PADI Rescue
Diver Course
+ EFR

The PADI Rescue Diver Course trains certified divers to prevent, recognize, and manage diving emergencies. It covers self-rescue, diver stress management, emergency procedures, and practical rescue scenarios. The course includes Emergency First Response (EFR) certification for CPR and first aid. It is widely considered the most challenging and rewarding PADI course, and is a prerequisite for the PADI Divemaster certification.

EFR stands for Emergency First Response — an internationally recognized CPR and first aid training program. It is a prerequisite for the PADI Rescue Diver course because rescue divers need to handle emergencies both underwater and on land. EFR training covers primary care (CPR and life-threatening emergencies) and secondary care (first aid for non-life-threatening injuries). At TDB, EFR is included in your Rescue Diver course package at no extra cost.

To enrol in the PADI Rescue Diver Course at Tioman Dive Buddy, you must be at least 12 years old, hold a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification (or equivalent from another agency), and have completed the Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive. A medical clearance may be required for certain health conditions. No prior rescue experience is needed — the course teaches you everything from scratch.

No prior rescue experience is required. The PADI Rescue Diver Course is designed to progressively build your skills from basic stress recognition and self-rescue through to full emergency management scenarios. Your PADI instructor will guide you step-by-step, ensuring you develop confidence and competence at each stage before moving to more complex skills.

The PADI Rescue Diver Course covers self-rescue techniques, recognizing and managing diver stress, emergency management and planning, equipment rescue procedures, responding to panicked divers on the surface and underwater, tired diver assists and tows, missing diver search procedures, surfacing unconscious divers, in-water artificial respiration, and exit and post-exit procedures. You will also complete EFR training covering CPR, AED use, first aid, and emergency oxygen administration.

The PADI Rescue Diver Course is more physically demanding than the Open Water or Advanced Open Water courses. You will practice surface tows, in-water rescues, and simulated emergency scenarios that require swimming strength and endurance. However, the course is designed for recreational divers — not athletes. Reasonable fitness and comfort in the water are sufficient. Your instructor will pace the training to match your ability.

At Tioman Dive Buddy, the combined PADI Rescue Diver Course and EFR certification takes approximately 4 days. This includes 1 day of EFR classroom training and 3 days of Rescue Diver knowledge development, confined water skills practice, and open water rescue scenarios. The course package includes 3 nights of accommodation and 9 meals.

The PADI Rescue Diver Course is considered the most challenging PADI course up to this level, but also the most rewarding. It pushes you beyond your comfort zone with realistic emergency scenarios and problem-solving under pressure. The difficulty lies in applying multiple skills simultaneously while remaining calm and focused. However, with proper instruction and progressive training, the vast majority of students complete the course successfully.

All dive equipment is provided as part of your course package at Tioman Dive Buddy — BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins, tank, weights, and rescue-specific equipment. You do not need to bring or own any dive gear. We recommend bringing personal items such as swimwear, sunscreen, and a reusable water bottle.

After completing the PADI Rescue Diver certification, you can progress to the PADI Divemaster course — the first professional-level rating in the PADI system. The Rescue Diver certification is a mandatory prerequisite for Divemaster. It also makes you a safer, more confident recreational diver and opens the door to specialty courses. At Tioman Dive Buddy, you can continue your training directly into the Divemaster program.