12 Rescue Diver practice questions
In short
12 practice questions for the Rescue Diver level, one per lesson of the Octo app, each with its answer and explanation. Tap an answer to check yourself. These are original questions written for the app, not taken from any agency’s exam; the app has six per lesson, spaced review and a 30-question practice exam.
In a rescue, you can’t look anything up. These 12 questions, one per lesson, test the first moves: reading stress, reaching before you swim, a missing diver, the first aid principles. Answer each one before you open the explanation; the ones you hesitate on are your study list. Units are shown in metric with imperial in brackets. The theory behind them is on the Rescue Diver course page.
The 12 questions, lesson by lesson
Becoming a rescue diver and self-rescue
out-of-air options in order
1You run out of air at 12 m (40 ft). Your buddy is right beside you. What do you do?
Show the answer
Answer B. With a buddy close by, their alternate air source comes first. A controlled emergency swimming ascent is the next option, and a buoyant ascent the last resort.
Recognizing stress and panic
surface signs of stress
2At the surface, which set of signs points to a diver close to panic?
Show the answer
Answer A. Wide eyes, a mask pushed up, trying to keep the head high and fast, jerky strokes are typical signs of stress building toward panic. A calm wave for a pickup is a diver in control.
Emergency equipment, first aid kit and oxygen
demand valve
3What’s the main advantage of a demand valve for a breathing diver?
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Answer B. The demand valve delivers oxygen only when the diver inhales, at very high concentration, as long as they trigger it and seal the mask. It doesn’t ventilate a diver who isn’t breathing.
A tired diver at the surface
reach, throw, row, go
4A tired diver is drifting a short way behind the moored boat, calling calmly for help. What do you try first?
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Answer B. Reach or throw before you go: a buoy on a line helps without putting you in the water. Reversing a boat toward a diver in the water risks the propeller.
A panicked diver at the surface
first step with a panicked diver
5A diver is beating the water, mask off, ignoring the crew’s shouts. You’re the closest rescuer, in full gear. What do you do first?
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Answer C. You assess from out of reach and try a command or a buoyant object first. A face-to-face approach invites the diver to climb on you; waiting may let them slip under.
A diver in trouble underwater
out of air, giving air
6At 18 m (60 ft), a diver swims at you fast, giving the out-of-air signal. What do you do?
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Answer B. Give air, hold on so you stay together, make sure they breathe well, then ascend together at a controlled rate. A fast ascent adds lung and decompression risk.
Missing diver procedures
lost buddy
7You lose sight of your buddy underwater. What’s the usual procedure?
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Answer A. A short search, then you both ascend and reunite at the surface. If your buddy doesn’t appear, raise the alarm right away.
An unresponsive diver underwater
regulator in the mouth
8The unresponsive diver still has the regulator in the mouth. What do you do with it?
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Answer D. If it’s in, keep it in: it may still deliver air, and it doesn’t stop air escaping as long as the airway stays open.
An unresponsive diver at the surface: rescue breaths in the water
breathing check
9How long do you check for breathing on an unresponsive diver at the surface?
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Answer D. Look, listen and feel for no more than 10 seconds; if in doubt, treat the diver as not breathing. Lay rescuers don’t spend time on a pulse check.
Getting a diver out of the water
why strip gear
10Why remove an unresponsive diver’s gear before the exit?
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Answer B. A diver in full gear is heavy and awkward to lift; stripping gear in the water speeds the exit and protects the lifters.
First aid for diving injuries
gas embolism timing
11A diver surfaces after a fast ascent and, within two minutes, becomes confused and can’t move one arm. What’s most likely?
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Answer C. Sudden neurological signs within minutes of a fast ascent point to a gas embolism. Narcosis fades on ascent, and joint pain from decompression sickness usually builds more slowly.
Emergency action plan and accident management
emergency action plan contents
12A site plan lists the nearest hospital and where the oxygen is. What important item is missing?
Show the answer
Answer B. The plan must say how to call from that spot and how to describe it. Chambers are reached through emergency services or a diving hotline, not by turning up unannounced.
Frequently asked questions
Are these the real Rescue Diver exam questions?
No. These are original practice questions written for the Octo app. They cover the theory of the Rescue Diver level, but they are not taken from any training agency’s exams, knowledge reviews or manuals, and Octo is not affiliated with PADI or any other agency.
How many Rescue Diver questions does Octo have?
Octo has six questions for each of its 12 Rescue Diver lessons, 72 in all, each with the right answer and an explanation, plus a 30-question practice exam for the level that includes real-life scenarios, with an optional timer. See how Octo works.
What should I do with the questions I get wrong?
Reread the explanation, say in one sentence why the right answer is right, then try the question again a day or two later. In Octo, spaced review does this for you: a missed question comes back the same day, then at longer and longer intervals until you know it.
Do these questions teach rescue skills?
No. They review the principles the Rescue Diver course relies on: prevention, stress and panic, rescues at the surface and underwater, and first aid for diving injuries such as decompression sickness. Rescue skills, rescue breaths and CPR are learned hands-on, with an instructor and a first aid course. In a real emergency, call the emergency services first. For the beliefs that delay help, see six dive theory myths.
