment essentials or odds & ends that will increase my preparedness...I'm all ears and thanks in advance for your feedback!

 

[D_B]

an Oronasal Resuscitation Mask will help with inwater rescue breathing.
practice hauling around a wet 180lbs of dead weight , lol ... if your not in shape, It's going to be hard work

DB

 

[No Fish]

The tows may wear you out, so that is sound advice. Keep your gear simple as well. It will help. You should carry a whistle or something like that too.

 

[kittyjg]

One consideration - does your console clip across your body? If so, you may want to put a clip on your BC on the same side as the console.
My computer/compass console normally comes under my left arm and clip to my BC near the right shoulder on a retractor. During my rescue class when I was the victim and the rescuer was trying to remove my gear, I kept getting tipped face-first into the water because I forgot to move/unclip my console and he couldn't get my BC off of me. The victim came to life for a few minutes - thought I was going to drown for real.

I realize that is something the rescuer is suppose to check out during the evaluation - (stop, breath, think, act) phase, but that still didn't keep my face out of the water.

 

[Wildcard]

Get the encyclopedia or rec diving and read it. HUGE help. Also don't forget to have fun and take things at a needed pace.

 

[SoCalOffshore]

i did a similar thing. I got certified in August of last year. I have finished my AOW, Rescue and a handull of specialty classes and have 100 dives in the last year. I have now just started my Dive Master training and rescued my first OW student this weekend in the pool! Good luck.

 

[Jafo123]

For my rescue class I had to have 150 foot line and spool for doing search patterns. You should have most every thing else if you are an outfitted diver.