Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear scuba gear. Earn your hero status on our Koh Tao rescue course. As challenging as it is rewarding, you’ll never look back after this!

KOH TAO RESCUE COURSE: THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE

PADI RESCUE DIVER COURSE

When people talk about their Koh Tao rescue course, the words you’ll hear most often are challenging, demanding, rewarding, and fun. Of course, it’s not that Koh Tao rescue courses are different or any harder than the training you’ll receive elsewhere. But, because the conditions here are so great for learning and our instructors are so experienced, you’ll get heaps of practice time and a lot of expert knowledge.

The PADI Rescue Diver certification is a stepping stone to taking any Professional Diving Courses on Koh Tao, as it’s a prerequisite for enrolling on the PADI Divemaster program. Even if you don't plan on going pro just yet, learning how to respond in rescue situations and becoming more aware of potential problems will significantly improve your abilities and confidence as a diver.

Rescue Diver: About Us

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PADI RESCUE COURSE OVERVIEW

Please note that you need to be a certified advanced-level diver already to enrol. So you’ll need to have completed both your Open Water Diver course and Advanced Open Water Diver course before you can begin.

You’ll need 3-4 days to complete your Koh Tao rescue course. During that time, you’ll learn all the essential theory and master various skills and techniques to take care of yourself, your buddy, and assist fellow divers in rescue situations

WHAT'S INCLUDED

On advanced-level PADI diving courses like this one, it’s essential you have plenty of one-on-one training and time for practice. That’s why we limit group sizes to 4 students per instructor.

We include everything you need to get the most out of your time with us. When you take your Koh Tao rescue course at FIFTY SIX DIVE, there are no hidden costs. The price includes:

A complete set of rental scuba equipment - including a dive computer.
PADI Rescue Diver manual
PADI Rescue Diver certification
Amazing dive shop location
Free WIFI at the dive centre
Complimentary tea, coffee, water and fresh pineapple on the boat
Academic development
Training dives
Scenario practice

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN

Like most Koh Tao diving certifications, the PADI Rescue Diver course comprises a mix of interactive classroom sessions, some skills practice, and open water dives. Designed to teach you new and exciting skills in a way that builds confidence through repetition and practice, our Koh Tao rescue course is one of the most comprehensive training programs available.

KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT

To cover all the course components in enough depth, you’ll attend at least a couple of theory sessions with your instructor at our Koh Tao dive centre in the heart of Sairee. Using official PADI training materials, we’ll guide you through the manual and videos in a series of fun and interactive classroom presentations.

During your knowledge development we focus on trying to prevent emergencies from occuring, as well as how to deal with them if they do. Topics covered include:

Determining the causes of stress and how to remove it.
Identifying divers in distress underwater and at the surface.
Rescue situations and correct procedures.
Equipment problems.
Injury management and first aid.
Missing diver procedures.
Emergency action planning.
Scene management and incident reports.

SHALLOW WATER TRAINING

You’ll start by reviewing the self-rescue and buddy assist skills you learned on your Open Water Diver course. Once you’re fully comfortable with those, your instructor will introduce several new exercises that will increase your ability to respond to a broad range of diving emergencies. Whether you plan to stick around for more diving on Koh Tao or move on after your course and dive in completely different environments, multiple scenarios are accounted for.

Your instructor will give clear and concise demonstrations allowing you to practice and master each skill before moving on to the next. Some examples include:

Tired diver
Panicked diver
Response from shore, boat, or dock
Distressed diver underwater
Missing diver
Surfacing an unresponsive diver
Unresponsive diver at the surface
Exiting an unresponsive diver
First aid for pressure-related injuries
Oxygen administration

RESCUE SCENARIOS

Finally, it’s time to hit a couple of shallow Koh Tao diving sites and put everything you’ve learned into practice. You’ll be faced with 2 rescue scenarios in open water. It’s your instructor's job to make these as realistic as possible. So from the moment you set off, you can expect a challenge, lots of fun, and some Oscar-worthy acting!

Scenario 1: Unresponsive Diver Underwater - Search to locate a missing diver during an accident, interview the diver’s buddy, organise an effective search, and successfully bring an unresponsive diver back to the surface.

Scenario 2: Unresponsive Diver at the Surface – Respond to an unresponsive, non-breathing diver, evaluate the situation, tow while giving rescue breaths, remove their equipment, exit the water, and provide CPR.

Rescue Diver: About

PADI RESCUE DIVER COURSE SCHEDULE

While weather conditions sometimes affect our schedule, here’s a typical example of what you can expect from your Koh Tao rescue course with FIFTY SIX DIVE:

DAY 1

If you’ve already taken your Emergency First Response (EFR) course with us, another dive centre on Koh Tao, or a PADI-approved equivalent elsewhere, you can skip day one. Otherwise, this is just a morning or afternoon session to get you first aid and CPR trained before you begin..

DAY 2

Your first official day of rescue diving on Koh Tao starts at 9am with a course orientation. You’ll meet your group (3 other people, max) and your instructor, go over the course schedule, fill in some PADI paperwork, and get going on your knowledge development.

In the afternoon, you’ll head into shallow water to review your existing rescue skills and learn all the new ones you’ll need before progressing to deeper water tomorrow.

DAY 3

Another 9am start for your second knowledge development session before heading out on the boat in the afternoon. You’ll put your theory into practice and review your new skills at a couple of shallow Koh Tao scuba sites where you can practice safely in a real-world environment.

DAY 4

Unless there’s anything you want to go over, you can usually get a slightly later start on the final day. You’ll complete the multiple choice final exam, and your instructor will brief you on what to expect in your scenarios.

In the afternoon, you’ll practise various skills and drills and put everything you’ve learned so far into practice in a range of scenarios involving rescue situations from both boat and shore. Once you’re done, all that’s left to do is fill in your logbook and complete your PADI paperwork so we can process your certification. Then it’s time to get a big PADI high five from your instructor and fellow classmates and congratulate yourself on completing one of the most challenging PADI diving courses on Koh Tao

RESCUE DIVER PRICES

Rescue Diver prices start from 10,000THB.

Rescue Diver with EFR packages are available from 13,500THB.

Need more information before you sign up? Please get in touch if you have questions.