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Courses in Tasmania
Rescue Diver
Course code: SDI-01
Move beyond looking after yourself and become the diver others can rely on.
The SDI Rescue Diver course develops the awareness, prevention skills, practical rescue capability, and emergency judgment needed to recognise problems early and respond effectively when a diver is in distress. Training combines accident prevention, stress and panic recognition, self-rescue, surface and underwater assists, unconscious-diver recovery, rescue breathing, transport and exit procedures, oxygen-administration review, emergency planning, accident reporting, and scenario-based decision-making. The objective is not simply to complete rescue exercises, but to become a calmer, more observant, and more capable dive partner.
Standards verification note: Standards verification note: This section has been checked against the current SDI Standards and Procedures, Part 2, Section 11 — Rescue Diver, and the official SDI Rescue Diver course page. The suggested course duration is 12 hours, with eight suggested hours performed in open-water conditions. Maximum ratios are 10 students per instructor in confined water and 8 in open water; one active Assistant Instructor or Divemaster permits two additional students, but further assistants do not increase the ratio. If any student is under 15, the maximum is 4 divers per instructor with no more than two under 15. Entry requires age 18, or 10 with parental consent; current first aid, CPR, and oxygen-provider certification where local law permits; and SDI Advanced Adventure Diver, Junior Advanced Adventure Diver, or equivalent, or Open Water Diver certification plus 15 logged open-water dives. Divers under 15 may earn Junior Rescue Diver and must dive under direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or active dive professional. Certification requires satisfactory completion of the Knowledge Quest or eLearning and all required rescue-performance and open-water requirements.
Quick Course Overview
• Certification scope
Conduct rescues for divers in distress and progress toward the SDI Master Diver Program or SDI Divemaster course.
• Suggested duration
12 training hours, with eight suggested hours performed in open-water conditions.
• Core focus
Accident prevention, stress and panic recognition, self-rescue, diver assists, unconscious-diver recovery, rescue breathing, transport, exits, emergency planning, oxygen review, and reporting.
• Maximum ratios
10 students per instructor in confined water and 8 in open water, subject to permitted assistant increases and required reduction for conditions.
• Junior ratio
If any student is under 15, the maximum is 4 divers per instructor, with no more than two under 15.
• Assessment
Knowledge Quest or eLearning completion plus safe and effective performance of the required rescue skills and scenarios.
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Training Options
Standard small-group training
Standard small-group training is available once the course reaches the minimum number.
Standard Cost*
$899 AUD
Note* *Standard training requires a minimum of 4 (Four) participants. Date options will be provided once the course is filled.
Premium one-on-one training
One-on-one training is available for divers who want focused coaching, flexible pacing, and dedicated support.
Private 1 on 1 Cost
$2,800 AUD
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Prerequisites
• Minimum age 18, or 10 with parental consent.
• Current First Response Adult and Child Emergency Care Provider and Oxygen Administration Provider certification, where local law permits, or equivalent.
• SDI Advanced Adventure Diver, SDI Junior Advanced Adventure Diver, or equivalent; alternatively, Open Water Diver certification plus 15 logged open-water dives.
• First Response training may be combined with the Rescue Diver course when delivered by appropriately qualified instructors.
• Divers under 15 may earn Junior Rescue Diver and must train and dive under direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or active dive professional.
Course Format
Learning materials
SDI Rescue Diver Manual and Knowledge Quest or SDI Rescue Diver eLearning, completed before or alongside instructor-led training.
Knowledge development
Accident causes, stress and panic, prevention, physical conditioning, equipment problems, rescue planning, first aid, oxygen, hyperbaric injuries, emergency transport, information gathering, and reporting.
Practical development
Confined-water and open-water work covering self-rescue, responsive-diver assists, surface and underwater approaches, transports, exits, rescue breathing, and team coordination.
Required rescue performance
Assist divers simulating breathing difficulty, tiredness, leg cramp, and early panic; locate and recover a simulated unconscious diver from approximately 6 metres / 20 feet; transport the diver 50 metres / 150 feet while simulating rescue breathing; and remove the diver from the water with one aide.
Scenario development
Apply prevention, assessment, communication, delegation, search, recovery, care, evacuation, and reporting decisions in realistic instructor-controlled scenarios.
Assessment
Complete the Knowledge Quest or eLearning and all required open-water and rescue-performance requirements safely and effectively.
What You Will Learn
Recognise stress, panic, fatigue, cramp, breathing difficulty, equipment problems, and deteriorating behaviour before they become a full emergency.
Protect yourself as the rescuer, choose an appropriate approach, establish control, communicate clearly, and use available assistance and equipment.
Perform surface and underwater assists, locate and recover a simulated unconscious diver, provide simulated in-water rescue breathing, transport, and coordinate removal from the water.
Review oxygen administration, hyperbaric-injury response, emergency contacts, evacuation, information gathering, and accident reporting.
Build calm situational awareness and make proportionate decisions rather than rushing into a rescue without a plan.
What's Included
- Required learning materials | SDI Rescue Diver eLearning or current academic materials, as confirmed at booking.
- Instructor-led development | Knowledge review, accident prevention, emergency planning, rescue principles, decision-making, briefings, debriefings, and performance feedback.
- Practical rescue training | Confined-water and open-water skill development, required rescue exercises, controlled scenarios, and rescue-performance evaluation.
- Emergency-equipment familiarisation | Training use of appropriate rescue, oxygen, communication, and first-aid equipment where included in the course session.
- Core dive support | Use of tanks, air fills, weights, and specifically confirmed centre equipment where required and available.
- Assessment and certification | Knowledge review, remediation, scenario assessment, and SDI Rescue Diver certification processing after successful completion.
What's Not Included
- First Response, CPR, first aid, or oxygen-provider training unless separately booked or formally combined with the Rescue Diver course.
- Personal scuba and rescue equipment, including exposure protection, mask, snorkel, fins, boots, computer, cutting device, pocket mask, signalling devices, slate, and preferred accessories unless confirmed.
- Equipment hire, replacement consumables, non-standard gases, additional cylinders, boat fees, site fees, permits, or third-party facility charges unless specifically included.
- Medical review or physician clearance where required, travel, accommodation, and meals.
- Hard-copy materials where digital materials are supplied, and anything not listed in the final booking confirmation.
Why Train With Us
Rescue training shaped by substantial real-world diving experience, realistic judgment, and calm problem prevention—not simply rehearsed exercises. • Thousands of dives behind our coaching | Our team brings extensive recreational and technical diving experience to stress recognition, equipment problems, group awareness, emergency planning, and rescue decision-making. • Prevention before reaction | We focus on recognising developing problems early, maintaining control, and choosing proportionate responses before an incident escalates. • Realistic Tasmanian scenarios | Training reflects cold water, exposure protection, variable visibility, shore access, surface conditions, thermal stress, and the logistics that affect actual local rescues. • Small groups and direct feedback | Receive detailed coaching on approach, communication, control, recovery, rescue breathing, transport, exits, teamwork, and post-incident actions. • Integrated emergency support | Train through an SDI/TDI 5-Star Dive Centre with rescue equipment, oxygen systems, cylinders, equipment support, and professional progression available under one roof. • Readiness for leadership | Build the observation, composure, rescue ability, and judgment expected before progressing toward Master Diver, Divemaster, or technical leadership pathways.
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