PADI Rescue Diver Course

In January 2026, I completed my PADI Rescue Diver certification with Dean’s Dive Center in Fort Myers—the same shop where I earned my previous certifications.

I had been looking forward to this class since my Open Water course. The idea of learning how to be a better dive buddy—and even how to rescue someone in an emergency—felt incredibly valuable. Rescue Diver always seemed like the course where you stop thinking only about your own gear, air, and buoyancy and start thinking about the entire dive team.

What the Class Covered

The course was a mix of classroom learning at the shop, confined water practice in the pool, and open water scenarios at Lake Denton. Some of the major topics we covered included:

• Recognizing diver stress and panic

• Self-rescue techniques

• Assisting tired or panicked divers

• Surfacing an unresponsive diver

• Rescue breathing in the water

• Exits with an unconscious diver

• Missing diver search patterns

• Managing accidents and coordinating emergency responses

  
  

There was also a big focus on accident prevention—checking gear, dive planning, and spotting small problems before they escalate. All great skills to have!

The Most Challenging Skills

For me, the hardest part wasn't the physical skills (although you do get tired while practicing rescues, so it helps to be in shape)—it was the multi-tasking and stress management. When multiple things are going on, you have to slow down and walk through the steps in your head.

I found that I had a bad habit of inflating the unresponsive diver’s BCD rather than swimming them to the surface. This is dangerous because it can create an uncontrolled ascent that causes more problems for both you and the person you’re trying to rescue. I did this twice while working on my skills in the pool.

Trying to manage an unresponsive diver while controlling buoyancy, monitoring your own air, and communicating with others is a lot to process. The scenarios were intentionally chaotic to simulate real life, and they really forced me to slow down, think clearly, and prioritize.

Another challenge was learning how to stay calm while someone is acting panicked and uncooperative. This may be easier for me at 6 ft and 240 lbs., but for someone smaller, it could be more intimidating depending on size and strength compared to the victim. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but the training shows you how to take control safely.

What Surprised Me Most

Two things surprised me:

1. How fun the class was. Even though the topic is serious, it’s an extremely fun and exciting course. Acting out panic situations, fake injuries, and missing diver drills made the training memorable.

2. How much it improved my confidence. I went into the class thinking rescue skills were for rare emergencies. I came out realizing they apply to almost every dive—awareness, communication, planning, and teamwork are skills you use every time you dive.

How It Changed My Diving

After Rescue Diver, I feel like I look at dives completely differently.

I now pay closer attention to my buddy’s breathing, trim, and comfort level. I’m more thorough with pre-dive checks and more aware of conditions and exit strategies. I also feel more confident diving deeper wrecks or more challenging sites because I know how to respond if something goes wrong.

It didn’t make me fearless, but it made me prepared.

Advice for Future Rescue Diver Students

If you’re thinking about taking Rescue Diver, here are a few tips from my experience:

1. Get comfortable in the water first. Having solid buoyancy and basic skills makes the class much easier.

2. Don’t worry about being perfect. The scenarios are supposed to be messy. Focus on learning, not looking good. And take your time. As my instructor Chris said, “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”

3. Stay in decent shape. Some rescues require towing or lifting a diver. It’s manageable, but easier if you’re prepared.

4. Take it seriously but have fun. The more you engage with the scenarios, the more you’ll get out of it.

5. Do it sooner rather than later. I didn’t wait to take this class—I took it with only 20 dives under my belt. In my opinion, it improves every dive you do afterward.

The PADI Rescue Diver course was one of the most valuable classes I’ve taken. It challenged me, humbled me, and made me a more confident diver and better buddy.

If you’re on the fence about taking it, I highly recommend it. It’s not just another certification—it’s a mindset shift that stays with you on every dive

Lake Denton is a 66-acre lake. It is between the cities of Avon Park and Sebring. Its Maximum depth is 51 feet.