What are the prerequisites?

Must be 12 years or older and hold an Open Water Diver (or comparable) certification from a recognized agency.

What certifications will I earn?

Upon successful completion you receive SSI Diver Stress & Rescue Specialty and React Right (CPR, First Aid, AED, Oxygen) certifications.

How large are the classes?

Organizers limit class sizes to maximize hands-on instruction; contact instruction@looekeyreefresort.com for group bookings over four people.

Are the open water sessions boat dives?

Yes; days three and four include boat trips to Looe Key reef for open water training scenarios.

Can I take the React Right portion without the rescue course?

The bundle combines both programs; contact the operator to inquire about standalone React Right scheduling.

What should I do to prepare physically?

Complete online academics, maintain regular cardio and swim conditioning, and ensure you are comfortable performing timed surface tows.

Diving Emergency and Rescue Training at Looe Key Reef — 4-Day SSI Course in Ramrod Key | Scuba | Water Activities

On the windward edge of the lower Florida Keys lies Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, a shallow coral reef matrix reachable by boat from Ramrod Key, Florida. The Diving Emergency and Rescue Bundle is a focused four‑day program that teaches divers how to manage stress, perform rescues, and deliver emergency first aid both in the pool and on the reef. If you already hold an Open Water Diver certification, this course builds practical confidence through classroom review, controlled pool practice, and four open water training dives at Looe Key.

Days are tightly structured. Early sessions review online academics and run through React Right emergency response protocols (CPR, AED, oxygen). Pool days progress from self‑rescue drills to partner assists and simulated unconscious diver recoveries. On days three and four the classroom moves to the reef, where spur‑and‑groove coral formations, patch reefs, and sandy channels set up realistic scenarios—dragging a panicked diver across a coral ledge or stabilizing an injured diver in current. You’ll practice primary assessments and oxygen administration until responses become methodical.

What makes this offering essential in the Keys is the setting. Looe Key’s shallow bommies, brain and star corals, and resident green sea turtles create training conditions that mimic common recreational emergencies: limited visibility, currents, and narrow exit points. Small class sizes mean instructors can stage varied scenarios and coach technique, not just check boxes. The program culminates with SSI Diver Stress & Rescue and React Right certifications—credentials that tangibly raise your safety profile on boats and at dive shops.

Practical details: the course is open to divers aged twelve and up who already hold an Open Water Diver or equivalent. Expect full‑day sessions, a mix of pool and boat trips, and a focus on hands‑on repetition. Bring your standard dive gear, your logbook, and a readiness to be pushed; instructors encourage teamwork and emphasize prevention as much as rescue technique.

This bundle is more than a résumé booster. It’s an investment in local stewardship. Certified rescuers reduce risk to themselves and to fragile reefs by promoting safe ascent practices and minimizing chaotic surface fights that damage coral and endanger bystanders. For travelers based in Ramrod Key or any Lower Keys hub, this four‑day course delivers skill, situational calm, and a clearer understanding of how to protect both divers and the reef environments that host them. To arrange group bookings or questions, contact [email protected] or call (305) 872-2215.

Beyond certification, instructors log scenario feedback and provide personalized remediation so each student leaves with a clear development plan; operators often coordinate with local dive operators to embed trained rescuers into live guided dives, increasing safety for all guests and fostering a culture of competent, conservation-minded diving across the Keys.