Rescue Diver Certification
The most personally rewarding certification most divers will earn. IDC's PADI Rescue Diver course builds the skills to prevent problems underwater — and manage them confidently when they occur.
About this Course
PADI Rescue Diver
The Rescue Diver course is widely considered the most valuable certification a recreational diver can earn — not because diving is dangerous, but because the skills it builds make you a more aware, more capable, and more confident diver in any situation.
The course focuses on accident prevention first and response second. You'll learn to recognize the early signs of stress in yourself and other divers, manage tired or panicked swimmers, and handle underwater emergencies ranging from lost divers to unresponsive victims at the surface. The training is challenging in the best way — most divers finish the course with a noticeably different perspective on how they approach every dive.
Prerequisites
To enroll, you must be at least 12 years old, hold an Adventure Diver or Advanced Open Water certification (or equivalent from another agency), and have current first aid and CPR training completed within the last two years. If your CPR and first aid aren't current, IDC offers the Emergency First Responder course — which satisfies this requirement — for an additional $150. The two courses can be completed together.
After purchase, we'll send a confirmation email with instructions for booking your course dates.
How the Course Works
The course runs over two days and is completed through PADI eLearning combined with in-water training at IDC. After finishing the online portion at home, you'll complete a short eLearning Quick Review on arrival to confirm your understanding of the safety material. From there, the training moves to the water.
Your instructor will take you through ten rescue exercises in open water — with or without an initial confined water practice session depending on your comfort level — followed by two full Rescue Diver scenarios in open water.
Course Schedule
What's Covered
What's Next
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the prerequisites for the PADI Rescue Diver course?
A: You need to be at least 12, hold an Advanced Open Water (or Adventure Diver) certification, and have current first aid and CPR training from the last two years. No current CPR? IDC runs the Emergency First Responder course that satisfies it for an added $150, and you can do both together.
Q: Is the Rescue Diver course hard?
A: It’s challenging — in the best way. You’ll practice managing tired and panicked divers, surfacing an unresponsive victim, and running two full rescue scenarios in open water. Most divers finish tired and a little proud, with a real shift in how they approach every dive after.
Q: How much does Rescue Diver cost and how long is it?
A: It starts at $500 and runs over two days. That covers eLearning access, a pool session, ten rescue exercises in open water, two Rescue Diver scenarios, and your certification card. Add the EFR course for $150 if your CPR isn’t current.
Q: What will I actually learn in the Rescue Diver course?
A: Prevention first, response second. You learn to spot the early signs of stress in yourself and other divers before they become emergencies, then how to handle lost divers, panicked swimmers, and surface rescues when they do. These are the skills that make you the diver others want in the water with them.
Q: Do I need Rescue Diver to become a Divemaster?
A: Yes. Rescue Diver is a required prerequisite for the PADI Divemaster course, along with current EFR training and a set number of logged dives. If a diving career is the goal, Rescue is the step that gets you there — and the one most divers call their favorite.
Book Your Course Online
Morning and afternoon charters run year-round from Three Waters Marina. Whether you're booking a charter, a course, or just have questions — we're here.