Quick Details
Rescue Diver Certification
$ 499
Be the Diver Others Count On
Most divers call Rescue the best course they ever took. You learn to spot problems before they start, handle them when they do, and bring another diver home safe.
The PADI Rescue Diver course covers self rescue, tired and panicked divers, missing diver searches, and bringing an unresponsive diver to the surface, to shore, and to care. It ends with two full rescue scenarios in Hilo’s ocean.
It sounds serious, and it is. It is also one of the most fun courses we teach. Nobody is actually in danger, and our instructors keep it light.
Course Options & Pricing
The course requires PADI Rescue Diver eLearning, purchased directly from PADI. Start it as soon as you book. It takes most students 8 to 12 hours, and it must be finished before your first training day.
How to Get Your eLearning
- Open the PADI Rescue Diver eLearning page.
- Sign in to your PADI account, or create one. Use the same email you booked with us.
- When asked to choose a dive center, search Hilo Ocean Adventures and select us.
- Complete your purchase and finish it, including the final exam, before your first training day.
Rescue Diver Course
$499 per person
Ten rescue exercises and two rescue scenarios over two training days. You finish as a certified PADI Rescue Diver, one step from going pro.
How you pay: $249.50 per training day, charged as each day happens. You never pay for a day the ocean cancels.
Included
PADI instructor. Two training days. Tanks and weights. Emergency oxygen training. Certification processing.
Schedule
Day 1: Responsive and unresponsive diver rescues, Exercises 1 to 6
Day 2: Surface rescue and first aid, Exercises 7 to 10, plus Scenarios 1 and 2
Training days move with conditions.
Dive Gear Rental (Per Day)
Rent only what you need. Full set is $69.
- $18: BCD
- $28: Regulator and computer
- $13: Wetsuit
- $5: Mask and snorkel
- $5: Fins and booties
Need prescription lenses?
Prescription masks are available at no extra charge. Note it when you book.
Required Materials
Every Rescue student needs a pocket mask and an accident management slate. Buy them in the shop, or bring your own.
You also build your own Emergency Action Plan before you certify.
Need CPR & First Aid?
Rescue requires Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care, or equivalent CPR and first aid training, completed within the last 24 months.
Not current? Contact us and we will help you get it done before your course.
Ready to be the buddy everyone wants?
Book your Rescue Diver course.
Private course upgrade: $349 per student. One on one pacing and a schedule built around you.
Requirements & What to Bring
Requirements
- PADI Advanced Open Water, or Adventure Diver with the Underwater Navigation dive, or equivalent from another agency.
- Ages 12 to 59. Divers 12 to 14 certify as Junior Rescue Diver.
- EFR Primary and Secondary Care, or equivalent, within the last 24 months.
- PADI eLearning and final exam completed before your first training day, with Hilo Ocean Adventures selected as your dive center.
- PADI Medical Questionnaire completed before arrival.
- Able to tow and lift another diver, and handle active lava rock entries while carrying gear.
What to Bring
- Certification card and photo ID
- EFR or CPR and first aid card
- Logbook
- Pocket mask and slate
- Dive computer, if you own one
- Swimsuit, towel, and reef-safe sunscreen
- Warm layer for after dives
Next Up: Go Pro
Rescue is the last step before PADI Divemaster, the first professional rating. With your Rescue certification, 40 logged dives, and a minimum age of 18, you can start your Divemaster training with us and learn to lead dives on the east side. Call us to plan your path.
Local divers can join the HOA Dive Club for member rates, continuing education, and a crew to dive with.
Why Train Rescue in Hilo
Real conditions. Swell, current, and lava rock exits are exactly where rescues get hard. Training here prepares you for the real thing, not a calm pool.
Shore and boat. You practice getting a diver out of the water from a rocky shoreline and onto a boat, the two situations you are most likely to face.
Small groups. Every student runs every scenario. Nobody stands on the side watching.
Conditions & Post Dive Travel
Hilo’s ocean changes daily. Our instructors check surf, swell direction, visibility, and tides every morning and choose the site and schedule that give you the best training. If the ocean is closed, we move your training, not your standards.
Following PADI guidelines, wait 12 hours after a single dive and 18 hours after multiple dives or multiple days of diving before flying or traveling above 1,800 ft. That includes inter island flights, Saddle Road, Mauna Kea, Volcano, and driving to Kona.
FAQs
How physical is Rescue?
It is the most physical recreational course. You will tow, lift, and carry another diver in full gear. You do not need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable in the water and in good physical health.
Is it only about rescuing other divers?
No. Self rescue and prevention come first. Most students say the biggest change is how they dive afterward: calmer, more aware, and a better buddy.
Why isn’t eLearning included?
You buy it directly from PADI so you can start the day you book, from home, at your own pace. Finish it before you arrive and your time in Hilo goes to training, not homework.
Why do I need to select Hilo Ocean Adventures in eLearning?
It links your eLearning record to our instructors, so we can see your progress and your final exam before your first training day. If you already bought eLearning without selecting us, contact us and we will get it linked.
Do I need my own gear?
No. Tanks and weights are included. Rent the rest by the day, $69 for a full set, or bring your own. You do need your own pocket mask and slate.
What happens if the ocean is too rough?
We reschedule your training within your stay. Training days are only charged when they happen, so a canceled day costs you nothing.
Does Rescue change my depth limit?
No. Your depth limit comes from your last certification, usually 30 m / 100 ft after Advanced Open Water.
Course Policies
Payment. Training days are charged at $249.50 as they happen. If conditions cancel a day, you are not charged.
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