Misconceptions

So, I have been teaching a rescue course today (and we taught the Emergency First Response course on Thursday ... basically PADI's first aid course). The student is an excellent student. She's already an accomplished diver and very good in the water, which makes it a hundred times easier for us, obviously. She's also advised us that she can have a tough time absorbing information and so she has made copious notes during her study for the course. I think she's a little harsh on herself, as she has been outstanding, even in the classroom portion. Anyway, enough of the praise, that wasn't the point I set out to make.

What I wanted to talk about what was the reluctance that many people have in taking the rescue diver course. I think it boils down to a fear that they will become responsible for other people and will have to be much more involved in the management and control of other divers.

Admittedly, there is an element of becoming a rescue diver that will make you more aware of other divers around you and of potential problems that may arise. And yes, admittedly, if an issue arises, you may be one of the more qualified people to step in to save the day, but these should be seen as positive things. The reality is that overall, being a rescue diver will not change your dive experiences in any dramatic way. And, God forbid, if something bad was to happen during a dive trip, you'd be able to step in and help instead of standing there like a lemon and watching a potential travesty unfold.

More importantly, the course is a huge step in the natural progression of a diver. It increases one's confidence immensely and also gives a diver an opportunity to work on known skills, as well as introduce a few new helpful ones. Learning to more effectively control your own buoyancy, in addition to that of another person means that you will generally be a more efficient diver regardless.

Personally, I find the rescue diver course to be one of the most rewarding, both from the perspective of the student and of the instructor. Not only that, but despite sounding cheesy and like a PADI advertisement, it really is a fun course. Even the victim DM's get to have a laugh on the course.

Let's face it too. If you weren't certified as a rescue diver and your dive buddy got into an emergency situation, you'd still try to help them out. You wouldn't stop and then take off from a fear of being responsible or possibly liable. At least, I think most people would try to do something rather than watching something horrible happen. And wouldn't it be a better situation if you stepped in and knew at least some rescue fundamentals than nothing at all?

Sadly, it's still a highly under-rated course and one I would love to see more people take.

Not only that, but we have just acquired some freaking awesome new CPR mannequins! They have lights!! It's so cool, the lights tell you if the rate and the pressure of the CPR is at the optimal rate.....slick, eh?

Have fun kids and don't kneel on the spiny sea urchins...they don't like it and neither will you!