Rescue Diver

The Rescue Diver course runs 10 to 15 hours and has a minimum age of 12. It's available under SSI or PADI. Equipment and €1.5 million liability insurance are included in the price.

This is the course that most experienced divers point to as the one that changed how they think underwater — not because of the rescue scenarios specifically, but because it forces you to stay aware of what's happening around you rather than just managing your own dive. At Azores Sub that plays out in open Atlantic waters along the south coast of São Miguel, where conditions can shift.

Completing the Rescue Diver is a formal prerequisite for the Divemaster course at the centre. It's also the point where the SSI Science of Diving specialty becomes relevant for anyone tracking towards a professional certification.