■ Rescue of an Unconscious Diver at the Surface

Alert nearby divers immediately using a loud voice, whistle, surface signaling device, or hand signals.
Request emergency medical services (ambulance), AED preparation, and additional rescue assistance.

Help!


Air horn


Whistle


Signal flare


Surface marker buoy

Establish positive buoyancy for yourself and approach the diver.

If the diver is face down, carefully rotate the diver face up while supporting the head to maintain an open airway.

Inflate the diver’s BCD and release the weight system to ensure adequate buoyancy.
Before releasing weights, confirm that no divers are directly below.

Look for normal breathing by observing chest movement.
If the diver is breathing normally, tow the diver to a safe location.

Hold the tank valve or BCD and tow using a flutter kick while facing the direction of travel, or use a foot push technique.

If the diver is not breathing normally, begin rescue breaths immediately.

Remove the mask, regulator, and snorkel. Secure your own mask around your neck.

Using a pocket mask if available, deliver five initial rescue breaths.
Then continue one breath every five seconds while towing for approximately two minutes toward a boat or shore.

Monitor chest rise to confirm effective ventilation.

After two minutes, assess whether you can reach safety within an additional three minutes (total five minutes from start of rescue breathing).

If reachable within five minutes, continue rescue breathing while towing.
If not, discontinue rescue breathing in the water and tow immediately to shore or boat for full CPR (rescue breathing and chest compressions).

If the diver resumes normal breathing, stop rescue breaths and continue towing while monitoring breathing.

If assistance is available, have another rescuer assist with towing using a foot push technique.

These procedures follow the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) drowning guidelines.

If cardiac arrest is suspected rather than drowning, prioritize rapid transport to land for CPR with compressions.