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PADI Specialty Search & Recovery Certification

by DiveMaster
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Just like the name suggests, this is a search and rescue-based course certification. People actually tend to drop something from boats, docks, or even lose something when they are scuba diving.

This object can literally be anything, from tiny objects to comparatively bigger-sized things. If you yourself have lost something and want to go to find it, this specialty search and recovery course are just for you!

It is not that everyone can simply go underwater and find a missing object. There are specific ways to actually find and retrieve objects. Although search and recovery can often be pressurizing and challenging, it can be a whole lot of fun.

What Is PADI?

PADI is the leading scuba diver training organization in the world. PADI was started back in 1966 by two friends who were concerned about the safety of scuba diving. PADI stands for Professional Association Of Diving Instructors.

PADI is different from other training organizations in many ways. PADI gives exceptional education to all its trainees. The courses PADI teaches are meant to be enjoyable and yet enriching.

You will earn your PADI certification one at a time, in an encouraging environment that is well-supported. The education materials available from PADI are present in various formats. These are manuals, DVDs, workbooks, multimedia discs, apps for tablets, and online programs.

Is The PADI Specialty Search And Rescue Course Available Only In A Specific Location?

No, PADI is present in many locations around the world. You can do the course in any of the recognized PADI centers in the world.

Is This Course Compliant With The International Organization For Standardization Or ISO Standards?

Yes. All PADI courses are compliant with the International organization for standardization or ISO standards for recreational diving services by the European underwater Federation as well as the Austrian Standards Institute.

The ISO standards are related to 5 levels of underwater divers, two levels of underwater instructors, and a dive center. Every standard is related to a particular PADI certification level. This essentially means that if a diver or a member holds any one of these qualifications, it means that they have also met the equivalent ISO standard.

This basically is similar to gaining two degrees at once.   

What Are The Prerequisites For This Course?

PADI Junior open water divers of the advanced level who are at least 12 years of age are eligible to enroll in this course.

PADI junior open water divers who are certified with a PADI underwater navigator certificate also fall under the eligibility criteria for this course.

Logged open water dive in the recent three months or having completed the Scuba Review course in the recent eight weeks.

What Will I Learn In The PADI Search And Recovery Course?

You will be first learning how to gather resources and information. Then you will learn how to plan a search well. You will be undertaking 4 scuba dives. In them, you will be learning.

  • Something known as swimming search patterns. For this, you will be using natural navigation as well as your compass for direction.
  • How to locate large as well as smaller objects with the help of search patterns
  • How to use a lift bag for heavier or large objects that weigh between 0 to 100 pounds. You will also learn other recovery methods along with this method.
  • How to plan a search operation using the facts that you have gathered on the lost object before the dive
  • You can also get added college credit from this course.
  • How to conduct a search with the right method making use of a U pattern, jackstay search patterns, as well as expanding pattern

There will also be two theory lessons included in this course.

The PADI course includes

  • PADI search and recovery diver Crewpak that includes the manual as well as the DVD
  • The theory review
  • Open water dives that will be certified
  • One classroom special
  • Using weights and tanks
  • All PADI certification costs

You will learn

  • Planning and organization
  • How to avoid harmful hazards underwater
  • Search pattern for small as well as huge objects underwater
  • Learn how to tie various knots
  • All the equipment considerations
  • Practice limited visibility search techniques
  • You will be completing all four certification dives
  • The impact of water movement
  • The many procedures to determine the exact position of an object that is sinking, when it is viewed from the shore

You can start the e-learning segment online before going to the physical course.

On completing this course, you will be awarded the PADI search and recovery course certification. This certification is one of the certificates that are required out of 5 specialties for attaining the highest non-professional certification in the PADI system. This certification is called the PADI master, scuba diver.

What Is The Schedule Of The Course?

On the first day, there will be orientation and knowledge reviews. Your 1st and 2nd training dives will also be conducted.

On the second day, your 3rd and 4th training dives will be taking place.

What Equipment Do I Require For This Course?

For the search and recovery course, you will require a compass as well as an underwater slate. Your PADI instructor will help you with other equipment you may need for the course. You may require marker buoys, a dive light, lines, as well as reels.

What Is The Cost Of This Certified Course?

The cost of this course is A$170.

What Is The Duration Of The PADI Specialty Search And Recovery Course?

This course takes one evening and one weekend to complete. You will be performing four dives in this time period.

Can I Learn From An Instructor Who Speaks My Language?

Most probably, yes. You will need to request an instructor who speaks a specific language.  Instructors who speak in languages such as German, Spanish, French, Dutch, Russian, and English are available.

Summing Up

Most underwater divers, at some point in time, will attempt to recover an object that was lost in the water. Mostly, the search will happen to be random or haphazard, and the object may be found only by chance.

There are many factors that may affect how your search can go underwater. Those factors are of significance that includes surface conditions, depth, underwater visibility, bottom topography, and vegetation.

Few other factors that are important are water temperature, hazards or obstacles, pollution, currents, tides, and accuracy of bearings. The weight, size, and dimension of the recovery object also matter.

However, by using some basic skills and rules, the recovery of objects can be easier and more certain.

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