PADI SEARCH & RECOVERY SPECIALTY DIVER COURSE

 The PADI Search and Recovery Diver Specialty course is designed for divers who want to learn how to locate and retrieve lost items underwater. Whether you're helping a friend recover a lost piece of equipment, assisting in a community cleanup, or simply looking to expand your skill set, this course equips you with the knowledge and practical techniques necessary to conduct safe and effective search and recovery dives. 

The PADI Search and Recovery Specialty Diver Course teaches you how to find and bring back lost items underwater. Whether it’s a lost camera, a dropped tool, or something larger like an anchor, this course shows you how to search efficiently and recover objects safely.

You’ll learn how to use compasses, reels, and different search patterns to cover areas underwater, even in low visibility. You’ll also practice using lift bags to raise heavier items to the surface, all while working safely and as part of a team.

The course includes four open water dives, where you’ll apply what you’ve learned in real situations. To join, you need to be at least 12 years old and have your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification (or equivalent). You can start with PADI eLearning to complete the theory at home before your in-water training.

By the end of the course, you’ll be more confident in handling search and recovery situations, making you a more capable and useful diver in any dive group.

 Age Requirement: Participants must be at least 10 years old to enroll in the PADI Open Water Diver course. For participants aged 10 to 14, PADI offers the Junior Open Water Diver certification, which has depth and supervision restrictions.

Medical Fitness: Participants must complete a medical questionnaire to assess their fitness for diving. If they answer "yes" to any of the questions, they may need to obtain medical clearance from a physician before participating in the course.

Swimming Skills: While there are no specific swimming requirements for the PADI Open Water Diver course, participants should be comfortable in the water and have basic swimming skills. They will need to demonstrate basic water competency skills, such as floating and treading water, during the course.

 After finishing the course, you’ll be certified as a PADI Search and Recovery Specialty Diver. This shows you know how to find and safely recover lost items underwater using search patterns, compasses, and lift bags.

You’ll be more confident helping out in real situations and will have new skills that make you a more capable diver. This certification also counts toward the PADI Master Scuba Diver rating—one of the highest achievements in recreational diving.