Course overview

Become the diver others rely on with the PADI Rescue Diver course in the Galapagos, run from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. In cool water with real currents, you practise self-rescue, tired-diver tows and surface and underwater problem-solving at sites like North Seymour and Mosquera, exactly the conditions where these skills matter. You finish certified and far more confident handling emergencies anywhere.

What you’ll learn

• Recognise and manage diver stress before it becomes an emergency
• Perform self-rescue and tired-diver tows in current and chop
• Search for, surface and rescue an unresponsive diver
• Provide in-water rescue breaths and exit an unresponsive diver
• Run a missing-diver search and manage a dive emergency
• Plan and coordinate an emergency response from the boat

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 12 (Junior Rescue Diver)
• PADI Adventure Diver / Advanced Open Water with Underwater Navigation (or equivalent)
• Emergency First Response (CPR and first aid) within 24 months
• Diver medical clearance signed by a physician

What's included · What's not

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Theory & self-rescue

   Knowledge development plus self-rescue and stress-recognition skills in calm water near Puerto Ayora.
2. Day2
   Rescue exercises

   Work through tows, surfacing an unresponsive diver and in-water rescue breaths at sheltered local sites.
3. Day3
   Scenarios & assessment

   Complete the two full rescue scenarios at sites like North Seymour, where moderate current tests your response.

Verified through iDive

Every partner school in the iDive network is vetted on safety, instructor credentials, equipment standards and student feedback. Talk to a iDive dive pro on WhatsApp for current availability and reviews specific to Galapagos.

Frequently asked questions