What prerequisites are required?

You should have a current Open Water certification and basic swimming confidence; complete required e‑learning before class.

Tanks, weights, and gear are available if needed, but bringing personal mask, fins, and suit is recommended.

Are meals and ferry tickets included?

No; ferry travel, meals, and accommodations are not included in the course price.

What paperwork is required?

Students must complete medical Diver Information forms, liability paperwork, and a training contract before participating.

What happens if someone appears intoxicated?

Instructors reserve the right to cancel dives if a participant appears intoxicated or impaired for safety reasons.

Catalina Rescue Diver Course: Two-Day Rescue Training in Avalon, CA

Q: Can I have a translator?

No; all students must be able to fully understand English for safety briefings and in-water commands.

Catalina Rescue Diver Course in Avalon, California, compresses essential rescue training into an intense, practical two‑day program designed to make you a safer, more confident diver. Based in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island, the class mixes shore-side briefings with in-water rescue drills in sheltered harbor water and adjacent rocky reefs, where dense kelp forests and bright orange Garibaldi fish create a living classroom.

This small-group course (up to four students per class) focuses on real-world scenarios: victim assessment, tow and carry techniques, surface management, search patterns, and both solo and team rescue planning. Professional instruction includes guided drills, simulated emergencies, and timed scenarios that push judgment, stamina, and communication. The operator supplies tanks, weights, drinking water, and gear if needed; students must complete required e‑learning, medical paperwork, and bring items like a certification card when applicable.

What makes this program special is its setting and scale. Avalon’s harbor and nearshore reefs offer predictable conditions for repetitive skill practice without long boat runs; sheltered water lets instructors concentrate on technique rather than transit logistics. Catalina’s kelp forests and rocky reef structure provide realistic underwater terrain for buoyant rescues and line work, and frequent encounters with sea lions, Garibaldi, and schooling rockfish keep training grounded in the place divers actually explore.

Practical notes for travelers: the course runs across two days with intensive water time, so bring a light jacket, sunscreen, swimsuit, towel, and any personal dive kit. Ferry travel, meals, accommodations, and a pocket mask are not included; complete the medical Diver Information forms and training contract prior to arrival. All students must be able to fully understand English for safety briefings; instructors may cancel dives for intoxication or impairment.

Expect to leave with a clear set of practical competencies: effective rescue scenario triage, endurance to manage tired divers, confident surface and subsurface tow skills, and better radio and hand-signal coordination with a team. Because classes are small, instructors tailor feedback to individual strengths and gaps; that personalized coaching accelerates skill retention. Weather and swell can change rapidly around the island, so the course also teaches contingency planning and conservative decision-making — skills that translate directly into safer recreational and professional diving.

Whether you’re a weekend-trip diver or preparing to lead guided dives, the Catalina Rescue Diver Course gives you structured, stress-tested practice time in a concentrated weekend schedule. Book early during the spring and summer months when ferry schedules and visibility are at their best.

Instructors emphasize prevention as much as response, covering fitness, breathing control, and risk assessment. After certification, practice regularly, log skills, and consider adding emergency oxygen and first-aid courses to make your response toolkit complete and useful on any dive trip. Reserve your spot early today.