- Rescue Diver
Rescue Diver is a
scuba diving certification level provided by several North American diver training agencies, such as PADI [Who refer to the course as Rescue Diver [http://www.padi.com/padi/en/kd/rescuediver.aspx] ] , SSI [The SSI course goes by the name: Diver Stress and Rescue [http://www.divessi.com/stress_rescue] ] , SDI [Who refer to the course as Rescue Diver [http://www.tdisdi.com/index.php?did=63&site=3] ] and NAUI [The NAUI course goes by the name: Rescue SCUBA diver [http://www.naui.org/specialty_courses.aspx#040] ] which emphasises emergency response anddiver rescue .The certification level is loosely equivalent the
CMAS ** Diver qualification and the BSAC Rescue Specialist [http://www.bsac.com/comediving/rescue.html] , although the European courses tended to be longer and more intensive than their U.S. counterparts.Most organizations have a minimum age requirement of 15 to undertake the Rescue Diver course, although PADI does permit certification of "Junior" Rescue Divers.
Background
The Rescue Diver course is the third level qualification in the American international system, following the
Advanced Open Water Diver qualification (AOWD). Historically the course was treated as a separate "speciality" rather than a mainstream certification in itself (and arguably it still is in many organization's certification structure), but most advanced training is contingent upon having previously completed the Rescue Diver certification, and thus it effectively becomes a tier in the training.The European International dive education system CMAS recognises only three main levels of dive education indicated by a one star, two star, or three star system. One star indicates an ability to dive, two star indicates additional skill of rescuing divers, and three star indicates the additional skill in leading a group of divers.
Topics
The course usually covers most of the following topics:
* Self-rescue and diver stress
* Emergency management and equipment
* Panicked diver response
* In-water rescue breathing protocols
* Egress (exits)
* Dive accident scenariosIn many training agencies, these dives represent introductory knowledge and skills that may be further refined in a speciality course.
ources
* PADI "Rescue Diver Manual", [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DYV1X ASIN:B0000DYV1X]
Footnotes
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