Course overview

The SSI Diver Stress & Rescue course in Rasdhoo Atoll builds the confidence to handle dive emergencies. The island's channel drifts and moderate currents make prevention and response skills genuinely practical. You learn to spot and defuse stress, manage real rescue scenarios in open water, and finish as a safer, more aware buddy on every Maldivian dive.

What you’ll learn

• Identify and prevent diver stress before it escalates
• Perform self-rescue and assist a panicked or tired diver
• Search for, surface and tow an unresponsive diver
• Deliver in-water rescue breaths and manage a surface rescue
• Build and execute an emergency action plan
• Apply stress-and-rescue judgement to drift and current diving

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 12 (junior) or 15
• SSI Advanced Adventurer or equivalent, including navigation experience
• Current React Right (CPR & first aid) certification
• Diver medical clearance signed by a physician

What's included · What's not

Not included? Sort the rest of your trip

Flights and accommodation aren’t part of the course price, here’s how to book them around your dates.

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 & stress recognition

   Digital knowledge review, stress-recognition theory and self-rescue practice in calm water.
2. Day2
   Rescue skills

   Develop tows, surfacing techniques and unresponsive-diver handling in confined and open water.
3. Day3
   Scenarios & certification

   Run full rescue scenarios at accessible reef sites such as Veligandu East, then review and certify.

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 Rasdhoo Atoll.

Frequently asked questions