PADI Rescue Diver

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in our PADI Rescue Diver course in beautiful Port Douglas. Nestled where the reef meets the rainforest, ABC Dive and Snorkel Charters is proud to be a Five Star PADI Instructor Development Centre

The PADI Rescue Diver course will transform your diving experience for the better. As a PADI Rescue Diver, you’ll become an exceptional dive buddy, gaining heightened awareness of your surroundings and fellow divers. You’ll be equipped to handle and even prevent minor issues. Once certified, you’ll be eligible to enroll in the PADI Divemaster Course, the first professional level rating.

This course shifts your focus from yourself to other divers. Through the eLearning or Manual, you’ll explore many aspects of diving that you may have encountered but not fully recognized. During pool sessions, we review essential scuba skills and introduce new ones specifically designed for assisting others. It’s a fascinating and challenging process that builds a high level of confidence, enabling you to effectively help others.

The two-day open water sessions allow you to apply the skills learned in the pool to real-world environments, culminating in rescue scenarios that mimic actual diving experiences. Whether you choose eLearning or the Manual, the course spans four days—two days at the pool and classroom facility, followed by two days in open water.

By the end of the course, you’ll be confident and attentive to the needs of other divers. You’ll also be invited to assist in teaching PADI Open Water Diver courses as my “Rescue Assistant,” where you’ll see your training in action at its most fundamental level.

Online learning makes it easy to fit the PADI Rescue Diver course into your busy schedule and complete the knowledge development sections whenever, wherever it is convenient for you.  Work at your own pace, online or offline, using a computer or mobile device.  

At our pool and class facility, we review your eLearning results and then spend the time practicing the rescue techniques in the pool until we are comfortable. We also practice all of the scuba skills, and there are 24 of them, some of them are “self-rescue skills”        

eLearning time commitment: 8 – 12 hours

Our eLearning option makes it easy to fit the PADI Rescue Diver course into your busy schedule, allowing you to complete the knowledge development sections at your convenience. You can work at your own pace, whether online or offline, using a computer or mobile device.

For those who prefer a more traditional learning approach, our pool and classroom facility is the perfect setting. Here, we review your eLearning results and dedicate ample time to practicing rescue techniques in the pool until you’re confident and comfortable. We also practice all 24 scuba skills, including several essential “self-rescue skills.”

eLearning Time Commitment: 8 – 12 hours

Minimum Age and Prerequisites

Minimum Age: 12 years

PADI Rescue Divers certified between the ages of 12 and 14 earn a PADI Junior Rescue Diver certification. After the diver’s 15th birthday, any replacement card or eCard purchased will automatically reflect a PADI Rescue Diver certification, rather than Junior Rescue Diver.

Course Prerequisites:

• Any diver with an Open Water (or Junior Open Water) Diver certification can enroll in the PADI Rescue Diver course, complete Rescue Diver eLearning, and participate in Rescue Exercises in confined water.
• To participate in open water Rescue Exercises and be certified as a PADI Rescue Diver, the student must complete the Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive and hold the PADI Junior Adventure Diver certification. A PADI (or other qualifying) Advanced Open Water Diver certification also meets this prerequisite.
• Certification also requires CPR and First Aid training completed within the past 24 months. If you haven’t completed this training, you can enroll in our Emergency First Response (EFR) Primary Care (CPR) and Secondary Care (First Aid) course, available at our pool and class facility.

certain medications, and/or recent surgery may require you to get written approval from a Physician before diving.  

To avoid disappointment, review the “Diver Medical Form” to ensure you don’t need a Physician’s approval to dive before enrolling in a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course. As your instructor, I am not a Physician and cannot give you medical advice. 

The best course of action, in my opinion, is to go to your Physician and get checked – before enrolling. Your medical should state that you are “fit to dive”, then it is plain sailing from there. 

During the pool/class sessions, you will need to provide your own lunch. However, lunch will be provided on the two open water days.

Personal Equipment: Each student must have their own set of mask, fins, and snorkel. Some snorkeling equipment may be suitable for scuba diving. If you don’t have these items, you can purchase them from our store in Port Douglas.

Scuba Equipment Rental: All necessary scuba equipment can be rented for $60.00 per day, covering both pool and open water dives. The total rental cost for the course is $240.00.

PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre

Learning to dive at a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre ensures that you receive top-quality instruction and facilities for your PADI Rescue Diver course. Upon certification, you’ll receive a prestigious “Gold” certification card.

We maintain small class sizes, providing you with nearly individual attention throughout the course. Our instructors are fluent and relaxed in the process of teaching scuba diving, ensuring a comfortable learning environment. The PADI Rescue Diver course is performance-based, meaning you and your instructor will move forward only when you both are confident in your diving skills.

Your instructor’s expertise in scuba diving guarantees that you will have ample time to become a confident and competent diver before heading into the ocean. Your enjoyment is crucial for a couple of reasons: it increases the likelihood that you’ll dive again and possibly become an advocate for the marine environment.

As a certified PADI Rescue Diver, you can:

• Buy or rent scuba equipment.
• Plan no-decompression dives with a buddy to a maximum depth of 30 meters.
• Deal with and even prevent minor issues.
• Enroll in continuing education courses to explore special interests.

One exciting option is the PADI Divemaster course (eLearning available). This is the world’s most popular and recognized professional scuba certification. PADI Divemasters enjoy numerous career opportunities, getting paid to scuba dive while sharing their passion for the ocean.

In the Divemaster course, you’ll learn how to lead underwater tours, assist with scuba classes, and inspire others to care about the marine environment. You’ll gain professional-level dive skills, mentor other divers, and become the admired diver everyone looks up to.

Take the PADI Master Scuba Diver Challenge

The PADI Master Scuba Diver is the highest non-instructional rating in scuba diving. It signifies a diver with extensive experience and a broad understanding of diving knowledge and theory. Achieving this certification is a significant accomplishment, demonstrating that you have logged over 50 dives, are a PADI Rescue Diver, and are certified in five or more specialty areas.

If you’re up for this challenge, we can create a personalized plan to help you reach this outstanding certification level. As a proud PADI Master Scuba Diver myself, I would be thrilled to have you as a “Rescue Assistant,” helping teach a class of PADI Open Water Divers. Your presence would be invaluable to the students.

For inquiries or questions, please contact our PADI course Director Wayne Abraham.