Find It. Lift It. Master the Mission.

Not everything lost underwater is gone forever. The PADI Search & Recovery Diver Specialty teaches you the skills, techniques, and confidence to locate and safely recover lost objects beneath the surface. From dropped cameras and anchors to valuable equipment, every search becomes an exciting underwater mission that combines problem-solving with adventure.

At Zero Limits Diving, you’ll learn professional search techniques, effective recovery methods, and how to work safely as a team while taking on one of diving’s most rewarding specialty courses.

Prerequisites

To enrol in the PADI Search & Recovery Diver Specialty course, you must:

• Be a PADI (Junior) Advanced Open Water Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another recognised training agency), or
• Be a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver with a PADI Underwater Navigation Specialty (or equivalent).
• Be at least 12 years old.

Course Outline

During four practical training dives, you’ll learn how to:

• Plan and organise an effective underwater search.
• Use compass and natural navigation search patterns.
• Locate both large and small underwater objects.
• Safely recover items using lift bags and other recovery techniques.
• Work as a team while conducting safe and efficient recovery operations.

The first dive of this specialty may also count as an Adventure Dive towards your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification. Completing this course also brings you one step closer to achieving the prestigious PADI Master Scuba Diver rating.

Equipment

You’ll use your standard scuba equipment together with:

• Underwater compass
• Underwater slate
• Lift bags
• Surface marker buoys
• Search lines and reels
• Additional recovery equipment as required

Your Zero Limits Diving Instructor will provide and explain the specialised equipment needed throughout the course.

Getting Started

Once you’ve enrolled, you’ll receive your PADI Search & Recovery Diver learning materials before your practical training begins.

One of our experienced Zero Limits Diving PADI Instructors will then contact you to schedule your training dives and guide you through every step of the course.

Practical training typically takes 2 days and is usually conducted over weekends, with weekday training available by prior arrangement.

Your Search & Recovery Diver Course Includes

• PADI learning materials
• Professional instruction
• Four practical training dives
• Full scuba equipment rental (if required)
• Air fills throughout the course
• Use of specialised search and recovery equipment
• Internationally recognised PADI Search & Recovery Diver Specialty Certification
• Digital PADI eCard

Every Dive Is a New Challenge

Search and recovery combines adventure, teamwork, and problem-solving into one unforgettable experience. Whether you’re recovering lost equipment or simply looking to expand your diving skills, this specialty will prepare you for exciting underwater missions with confidence.

Join Zero Limits Diving and learn to recover what others leave behind—because the greatest adventures often begin with the search.