Take your diver safety and problem solving skills to the next level with the PADI Rescue Diver Course at Diving Sports Canada! Learn to help divers in need, assess problematic in-water situations, and evaluate a divers mental and physical state to help prevent and manage dive emergencies.

Who is this course for?

You’re out for a pleasure dive and mid way through the dive you come across some unexpected current. You look back and your buddy is now breathing hard and fast and is looking around and you notice their eyes are wide open with building panic. Do you know what to do?

The Rescue Diver course is built for those who want to take their diving to the next level by learning how to assist others while diving. You have mastered your own skills so now it’s time to start assisting others. For many divers this is the next step towards becoming a Divemaster and working professionally, for some they are working towards a Master Scuba Diver rating and need Rescue alongside their five specialties. For others they simply want to be a better and more aware dive buddy for others to be able to rely on.

What You Will Learn

In the Rescue Diver course we will review self rescue scenarios to assess your ability to solve your own problems. Once we establish you have good control over your own skills we will mainly focus on 10 different rescue scenarios from assisting a panicked diver at the surface to finding an unresponsive diver underwater. You will have eLearning material to go through and an exam to write before the course date. Then we will have 2 evenings in the pool, followed by 2 full days in the ocean over a weekend. You will finish with the tools to quickly make decisions in a stressful situation and help another diver in need.

Course Description

You will receive an eLearning code for your PADI Rescue diver theory and exam. We will review as part of the class

You will have 2 pool evenings (Tuesday and Thursday) to review knowledge development and learn the skills in the pool in a wetsuit.

You will have 2 days of diving in the ocean over one weekend. Saturday and Sunday are both required to complete all the Rescue Scenarios for certification.

If you do not have an Emergency First Response training certification, you will do one more evening class to complete your training before your Rescue certification.

All rescue students are required to come into the shop to fill out paperwork and get fitted for any rental equipment they will be needing prior to the first night in the pool.

Course Prerequisites

Advanced Diver required

Emergency First Response Training (PADI or equivalent)

Recent cold water or drysuit experience required

1 classroom session for EFR (if not already certified)

We are doing our part to try and reduce plastic use, so all of our certifications will be digital. If students would prefer a physical certification card, then they may pay to have one at the time of certification.

Please see our Cancellation and Refund Policy for Courses and Trips here:

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Commitment to Safety and Enjoyment

At Diving Sports we believe in making sure all our students receive the highest quality instruction and customer service. We are in the business of training, mentoring, and supporting students to become safe, skillful and confident divers. We begin by scheduling our courses with the number of classes it typically takes most students to master the knowledge and skills, then adapt and tailor our schedule to fit our individual student’s needs. Our instructors are open and honest about your progress during each part of the course. Students may need to schedule additional pool or ocean training dives prior to certification. This ensures our students complete their courses with all the skills and knowledge they need to be safe and enjoy their future dives and courses. When you take a course with Diving Sports, you are welcomed into a passionate and inclusive community of divers eager to support your diving journey well beyond the duration of your class.