CPR & First Aid
CPR and first-aid training, open to non-divers too — most PADI Instructors are also EFR Instructors, and it's a prerequisite for Rescue Diver.
Get more infoThe Emergency First Response course gives you simple, practical skills for handling medical emergencies. You practise CPR, first aid and AED use in a relaxed, hands-on setting, so you are ready to help if the situation arises.
It is open to everyone, not just divers. For divers, the Primary and Secondary Care course meets the first aid requirement for the Rescue Diver and Divemaster courses.
| Theory (knowledge development) | Knowledge is usually covered through self-study or instructor-led teaching, depending on the format. |
| Pool / confined water | Not applicable. |
| Open water | Not applicable. |
None. The course is open to everyone and you do not need to be a diver.
Minimum age: PADI does not publish a single minimum age for the course in the material reviewed. Your instructor will advise on suitability for younger participants.
Training dives: No dives are involved.
Typically a few hours to a day, depending on whether you take the combined Primary and Secondary Care course or a shorter module.
Anyone who wants to be prepared to help in an emergency, including divers heading for Rescue Diver.
Includes the Primary/Secondary Care Manual, instructional video, and a handy 'Care at a Glance' reference card.
No — EFR is open to non-divers as well as divers. It's a standalone CPR and first-aid qualification that's also a valuable life skill, and it happens to be the required prerequisite for Rescue Diver.
Primary and Secondary Care, covering BLS CPR and rescue breathing at a layperson level, optional AED use, shock prevention and management, spinal injury protocols, disease-transmission barriers, and basic first-aid and kit considerations.
You'll get the Primary/Secondary Care Manual, an instructional video, and a 'Care at a Glance' reference card. Certification is valid for 2 years, so if you're using it toward Rescue Diver, make sure it's current when you enrol.
EFR is a classroom-based course — no water skills required — run at our Gauteng facility, so it's easy to schedule alongside Rescue Diver or on its own.
The price shown includes PADI materials where applicable, and club members save on most courses. Use "Check dates & book" on this page or visit our enquiry form; for anything else, contact us.
PADI prerequisite training for Rescue Diver and above must have been completed in the past 24 months, and a yearly refresh of CPR and first aid skills is recommended.
Online-only courses without hands-on practice do not meet PADI prerequisites. Practical training with an instructor is needed.