Diving Experience

Diving Rescue Techniques: An In-Depth Guide to Emergency Procedures

Emergency Procedures: When Thought Becomes Action

 

We learned to save ourselves in Article Diving Self-Rescue Skills and how to prevent incidents in Article Recognizing Diver Stress. But what if, despite all preventative efforts, an emergency still occurs? This is the moment when knowledge must give way to skilled, decisive action.

This article in Amadive’s series on the PADI Rescue Diver course will detail the procedures and hands-on skills you will learn to manage a rescue, from approaching the victim to getting them to safety. This is the practical “heart” of the course.

 

The Rescuer’s Mindset: Assess Before You Act

Rescue Diver Padi Training

The first and most important action in any emergency is not to rush in. It is to Stop, Assess, and Act. Before you approach, ask yourself:

  • Is the environment safe for ME? (e.g., high surf, strong currents, hazardous marine life).
  • Do I have the equipment and energy to perform a rescue?
  • What is the safest approach for both me and the victim?
  • Rule number one: Do not become a second victim.

 

Skill 1: Responding to a Panicked Diver at the Surface

 

A panicked diver at the surface is one of the most dangerous situations, as they may try to climb onto anything—including you—to stay afloat.

  • Assessment: The victim is thrashing violently, has wide eyes, and has likely removed their mask or regulator. They are unresponsive to verbal commands.
  • Approach Techniques:
    1. Flotation Approach (if available): Throw them a flotation device like a life ring or a spare BCD. This is the safest method.
    2. Underwater/Rear Approach: If you must make direct contact, approach them from behind to avoid being grabbed.
  • Action:
    1. Firmly grasp their tank valve or shoulders from behind.
    2. Establish positive buoyancy for both of you: Inflate their BCD, and if necessary, ditch their weights.
    3. Calmly but firmly talk to them. Tow them to safety.

 

Skill 2: Rescuing an Unresponsive Diver from Depth

This is a situation that demands both speed and precision.

  • Action:
    1. Approach quickly. Keep the victim’s regulator in their mouth.
    2. Take hold of the victim (under the armpit or by the tank valve) and begin your ascent.
    3. Control the ascent rate: Maintain a safe ascent (no faster than 9m/30ft per minute). Vent air from both your BCDs to avoid a runaway ascent.
    4. On the way up, hold the victim’s head back to maintain an open airway.

 

Skill 3: In-Water Rescue Breathing

This is perhaps the most complex, yet most life-saving, skill. The goal is to get oxygen to the victim’s brain as soon as possible.

  • At the Surface:
    1. Turn the victim onto their back, removing their mask and regulator.
    2. Establish significant positive buoyancy for both of you.
    3. Perform a head-tilt, chin-lift to open their airway.
    4. Deliver two initial rescue breaths. Watch for the chest to rise.
    5. Continue delivering one breath every 5 seconds while towing them back to the boat or shore.

Why it’s critical: Immediate oxygen can prevent irreversible brain damage. Every second counts.

 

Skill 4: Exits and First Aid

The final part of the rescue is often the most strenuous.

  • Exit Techniques: You will learn various methods for lifting a heavy, inert victim out of the water, such as the “saddleback carry” onto a boat.
  • Handover to EAP: Once on shore/the boat, remove the victim’s gear and begin your First Aid and Emergency Assistance Plan (EAP) procedures.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is the hardest skill to practice in the course?
    • For many, it’s in-water rescue breathing, as it requires multitasking: staying afloat, keeping an airway open, delivering breaths, and moving through the water.
  • What if the victim is much larger than me?
    • The course teaches you techniques that use leverage and buoyancy rather than brute strength. Using their equipment (like their BCD) is key.

 

Conclusion: Confidence Through Practice

No one is born a rescuer. These skills are built through understanding, repetition, and muscle memory. The Rescue Diver course provides a safe environment to practice these procedures until they become second nature, ready for you when they’re needed most.

Important Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes. These skills must be learned and practiced under the direct supervision of a certified PADI Instructor during a Rescue Diver course.

➡️ After getting the victim ashore, what’s next? Find out in First Aid for Pressure-Related Injuries (DCI)