We often hear from divers that they do not feel ready to become a rescue diver, if one of our professionals is suggesting you take that next step then YES YOU ARE.

But to answer the question Are you ready to become a Rescue Diver?, you are once you are comfortable as a diver, able to dive down into the different types of dive sites with ease and if are starting to look around at other divers and questioning why things are being done or not done then you are more than ready

​During the Rescue Course, you will expand upon the knowledge you have already gained .

In the Open Water Diver course, you learned the basics of how to scuba dive alongside a buddy. Your Advanced Open Water Course taught you to develop those basics and explore different skills  and continue to improve your diving ability

The Rescue course is about changing your mind set and start to get you to begin to look outside yourself and your own skills and learn to tune in with others underwater.

1. See the Bigger picture
2. Improve your dive skills and confidence underwater which all leads to making you a better buddy and a better diver
3. Improve your navigation skills
4. Become prepared for any dive emergency
5. Last course before Divemaster
6. Its loads of fun

See the Bigger Picture
Here at Dive Rutland we believe that if as a diver you are starting to notice the little things that might not be quite right or another diver suffering with a little apprehension they this is the sign you are ready to become a Rescue Diver.

During the rescue diver training you learn to become more aware of your surroundings including how to recognise the various signs and symptoms of various types of stress - Tired divers, panicked divers and so much more.

As a Rescue Diver, you'll be able to spot potential problems and fix them before they ever happen, as your eyes open up to the "bigger" picture around you.

Improve your dive skills and confidence underwater
The more time you spend in the water the more your dive skills and confidence grow, this is a fact.  All of these things lead to you being a better diver and a much better and aware buddy.

Improve your navigation skills
Part of the Rescue course is learning how to search for lost items using different underwater search patterns.  

​Increasing your navigation skills underwater is always a good thing as it will increase your comfort in the water and could come in handy the next time you drop something valuable or we get asked to go put in mooring lines at Rutland Water or find that lost engine on the local duck pond or even a lost keel all things we have used our navigation skills for over the years

Become better prepared for any diving emergency
There are all kinds of side benefits to becoming a Rescue Diver course but the number one benefit and reason most people take this course is that you will leave with the skills you would need to save someone's life in a diving emergency.  

This is worth its weight in gold.  

​Should you find yourself in a situation where your dive buddy or someone else diving in your group has an underwater emergency you will feel confident enough to offer aid, and could possibly be the one to save their life.  Is there really any other reason you would need besides that?

​Last course before Divemaster

Some people know they want to become a dive professional and the rescue course is the last course needed as a pre-requisite (there are other requirements) prior to the first professional certification - Divemaster.

You can expect your course to be challenging, if checking out different providers ask what the course includes and who your instructor will be; find out if you can meet them to discuss what their teaching style is like. Also ask how long you can expect the course to take (this will vary depending on where you are), and how many other students will be on the course alongside you.

If you’re completing the course with other students you may have the opportunity to play victim as well as rescuer. Any Divemaster who has assisted a rescue course can tell you you’ll learn just as much from acting victim.

Sometimes you may find you’re the only student, so your instructor may be assisted by a Divemaster or other instructor. This usually makes for a really fun environment; when there’s a rescue course going on most of the dive professionals will want to get involved, and you’ll probably find lots of other teachers fighting for a chance to act out an emergency and show off their amateur dramatics!

It is Fun
Yes the course is fun but forget a rescue course being “fun” or as a stepping stone to something else. Learn the skills because they can be the difference between life and death.

Becoming a Rescue Diver is probably the most important certification we think all divers should receive after they become an Open Water Diver.  So what are you waiting for?

Back in 2019, a time when we were all guilty of taking social interaction for granted, I started my Duke of Edinburgh award.

When making my choices I knew I wanted to complete each section in an area that I have an interest in and I didn’t want this to just be a box ticking exercise, I wanted to enjoy it too and if possible develop my skills and interests In no particular order I decided to complete: Skills – Cooking (Yes I know I still owe the team a chocolate cake!), Physical – Rugby and for Volunteering I wanted to incorporate diving.

I approached Tracey to ask if she would allow me to carry out my Duke of Edinburgh Volunteering with Dive Rutland, with a focus on mentoring the junior divers. Tracey and the team kindly took on the challenge of supporting me whilst I supervised the juniors! 

In addition to helping with the junior theory and practical sessions I also learnt what goes on behind the scenes in the shop getting the sessions ready and I was even let loose on a few customers and stock taking! 

Written by Thomas Frieland

We are pleased to announce that the CPD Certification Service has accredited the EFR Primary and Secondary Course for the purpose of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit. 

Our course participants, seeking CPD credit, now have the opportunity to receive a CPD certificate of recognition:-

• EFR Primary and Secondary Course = 6 Hours

Not familiar with the CPD process here are the key features:
CPD is required to

• be documented ( can be through certificate)
• be self-directed; not driven by the employer
• focus on learning from experience, reflective learning and review
• help set development goals and objectives
• include both formal and informal learning

CPD is often a requirement of membership of a professional body. It can help to reflect, review and document learning and to develop and update professional knowledge and skills. It can also serve to:

• provide an overview of professional development to date
• act as a reminder of achievements and progression
• direct a career and help keep focus on goals
• uncover gaps in skills and capabilities
• open up further development needs
• provide examples and scenarios for a CV or interview
• demonstrate professional standing to clients and employers
• help career development or a possible career change

On completion of this course with us here at Dive Rutland we will complete your CPD certification registration for you (on request).

No better time to start learning new skills whilst continuing with your own personal development, so get yourself booked onto a course

So here we go again... and we are in Lockdown3.  We are still here and available for you to complete any theory prior to open water opening up - including your PADI Open Water Course as well as complete ALL of the dry certification courses.

Here are just a few ideas for you... but watch our social media channels as we will be publishing courses and engaging content.  But if there is a course you want to do that is not listed GET IN TOUCH

Elearning options available for the following specialities

Contact us to arrange, the shop might be closed but if you want to purchase anything then we are running click and click from our online store.  As you can see we are so here and happy to help your adventure continue

You can still shop, you can still train, you can still dream diving with us here at Dive Rutland
 
From Thursday, we will be closed in line with government guidelines affecting non-essential businesses, but we need you to support local businesses.   Did you know we have an online shop (it is still a work in progress and constantly being updated), so you can start or continue your Christmas shopping with our ‘click and collect’ or we can post out to you.

​Take the time to do some training with us in our virtual classroom courses such as: -

• Coral Conservation
• Project AWARE
• Divemaster / Assistant Instructor / Instructor Development – Theory elements
• Mental Health Awareness
• Equipment Speciality; and more…. 

 
You can start your PADI Open Water course, with theory elements via eLearning or ‘in class’
 
How about expanding your knowledge and start working towards that speciality using eLearning and then complete the ‘wet’ element later – example of what is available: - 

• Deep Diver
• Dry Suit
• Night Diver
• Nitrox
• Peak Performance Buoyancy
• Search and Recovery
• Underwater Navigator
• Wreck Diver; and many more

 
Never stop learning, watch our social media, blogs or contact us to discuss and we will get you all setup and with the tools to get you started.
 
Want an air fill and you are an essential worker, just contact us and we will arrange for you.
 

Congratulations to our two new Search and Recovery Speciality holders - James Jennings and Marly-Jay Lysandrou

During the course, they learnt how to undertake various search patterns - circular, expanding square and jackstays, they learnt to undertake these activities in various levels of visibility to, as well as teamwork, but they also "Took Action"

On Dive four they were asked to conduct a dive with a search pattern of their own choosing but because some club members were completing our Dive Against Debris dives, they asked if they could make that their objective as part of the dive... Great initiative and great use of new skills, so of course we said yes

It was a great delivery particularly for one member of the Dive Rutland team who was returned their Mares torch lost back in August and it still worked!  Great Recovery guys

Anyone want to expand their skills or find out more about Project Aware get in touch, a lot of these courses can be done virtually and / or in person, so can fit any round any schedule