Rescue Diver? Can someone explain this category

[ktownyoyo]

I imagine on any dive there is a Dive Master who will step-in for any emergency. I know CPR and know a thing or two about first aid, but would not say I could "rescue" someone if I had to. Wouldn't this be for an uber-professional?

 

[RickyF]

Rescue is probably the best class I ever took. It teaches you to be able to recognize situations that put you or another diver in danger and how to best react to those. As for me, I don't want to have to depend on anyone to save my life if I can be prepared to deal with the problems on my own.

 

[muzikbiz22]

I imagine on any dive there is a Dive Master who will step-in for any emergency.

Wrong

 

[bergersau]

I imagine on any dive there is a Dive Master who will step-in for any emergency.

Don't make that mistake - it depends on where and with what operation you dive. Take personal responsibility for yourself and your buddy every dive.

In my area a dive master is the exception rather than the rule, if you want one you'll need to specifically hire one ahead of time. The charter boats will drive you to the site, drop a shot line in the right spot and give you dive briefings on their standard procedures, what to expect on the site, and what to look out for. It's then up to you and your buddy to safely execute the dive without the hand holding of a dive master.

 

[ktownyoyo]

Got it sorry for the basic questions

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[Crowley]

The Rescue Diver program is not designed to turn people into professional search and recovery divers, just as the EFR (or any first aid course) is not designed to train people how to be Paramedics. It's a collection of basic techniques to give the average recreational diver some information and techniques on how to deal with emergency situations - it doesn't mean a certified rescue diver is expected to deal with any incident that might occur, but it's a good starting point, and at the very least it let's people know that there are possibilities available should something occur.

In many locations then yes, there is going to be an experienced DM or Instructor available to deal with dive accidents, but there are also many locations where this is most assuredly not the case. This might be because the DM or instructor is relatively new or not confident to deal with these situations, it might be that they are poorly trained themselves, and it might happen that there are no certified dive professionals in the group. In resort locations then yes, the dive operator is usually going to insist on a guide, but there are plenty of dive spots where two relatively inexperienced divers can buddy up and head into the water. It is also true to say that in some locations - leaning towards the developing world here - you can often find local guides that are not certified DMs because the program is unavailable in their language - and there is no law in these places that says you have to have a professional certification to be in charge of a dive group.

It is possible to rescue people using the basic training - I've moved on a bit since my own rescue course but I haven't had any further training in diver rescue other than what I've read about. As an instructor I have had to deal with some emergencies, and my colleagues and I did exactly what it said in the Rescue and EFR training. It's highly likely that we saved lives as a result of that. I highly recommend the course for exactly those reasons and my personal philosophy has always been: "Rescue courses are not designed to turn people into professional search and recovery divers, they are there to give lay people a basic introduction to techniques that may help to save lives in the event of an emergency. If Rescue training only ever saved one life, then it was worth it."

Cheers, safe diving,

Crowley

 

[rivers]

Got it sorry for the basic questions

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Don't apologise. from the sounds of it, you are either a new diver or someone who only dives in warm water locations on holiday. As others have mentioned, there are places where a DM may be required by local law or custom, but in many areas of the world, this isn't the case. Hell, if I go on out on a boat dive in the UK, I don't even need a buddy, just a redundant gas source.
The only times I see a DM in the UK, it is assisting with classes or doing a 'Discover UK diving' with someone who has only previously dived on holiday.
Rescue is a good class to take as it teaches you to recognise and deal with problems that may arise on a dive, like how to recognise and approach a panicking diver, controlled lifts, etc.

 

[kwinter]

The reason I took it through an SSI shop even though that wasn't convenient was that the SSI course was "Stress and Rescue." By emphasizing the Stress part, it certainly focused on more than rescue. Recognizing stress in yourself or other divers and dealing with it before it becomes a panic situation is a good way to avoid a rescue in the first place. You don't need to be a professional to be ready to help yourself or others. And you don't need to rely on others when you can help yourself. Learn the skills for rescue. But more importantly, learn the situations and the signs that can avoid needing the rescue by defusing the situation or avoiding it in the first place. Great skills for every diver to have.

 

[Diver0001]

I imagine on any dive there is a Dive Master who will step-in for any emergency. I know CPR and know a thing or two about first aid, but would not say I could "rescue" someone if I had to. Wouldn't this be for an uber-professional?

Look at it like this. Suppose you and your friend are into motorcyle riding and when you ride you make a habit of lane-splitting.

In that case, it's proably a good idea to know what to do if your buddy wipes out because someone changed lanes right in front of him without seeing him. Moreover, you'd proably appreciate it if your buddy knew what to do if it was you who side-swipes someone.

That's not to say that you need to able to re-attach an arm or fix a broken back. That's for doctors. But you should know how to secure the area, mobilize the EMS and keep your friend alive, without making his injuries worse, long enough for the paramedics to arrive. Part of that (getting to the point) might be to ask bystanders if anyone is a doctor.

It's similar with the rescue course. Rescue is about taking quick action (because you're on the scene already) to get the victim to safety and to take the right steps to get them evacuated asap. You don't need to be an uber professional for this and few divers are. Part of what you'll learn about managing a rescue scene is to delegate tasks and make use of others who can help you. You'll also learn a number of best practices so that if you *are* confronted with an emergency you don't need to invent the wheel on the fly. Believe me, in a real world rescue you won't have a lot of free attention for inventing wheels so it's good to have something to go on.

R..

 

[PsyWulf]

While being rescue certified is generally a requirement to be a DM,a DM isn't a requirement to dive,and it might just be the DM in trouble even. Who responds then? Rescue training raises awareness and preparedness to handle issues (more) proficiently. Improve the safety of yourself and those around you any way you can