Course overview

The SSI Diver Stress & Rescue course builds your ability to spot, prevent and handle dive emergencies, making you a stronger dive buddy. On Zanzibar's calm reefs off Stone Town and Mnemba Atoll you rehearse stress recognition, tows and unresponsive-diver rescues in warm, forgiving water.

What you’ll learn

• Identify and defuse diver stress early
• Perform self-rescue and assist a panicked or tired diver
• Run surface and underwater searches for a missing diver
• Surface an unresponsive diver and provide in-water ventilations
• Manage an accident scene and provide emergency oxygen
• Coordinate group rescue scenarios as a team

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 12 (junior) / 15 (adult)
• SSI Advanced Adventurer or equivalent (24 logged dives recommended)
• Current CPR, first aid and oxygen-provider training (e.g. SSI React Right)
• 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
   Stress & prevention

   Complete the digital academics and practise stress recognition and self-rescue in sheltered water.
2. Day2
   Rescue skills

   Drill the core rescue techniques, including tows and surfacing an unresponsive diver.
3. Day3
   Scenarios & certification

   Run two realistic open-water rescue scenarios off Stone Town or Mnemba to complete the rating.

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 Zanzibar.

Frequently asked questions