Northwest Diving Institute Certified Since 1972
Where the Pacific Northwest learns to dive!

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Northwest Diving Institute

Description

Have you ever dropped something in the water? Are you looking for lost “treasure”? The PADI Search and Recovery Diver Specialty course will teach you effective ways to find objects underwater and bring them to the surface. Small, large or just awkward, there is a way to bring them up.

Find lost items and lift them to the surface. It’s fun to use the lift bag. Not only are these skills fun, but very practical and ultimately useful because eventually, you’ll lose something in the water. As a Search and Recovery Diver, you’ll know how to search for and recover it. What you'll learn:

• Search and recovery dive planning, organization, procedures, techniques and how to deal with potential problems.
• How to locate large and small objects using search patterns.
• How to use a lift bag and other recovery methods.
• Limited visibility search technique.

Many factors can affect the success or failure of any search and recovery conducted underwater. Those of particular importance are surface conditions, underwater visibility, depth, bottom topography, bottom composition, vegetation, accessibility, surge, tides, currents, accuracy of bearings, water temperature, pollution, and obstacles or hazards. The size, weight, and dimensions of the object to recover also play a huge role.

The search and recovery dive team cannot control these factors. There is, in fact, one aspect of an underwater search and recovery that can be controlled – organization. The other factors must be considered when the team plans a search and recovery, altering how they search and the recovery methods to accommodate them. Thus, the goal of this course is to teach student divers a systematic, methodical approach to the search and recovery of submerged objects. Student divers will develop the techniques involved in locating and retrieving lost articles, large and small, within recreational limits and while avoiding disturbing delicate marine life.

The mechanics of the search are truly an art; while the principles applied to the operation are firmly grounded in science. The best way to learn how to conduct search patterns and to use lifting devices is by doing it. This course philosophy therefore, emphasizes diving. Student divers will apply the knowledge they gain by reading the PADI Search and Recovery Diver Manual and watching the companion video on at least four open water dives searching for and recovering objects of different sizes in varying search area.

Type

Recreational (Specialty/Distinctive)

College Credit

1 Credit Hour(s)

Cost

$199.00 per person with the purchase of required student materials, otherwise add $19.90.

Prerequisites

Certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization, and be at least 12 years old.

Documents Required

Proof of certification and Continuing Education Administrative Document, plus a physician's statement (if you have a medical condition that would affect your ability to dive).

Medical Clearance

All students participating in PADI confined and open water dives are required to have a current Medical Statement on file. If you answer YES to any of the listed conditions, you will also need to obtain physician's approval prior to the first water session. It is the student's responsibility to obtain proper medical clearance prior to diving and we cannot make exceptions.

Gear Provided

Lift bag and reel.

Gear Required

Mask, snorkel, fins, exposure suit (dry suit recommended), hood, gloves, compass, knife, tanks, regulator, BCD and weights.

Optimum Weighting

Not sure how much weight you need for this course? Click here to estimate your optimum weighting.

Gear Recommended

Lift bag, reel and slate.

Materials Required

PADI Search & Recovery Diver student manual.

Materials Recommended

Underwater Navigator course and materials.

Upcoming Search and Recovery Diver Classes

Class#	Starts	Ends	Format	Instructor	Sessions	Registration
2999	July 20, 2013	July 21, 2013	Weekend	TBA	Click for details
3043	September 14, 2013	September 15, 2013	Weekend	TBA	Click for details
3130	November 9, 2013	November 10, 2013	Weekend	TBA	Click for details

If you have additional questions about this course, please call us at (425) 502-7886 or send us an email.

The Northwest Diving Institute, a Washington state-licensed, PADI-certified scuba diving center, is the dive center for all your recreational, professional and technical scuba diving classes, lessons and equipment needs. Certified since 1972, our highly trained staff can take you from basic Open Water to Professional Instructor, on both open circuit and closed circuit systems, and in backmount and sidemount systems. We offer a full line of high-quality scuba diving equipment, lessons, rentals, educational materials, dive trips and air fills (including nitrox and trimix) at highly competitive prices.