SDI Search & Recovery Diver

Introduction:

This specialty is designed to acquaint the diver with special skills and techniques necessary to successfully plan, execute and evaluate a search and recovery dive.

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

The SDI Marine Ecosystems Diver minimum requirements:

• Complete all open water requirements efficiently
• Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution

How do I take this course?

• Create your SDI/TDI website profile
• Complete the eLearning academic portion of the course
• Download and sign the Tec Dive Nomad Learning Agreement
• Download and complete the SDI Liability Release and Express Assumption of Risk form
• Download and complete the SDI/TDI Medical Statement form
• Schedule your in-person class and training dives with your instructor
• Complete your in-person training

Standards and Procedures

Course Standards & Procedures