| First, the PADI Rescue Diver Course is split into two | | | | starting first aid. |
| elements. There is the classroom side and the water | | | | After a tiring day of learning and practicing skills the |
| side, in that order. Before you can complete the | | | | fun started for real the next day. Myself and the |
| course you also have to have completed first aid | | | | two other trainees on the course were given time to |
| training and that, along with the Oxygen | | | | prepare out kits and then one was volunteered and |
| Administration course were included as part of my | | | | being in charge. Everything went quiet for a while as |
| package when I undertook the course. | | | | the instructors, including some divers who had |
| The classroom side can, with the right group of | | | | recently passed through this, prepared the scene for |
| people, be a lot of fun. Aside from the First Aid | | | | us. With not a clue as to what was going on divers |
| course the classroom training is learning what you | | | | were coming and going. And then the acting started, |
| should do and be looking for in a variety of | | | | with divers coming back with minor injuries. These |
| emergency scenarios. It is about learning what you | | | | were all distractions to confuse and bewilder, as |
| should do if a diver fails to return or returns possibly | | | | suddenly there was an unconscious diver at the |
| ill. How to help other divers and generally being more | | | | surface, poisoned by a bad air fill. He was retrieved, |
| aware of the group of people that you are diving | | | | but only after a bystander had actually called the |
| with. You learn the theory behind helping other divers | | | | ambulance for him. Maybe it was all a little too real! |
| and just as importantly helping yourself. | | | | TIme to send in a pair of divers to retrieve the |
| This all ends with the PADI multiple choice exam. I | | | | diver's buddy in case his air was 'bad'. My colleagues |
| have no idea what the pass mark is for this exam, | | | | on the course again took this role and although we |
| other than to say that I was devastated that I came | | | | had all checked and rechecked our gear one last |
| second in my class in the exam - I had got one | | | | quick check showed that someone had tampered |
| question wrong! After that the fun really begins and | | | | with our gear and an airline had been subtly pulled |
| you head out to the water. | | | | out, requiring replacing. |
| The next step is the practice sessions. Maybe in a | | | | And all of this was just the first of four emergency |
| pool or for us, in the docks where the rest of the | | | | scenarios! Obviously, not all training centres are so |
| training would take place, we were introduced to a | | | | fun, so do check some dive centre reviews before |
| variety of emergency scenarios and talked through | | | | you book your course. A lot of dive centres run the |
| them, putting into practice what we were being | | | | courses run the courses with only a few staff and |
| shown. Skills such as recovering an unconscious diver | | | | they can become very mundane. Mine was so |
| from the bottom of the water, rescuing a panicking | | | | realistic it was certainly fun to be part of. |
| diver, towing back, removing from the water and | | | | |