Rescue Diver Cert.

[The Chairman]

NAUI starts teaching Rescue right in the OW class... you aren't a good buddy if you can't help out. There are no minimum dives or certs before taking it either. ANYONE who wants to understand the psychology and mechanism of diving accidents and incidents should take the course. This is especially important if your OW class did not cover the basics of rescue to begin with.

That being said, it is physically demanding. There are two long days of towing, ascending and such. Your bouyancy skills don't have to be perfect, but it helps. Most of my students taking the course are looking to Master Diver and then Dive Master as their long term goal.

 

[crestgel]

Padi's Rescue diver course is changing early 05. I'd take the new course.

What have they changed?

 

[ChrisA]

For those who have a rescue ....but I think it's clear that you want to be very confident in your own diving before you start worrying about rescue procedures. I just don't want to start too early.

Others have answered well. I'm in the midle of a rescue class right now and hve about
60 dives I'll just add two points

(1) about "task loading". A bought a UW digital camera at about dive #40. The first time I used it was at niiight. So I'm down there having to hold the light, manage bouyancy, keep track of budy, find photographic subjects and fiddle with adjusting a new camera. I was glad
the other stuff was under control and routine and that only the camera was new. I'd hate to have to learn night diving, surf entry and a camera all at once. I think your dive skills have to be in order. You don't want to be learning things other then rescue in the rescue class. I know a few others in our "group" that are all in the 50+ club and we are all taking or about ready to take the class. Could have done it at 25 but 50 is maybe better, depends...

(2) It turns out most of the new skills are done at the surface. Yes there is some underwater stuff but that part is easy. All the hard stuff is done at the surface. My opinion is that non-certified people could do 80% of the class if they were good swimmers. The hardest skills (to me at least) are done with the regulator out of your mouth. I'm finding it is easier to haul an unresponive diver up from the bottom then to care for the diver upon reaching the surface.

So I end up with a contradictory opinion that while the class does not depend all that much on under water skills a brand new OW diver would do poorly in the class due to "overload". Well that's the opinion of one student who is 1/2 way through the class.

 

[ChrisA]

What have they changed?

I heard through my instructor who has seen the new material that they now have a "refresher" rescue class that is recommended every two years. So the material is divided up so it can be used in the refresh class or the full class (but this may only apply to instructor's material.)
Also some small technical updtes plus a new video that is re-done. Again I got this second hand. I think PADI has found out people just don't use rescue skill frequently enough to remember and need a re-fresh class. Same as CPR certs. very few peole ever have to use thier CPR so they get rusty. (I think he said the new material shows newer model equiment in the photos. and they do this kind of update about every five years)

 

[lamont]

is it horribly cynical of me to think that PADI just realized they had a way to get rescue divers paying them money every 2 years?

 

[grazie42]

My LDS allows certed Rescuedivers (PADI) to sit in on the rescue courses they teach for free. They´ve also had a yearly refresher (free) for certed rescuedivers. I don´t think mine is the only LDS that does this so I have a hard time seeing how this "new" course would change anything...

 

[paolov]

is it horribly cynical of me to think that PADI just realized they had a way to get rescue divers paying them money every 2 years?

Rescue skills need to be refreshed. Take the Rescue course when you are ready to take it. I took mine with more than 200 dives. took it to have some training just incase. luckily i have never used it !!!

Though at one point i shared the rescue knowledge in an Airplane while we were flying up. There was no doctor on the whole plane. i asked the Stewardess what the problem was and from her statement i advised her to allow the passenger to lie down and be comfortable and keep her warm. Well, that helped alot for we were able to land at SFO airport until the paramedics were able to take a look at the patient.

but i was impressed on how quickly we were able to arrive early and land quickly !

)

 

[saf_25]

I heard through my instructor who has seen the new material that they now have a "refresher" rescue class that is recommended every two years.

That's a great idea! I know that it does sound like another way for PADI to get $ out of us, but I remember thinking while taking the class that there's no way that these skills will be remembered forever, and that a refresher was something I could see myself wanting for the future. Personally, I'm glad they're setting up a system to be able to have it.
However, I would also not want to have to spend the $125 my LDS charges for a class on that refresher - just not going to happen. $30 is more like it.

 

[Fly N Dive]

i had 45 dives before the course and 65 after.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

That's a great idea! I know that it does sound like another way for PADI to get $ out of us, but I remember thinking while taking the class that there's no way that these skills will be remembered forever, and that a refresher was something I could see myself wanting for the future. Personally, I'm glad they're setting up a system to be able to have it.
However, I would also not want to have to spend the $125 my LDS charges for a class on that refresher - just not going to happen. $30 is more like it.

What would be the downside to just getting a few of your diving friends together and practicing rescue skills on each other from time to time? You can do this anytime, at your convenience and pace, and not pay anyone to keep your skills current.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)