I'm starting the PADI Rescue Diver course on Thursday and was wondering if any of you veterans have any advice. I'm really looking forward to it and to learning a lot.
Thanks

Its a good course and very physically demanding. You won't regret taking it.

Rescue is one of my favorite courses to teach. It is a lot of fun and you learn valuable skills that may save a life some day. (hopefully you'll never be presented with that challenge). The only advice I have, is that, if you have a question, ask it and pay attention to technique applied by the instructor. They usually have little tricks that make the task at hand easier.

Enjoy the course.

Thanks guys... off I go!

Hi there,

It may be a little late in posting my reply, but I just want to say that it is great you have decided to take the Rescue Diver course. I became certified in May of this year and have completed my AOW and now my Rescue diver course. It was a great course and teaches you valuable skills (not to mention how quick you learn to put on and take off your equipment)
Good luck and enjoy the course!!

Thank you all for your replies. I had an awesome time with the course and learned tons!! I ended up learning how strong I am... I carried a 180lb guy out of the water! YAY! I actually talked with my instructor about assisting him with other classes which I will be doing soon. I figure I'll do this for a little while before I go for my divemaster training.

I am happy to read that you are certifying in Rescue. I personally would like to see everyone become rescue certified. I feel that the industry as a whole would be a little safer and present itself as a very serious industry that can say ALL of it's divers are rescue trained and certified. Congratulations on your choice to become Rescue Certified.

I wish more instructors believed as you. I have tried for a year to find a place who teaches NAUI rescue, they only want to teach advanced. Then I found a place in Pensacola who does but like another diver who posted, was told my EMT-I certif, red cross CPR/AED certif, would not suffice. Why make it so difficult?- I'm an advanced open water w/ Nitrox and don't want to go any further w/out the ability to respond to an emergency. Q - If I go to PADI for rescue, will NAUI acknowledge it ?