Who this course is for:

• The certified diver looking for more information to maximize the use of search and recovery for scuba diving

Course prerequisites:

• SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Diver, or equivalent

• Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent

What you can expect to learn:

The SDI Search and Recovery Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

• Navigation

  • Compass use

  • Estimating distances

• Natural navigation

• Limited visibility diving

  • Factors affecting visibility

  • Hazards of limited visibility

  • Techniques of diving

• Search techniques

  • Shotgun

  • Circular search

  • Grid search SDI Instructor Manual

  • Current (overlap) search

  • Signals for search diving

• Salvage techniques

  • Depth considerations

  • Lift bags

  • Lifting drums

  • Necessary qualities of lifting devices

  • Knots and rigging

  • Fill techniques

  • Mud/silt suction considerations

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

• Review compass techniques

• Review search techniques

• Practice and perform different search patterns

• Review lifting techniques

• Recover an object from depth

• Salvage and recovery of an object with a water weight of between 11 and 33 kg/25 and 75 lbs

• Simulate scuba emergency using a minimum of 2 searching techniques

• Log dives

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI Instructor* so long as the following limits are adhered to:

• The diving activities approximate those of training

• The areas of activities approximate those of training

• Environmental conditions approximate those of training

Also, the SDI Search and Recovery Diver certification counts towards a single specialty rating to achieve the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program.

SDI Search and Recovery Diver minimum requirements:

• Complete all open water requirements efficiently

• Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution