Retrieve Lost Items with the Search and Recovery Diver Course! 

Retrieve lost items that have fallen overboard or over a dock. Learn effective swimming patterns and how to use a lift bag for heavy objects.

It happens: People accidentally drop things from docks, off boats, or even while scuba diving. If you’ve ever lost something in the water and wanted to go find it, then the Search and Recovery Diver Specialty course is for you. There are effective ways to search for objects underwater that increase your chances of success. And there are good and better methods to bring up small, large, or just awkward items. Search and recovery can be challenging, but a whole lot of fun.

Prerequisites:

• (Junior) Advanced Open Water Divers who are at least 12 years old can enroll in the Search and Recovery Diver course.
• (Junior) Open Water Divers with an Underwater Navigator certification also qualify.

Academic Focus: Gathering information and resources, then carefully planning a search are the first important steps you learn. During your scuba dives you’ll practice:

• Swimming search patterns using your compass and natural navigation.
• Locating large and small objects using various search patterns.
• Using a lift bag for large or heavy objects, plus other recovery methods.
• Planning a search operation based on facts gathered about a lost object prior to the dive.

You may be able to get college credit for the Search and Recovery course – ask your instructor.

Also, the first dive of this Specialty Diver course may count as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.