Search and Recovery Diver

This course is to provide the diver with the skills and knowledge to do those underwater tasks commonly needed by the experienced recreational diver and to minimize the risks of such tasks while searching for and recovering items that have been lost in the aquatic environment. Upon successful completion of this course, graduates are considered competent to engage in open water diving activities without supervision, provided the diving activities and the areas dived approximate those of training.

Get Started

The NAUI Search and Recovery Diver is for certified divers who are are passionate about diving and would like to increase their knowledge and safety in diving. Divers must be a minimum of 15 years of age, in good health and must be previously certified as a NAUI Scuba Diver or equivalent.

What’s Next?

Continue your training by enrolling in a NAUI Rescue Scuba Diver or NAUI Specialty course. If you completed the aforementioned courses you may enroll in NAUI Divemaster course.

COURSE DETAILS

Academic: E-learning/Classroom

Practical Application:

Open Water Dives: 2 dives

REQUIREMENTS – SKILLS

  • Underwater navigation – provides the diver with the skills needed to use a compass and natural aids for orientation, in order to establish position, get about and find particular locations while submerged. The theory, problems, methods, equipment, distance/ time relationships, and use of charts are to be included.
  • Limited visibility diving – prepares the diver with the skills and knowledge needed to function and minimize the risk of diving in turbid water and at night. The problems, methods, equipment, hazards and cautions, plus safety procedures are to be included.
  • Search methods – provide the diver with the background to understand and select a search pattern and then perform a search using proper techniques.
  • The problems, methods, procedures and equipment, are to be included.
  • Light salvage or recovery – prepares the diver to handle the recovery of small to intermediate-size objects with limited equipment. The theory, problems, hazards, methods, equipment, and principles involved are to be covered. The necessary rigging and knot tying are also to be included.

PREREQUISITES

  • Age. Minimum is 15 years by the water phase of the course. (Junior certification for ages 10-14 years is allowed.
  • Certification/Experience/Knowledge. Certification as a NAUI Scuba Diver or the equivalent is required. The instructor is to ensure adequate student knowledge and capability before any open water training and shall use skill or other evaluations to do so. One open water dive (which does not count toward the minimum number of dives required for the course) may be used as a screening and evaluation dive. This is not required when the student’s diving proficiencies are well known to the instructor.
  • Equipment. Students shall furnish and be responsible for the care and maintenance of their own equipment. The instructor shall initially assist the student in checking all student gear to ensure it is adequate and in proper working order.