Theory and skills
Rescue theory, then each technique practised in confined water until it feels natural.
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Rescue Diver
in Koh Phangan
The course that changes how you dive with other people. Two days to learn to prevent problems, recognise them early and manage them when they happen — practised in calm water, never deeper than 9 metres. 11,600฿.
Koh Ma · calm, shallow, no current
At a glance
The buddy
everyone wants
Rescue Diver is about looking after the people you dive with: seeing stress before it turns into panic, finding a diver who has gone missing, and bringing an unconscious diver safely to the surface and out of the water.
- Duration
- 2 days
- In-water sessions
- 3
- Exercises
- Max 9 m
- Minimum age
- 12 years
- Price
- 11,600฿
- SSI instructor teaching in English, Spanish or French
- All equipment, new in 2024, sizes XS to XXL
- Lunch on day two
- Digital SSI certification the day you pass
How the course runs
Two days,
step by step
The first day builds the skills one at a time. The second puts them together in realistic scenarios at Koh Ma, a calm coral garden ten minutes from Chaloklum.
Stress and diver care
Spotting a stressed diver, calming them and helping them, at the surface and underwater.
Missing diver search
Organising a search pattern to find a diver who has lost the group.
Unconscious diver
Bringing an unconscious diver to the surface, giving rescue breaths and getting them out of the water.
Final exam
A written exam to go over any last questions — optional if you have already passed the exam online.
Lunch at Koh Ma between sessions
How we teach it
Realistic,
and safe
Rescue exercises are only useful if they feel real, and only responsible if they are safe. That is why every exercise happens at a maximum of 9 metres, in the calm water of Koh Ma.
Day two mixes theory, practice and a proper lunch at a restaurant, with time to talk through each scenario before the next one.
CPR practice · first aid course
Who can do it
Before
you start
- Open Water Diver certification
- From 12 years old
- The SSI React Right specialty, or proof of a first aid and oxygen provider course taken in the last two years
- A short medical questionnaire, as for every course
No first aid course yet? We run SSI React Right at the shop: first aid, oxygen provider and CPR in about two hours, for 4,300฿. Not sure whether your own course counts? Send us a photo of the certificate on WhatsApp.
Questions
Rescue Diver FAQ
How much is the SSI Rescue Diver course in Koh Phangan?
11,600฿ per person, including your SSI instructor, all the equipment, lunch on day two and your certification.
How long does the Rescue Diver course take?
Two days: theory and confined-water skills on the first day, and three rescue scenarios at Koh Ma on the second.
What do I need before the Rescue course?
An Open Water Diver certification, plus the SSI React Right specialty or proof of a first aid and oxygen provider course in the last two years. The minimum age is 12.
Can I do the React Right course with you?
Yes. We teach SSI React Right at the shop in about two hours, for 4,300฿. It covers first aid, oxygen provider and CPR, and you can do it the day before your Rescue course.
How deep are the rescue exercises?
Never deeper than 9 metres. The scenarios take place in the calm, current-free water of Koh Ma.
What will I practise in the water?
Three sessions: managing a stressed diver and caring for another diver, searching for a missing diver, and bringing an unconscious diver to the surface and out of the water.
Is there an exam?
Yes. At the end we do a written exam at the shop to go over any last questions. If you have already passed the exam online and would rather not repeat it on paper, you do not have to.
Ready to become
a Rescue Diver?
Send us your dates and a photo of your first aid certificate on WhatsApp, and we will confirm your place.
Also see our Deep and Nitrox courses or all our courses.