PADI Rescue Diver

The course that changes how you dive

Rescue Diver is the course experienced divers most often call the best one they've done. It teaches you to prevent problems before they start and to manage them if they do — self-rescue, spotting and helping a stressed or panicked diver, and dealing with an unresponsive diver at the surface and underwater. It's demanding and genuinely rewarding, it makes you a calmer and more aware buddy, and it's the gateway to going professional. Most centres pair it with an Emergency First Response (EFR) first-aid course.

What you’ll learn

• Self-rescue and recognising your own limits
• Spotting and de-escalating diver stress and panic
• Tired-diver and panicked-diver rescue techniques
• Missing-diver procedures and search patterns
• Surfacing, towing and rescue-breathing an unresponsive diver, and managing the emergency on the boat

Who it’s for

Advanced divers who want to be genuinely competent and confident, and anyone considering the Divemaster or instructor path.

Where to do it in Egypt

Run across the Red Sea; Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh are popular for the calm, accessible bays that make the rescue scenarios easier to practise well.

Common questions