Becoming a Rescue Scuba Diver

Becoming a rescue scuba diver is the most challenging but rewarding course ever. In order to get there, you must first become an open water diver. You can begin this as early as 10 years old. After, you take your advanced open water and this is 12 years old I believe. After that, at 15 years old, you can take the rescue class. Below is everything involved in the class and how best to prepare. If you think you might be up for this, please do it. It doesn't take more than a week or two and it earns upmost respect. 

Book Work

Unfortunately, book work is absolutely necessary. Just do it and get it over with. There are three books. The largest is the rescue diver manual. The next largest is the CPR first aid book and the third is the oxygen book which is tiny. From this class and completing all of those, you will earn a rescue diver card, a CPR certified card, and an oxygen provider certification card. TIP: bookwork is to be done before you attend class so that it can be reviewed and tested on in class.

Class Work

I spent two days in the classroom. One of them was a dry day, going over bookwork and testing. Don't worry, it was easy and I don't even think it's possible to fail the test. At the end of each test you sign that says you understand all the questions you missed and you get points back. No need to study or anything, just complete the book work. The second class day was a wet day. This is a really long day but don’t get discouraged. I did CPR, first aid, worked with gloves, then got in the pool to handle panicked and unconscious divers on the surface and underwater. This is going to seem like a lot but the practice really helps when it comes time to demonstrate. Try not to over think it and have some fun :)

Diving Days

There are two days dedicated to diving. You will not be diving fully in these two days but they have to be separated. The first day I rescued a panicked diver and searched for a lost object. The second day I did the full thing... get the diver from under water and then bringing them to the surface and dragging them onto the beach and doing CPR an oxygen. A couple of TIPS: 
1) never ever leave your dive instructor unattended. Mine disappeared on me before I knew it and I had to go find him. As I was getting out of the water from my dive he pretended to be a panicked diver and I had to go save him. 
2) when told to check your oxygen, put the whole thing together and make sure you have oxygen in your tank. Hook everything up and turn it on and make sure it is full. I did not do this and I paid the price for it because I had a tank that was empty. They might stare at you and it might be awkward but just do it.

Good luck future rescue divers!