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The most fun you will ever have in a scuba class
And the course that makes every diver around you safer.
$550 · E-learning included · Bundle with EFR + O2 Provider — $900 with free PADI Club membershipWhat Rescue Diver Actually Is
Not what you think. Better than you expect.
Most divers hear "Rescue" and picture a grueling weekend of getting dragged underwater by a panicking student playing the role of a drowning diver. That's not what we do — and frankly, it's not what real rescues look like either.
We've been in the water. We've guided dives across the world. We've performed actual rescues — including one in Egypt where a swimmer was in full-blown panic on the surface. I calmly swam away as per my training. When I stopped, she lunged at me. That's when I stood up and calmly said, "You can let go of me now." That's when she realized we were in only one foot of water.
That's what we teach. Calm, practical, real-world rescue — not war stories and bruises.
Rescue is how to be the best dive buddy possible
That's it. Everything else flows from that. This course is the first one that asks you to stop thinking only about yourself underwater and start thinking about the people diving with you.
The best rescue is the one you don't have to perform
We spend significant time on surface stress recognition — how to read a diver before they're in trouble. After years of guiding dives around the world, we've seen what actually goes wrong. You'd be surprised how many times the answer was simply "inflate your BCD." We teach that kind of practical awareness, not just textbook scenarios.
Nobody beats up our students — but we do take this seriously
Rescue courses have a reputation for rough handling — students playing panicked divers who claw, grab, and drag their rescuers underwater. We don't do that. Real panicked divers don't behave like Hollywood stunt actors, and real rescues don't require you to get hurt.
That said — don't misunderstand us. You can absolutely get hurt trying to rescue someone in the water. The most important rule in any rescue scenario is:
NEVER BECOME THE VICTIMThat is exactly what we teach. If you give us the opportunity, we will test that skill. But the moment we see a skill going in the wrong direction, we stop immediately, address what went wrong, and try again. This is how you build the muscle memory needed to perform a real rescue — not just a month from now, but a year from now, five years from now, in conditions you cannot predict.
We hope you never have to use these skills. But we make sure you are ready no matter when or where that moment arrives — or hopefully doesn't.
Everyone — without exception — says it's the most fun they've ever had in a scuba class
Small groups. Real scenarios. A weekend that builds from classroom to lake to full simulation. By Sunday afternoon you'll understand why.
A Personal Note from Morad
I want to share something personal — not to impress you, but because it's the reason I believe in this course with everything I have.
I was crewing a boat on a dive trip when a diver got caught in a strong current. By the time the tender went out to assist, the situation had already turned serious. One diver was unresponsive. The other couldn't get aboard on his own. The first mate was doing everything he could just to keep both of them at the surface and get them back to the boat.
When they arrived, it was clear that we were about to lose two divers instead of just one. That wasn't my call to make — but the moment the captain called my name, I was already in the air diving into the water to rescue the second diver.
Everything my instructor had taught me nearly ten years earlier came back instantly. Not as something I had to think about. As instinct. The muscle memory was there because the training had put it there.
That diver is alive because of me.
I know that because I was told afterward. I have no memory of the rescue itself. My conscious mind stepped aside and my training took over completely. That is what trained muscle memory looks like under real stress — and that is exactly what we are building in you over this weekend.
I don't say any of this to be dramatic. I say it because somewhere out there, one of our students may find themselves in that same moment. The captain calls their name. The training doesn't forget — even when you do.
We intend for it to be there.
— Morad, Owner · OTA Scuba & Swim
The Weekend Structure
Three days. Three certifications. One weekend.
This isn't a one-day course. It's a three-day immersive weekend where every session builds directly on the last — and every skill you learn Friday night is something you'll use on Sunday.
Friday Evening · 6:00 PM
Classroom & CPR
Mannequin work, CPR, rescue breathing, and AED usage. This is where your Emergency First Responder certification begins. No prior EFR required — we satisfy the prerequisite as part of the package.
Saturday · Starting 9:00 AM · Mammoth Lake
Skills in the Water
We move to the water. The rest of your EFR certification is completed alongside the PADI O2 Provider course and your Rescue Diver skills sessions. Skills are taught in small groups for focused, personal instruction.
Mammoth Lake is a former dirt quarry — they kept digging until they hit water, and along the way uncovered the remains of a Woolly Mammoth. It's a real Texas dive site with real history.
Sunday · Scenario Day
Real-World Application
The full application of everything learned. Real-world rescue scenarios that don't follow a script. This is where the course earns its reputation — and where every student tells us they had the time of their life.
What You Walk Away With
Three certifications by Sunday afternoon
PADI Rescue Diver
PADI Emergency First Responder (EFR)
PADI O2 Provider
Free PADI Club Membership (bundle only)
The Smart Bundle
Save $99.90 — take the whole weekend
| Course | À La Carte | Bundle |
|---|---|---|
| PADI Rescue Diver | $550.00 | $900 |
| PADI Emergency First Responder | $249.95 | |
| PADI O2 Provider | $199.95 | |
| Total | $999.90 | $900 + Free PADI Club |
Bundle includes a free PADI Club membership — member pricing on all future PADI courses.
The Gateway to Professional Diving
Rescue Diver is the required prerequisite for the PADI Divemaster program — the first step into professional diving. It also opens the door to Technical diving for those who want to push deeper and further. If Divemaster is on your radar, this is where that journey begins.
Learn more about our Divemaster program →Prerequisites
Who can take this course?
- Minimum age 12 · Junior Rescue Diver certification available for ages 12–14
- PADI Adventure Diver certification including the Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive
- EFR Primary and Secondary Care within 24 months — satisfied by Friday night's session if you don't already have it
- PADI Open Water Divers may participate in Knowledge Development and confined water exercises
Not sure if you qualify? Call us at 855-OTA-DIVE and we'll figure it out together.
What's Included
- PADI e-learning materials — no hidden costs. Instructions sent by email after purchase
- All classroom and lake instruction
- Free PADI Club membership (bundle only)
Not Included
- Full scuba kit — BCD, regulator, cylinder, mask, fins, boots, wetsuit/rashguard. Available for purchase or rental, call us at 855-OTA-DIVE
- Mammoth Lake entry fee — we'll provide details when you book
Ready to Register?
Dates vary — we run this course periodically throughout the year. Call us to check the next available weekend.
Have any questions? Give us a call at
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