'Rescue Diver Ready' programme launches in Florida with DAN and PADI support

A new initiative aimed at ‘strengthening diver preparedness through enhanced Rescue Diver training and ongoing education’ has been announced, with founding support from PADI, Divers Alert Network (DAN) and Garmin.

Rescue Diver Ready is designed to bring together dive professionals, training organisations and dive centres to help enhance divers’ confidence and awareness in emergency situations, and the skills needed to respond effectively.

The initiative is being led by Natalee van Staden, a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and owner of Diver’s Cove in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The first major event – the Rescue Ready Weekend – is scheduled for 19-20 September 2026 at Fort Lauderdale’s Tigertail Lake, with plans to expand to other locations in 2027, including Golden Rock Resort in St Eustatius in April and further weekends in Texas, Colorado and Hawaii, with dates yet to be announced.

‘Rescue training changes divers,’ said Kristin Valette Wirth, Chief Brand and Membership Officer for PADI Worldwide. ‘The PADI Rescue Diver course is often described as the most challenging yet rewarding course a diver completes because it transforms mindset, awareness, and confidence both in and out of the water.

‘Through our partnership with Rescue Diver Ready, we have an opportunity to further strengthen diver preparedness globally and reinforce a culture of safety and readiness throughout the dive community.’

According to the Rescue Diver Ready website, the two-day programme is open to 150 divers and includes the PADI Rescue Diver, Emergency First Response and Emergency Oxygen Provider courses.

Divers who meet the Advanced Open Water or EFR prerequisites for each course can choose a certification path in each, with prices from $599 for Rescue Diver only to $999 for the full ‘Rescue Ready Bundle’.

Divers who are already Rescue certified can take a Refresher for $199, and Open Water divers who have not yet met the Advanced Open Water prerequisite can participate as scenario victims for $149 over the weekend.

The training will be conducted across ten rescue stations, each run by a different instructor team, which cover the scenarios from the PADI Rescue Diver Course. Divers will rotate through each of the stations during the event, resulting in certification upon successful completion.

‘Training, safety, technology, and preparedness all play a critical role in creating a confident diver,’ said Rescue Ready Co-Founder, Natalee van Staden. ‘Yet preparedness is often treated as a destination rather than an ongoing commitment.

‘Rescue Diver Ready was founded to help bridge that gap by bringing together industry leaders, educators, and divers around a shared mission: making every diver a Rescue Ready Diver.

‘We believe preparedness is more than a certification – it’s a mindset that strengthens individuals, dive communities, and ultimately the future of diving itself.’

PADI says it plans to explore future collaboration opportunities with Rescue Diver Ready, including educational programming and industry engagement at DEMA Show 2026, where the initiative is expected to be presented as part of its broader global expansion strategy.

To learn more about Rescue Diver Ready, visit: rescuediverready.com