Rescue
Scuba Diver
Take your diving to the next level with the NAUI Rescue Scuba Diver course! Learn how to recognize potential risks, stay calm under pressure, and assist others in need. This course builds confidence, sharpens your skills, and makes you a safer, more capable diver.
About the Course
Learn how to manage risks and effectively handle limited in-water problems and diving emergencies, how to assist and transport divers, and how to perform surface rescues and rescues from depth involving both boat and shore based skin and scuba divers. Recently updated, the NAUI Rescue Scuba Diver course is the most comprehensive rescue diver course in the industry and is an outstanding way for any diver to build confidence by learning how to recognize issues before they become problems and how to handle them if they do. Having these skills and knowledge could save a life.
CPR and First Aid certifications are required to complete this course.
What to Expect in Your NAUI Rescue Scuba Diver Course
1) Registration & prerequisites check
Confirm you meet course requirements. Show proof of Open Water certification, and a complete medical questionnaire and waiver.
Verify current CPR/First Aid certification or will be taught as part of the course.
2) Orientation
Classroom and eLearning sessions covering rescue theory: recognizing diver stress/distress, accident prevention, emergency planning, and NAUI safety philosophy.
Learn incident response workflow, surface/boat communication, and basic first-aid principles specific to diving incidents.
3) Confined-water skill practice
Refresh essential self-rescue and buoyancy skills.
Practice partner-assistance techniques: air-sharing, controlled ascents, regulator and mask recovery, and stabilizing a distressed diver at the surface.
Rehearse towing and transport methods in a safe, controlled environment until comfortable.
4) Surface care & emergency first aid training
Hands-on practice in casualty assessment, CPR basics, and emergency oxygen use.
Learn how to safely remove a diver from the water (shore/boat techniques), package a casualty, and prepare for handover to emergency services.
5) Open-water scenario training dives
Apply skills in realistic scenarios: approaching and calming a panicked diver, assisting a fatigued or unresponsive diver, and performing surface stabilization and tows.
Practice search & recovery basics for a missing diver and coordinating with a buddy team or boat support.
Instructor gradually increases complexity — students move from guided drills to supervised, integrated rescues.
6) Stress management & decision making
Drills and role-plays to build situational awareness, risk assessment, and leadership under pressure.
Emphasis on prevention, choosing the safest option, and when to escalate to surface/medical support.
7) Evaluation & debrief
Instructor evaluates performance in confined-water drills and open-water scenarios.
Formal debrief after each scenario to reinforce lessons, correct technique, and highlight improvement areas.
8) Certification & next steps
On successful completion of both academics and practical skills you receive the NAUI Rescue Scuba Diver certification.
What to Bring
Bring swimwear, towel, logbook, certification card(s).