Rescue Diver

Time Needed: 3-4 days

Cost: From 10,000THB

Signing up for your Rescue Diver course on Koh Tao is a great way to work towards enrolling on a professional dive course. Rescue Diver courses are not just for those looking to level up to a career in diving though. They also help build confidence and improve your awareness and diving skills in general, so it’s a good choice for those who dive regularly with younger family members, or for those who frequently sign up as a solo diver and rely on the dive centre to pair them up with a buddy. That said, taking the Rescue Diver course on Koh Tao is an option for any and all divers who want to develop their knowledge and skills, and become more prepared for the unexpected. 

Most Rescue Diver courses on Koh Tao run over 2-3 days and will build on self-rescue and buddy assist techniques you’ve learned on previous courses, as well as teaching you many more. Part of the focus of the Rescue Diver course is to train you in accident prevention, so you can avoid emergency situations arising. However, you’ll also learn how to recognise and react to various situations both on the surface and underwater. Rescue diver course scenarios may include missing buddy procedures, diver panic, out of air drills, and how to ascend with an unconscious diver.  

We’re afraid you won’t see too many of our amazing dive sites during your Rescue Diver course on Koh Tao, as you’ll be too busy practising skills and responding to the various scenarios. But it will be totally worth it! It is a demanding course, but also lots of fun – and many students comment that it’s their favourite scuba diving course they’ve ever taken.

Emergency First Response Course

To begin your Rescue Diver course on Koh Tao, you must have a current and recognized qualification in first aid and CPR. Makes sense… after all, if you are going to learn how to save an injured or unconscious diver and bring them back to the boat or shore, you need to have a firm understanding of what to do afterwards! If you have a recognised first aid and CPR certification from within the last 2 years, then you shouldn’t need to repeat the Emergency First Response Course. If you do not have this, your dive centre will be able to arrange a 1-day course for you for around 4000THB.

On the Emergency First Response course you’ll cover all of the basics of primary and secondary care and you’ll practice first aid, CPR, scene management, and learn how to assess patients for illness and injury. There are some videos and academics, but you’ll also be put to the test in a few scenarios – which are good preparation for beginning your Rescue Diver course! 

Important things to know when you sign up for a Rescue Diver Course on Koh Tao

• The minimum age for participation is 12. 
• You must already be a certified Advanced Diver to enrol.
• You will be required to wait 18-24 hours after diving before you can fly. So do bear this in mind when you are planning your travel to and from Koh Tao. 
• Participation in any scuba diving activity requires you to fill in a medical checklist. Some medical conditions may prevent you from diving, while others require prior written approval from a physician. So be sure to discuss any medical conditions you have with your dive centre before you sign up for your Rescue Diver Course on Koh Tao.