PADI Emergency First Response — know what to do in an emergency
PADI Emergency First Response (EFR) is PADI's structured first aid certification — CPR, primary and secondary patient assessment, first aid, AED operation, and emergency oxygen administration, all in one day.
For divers heading toward PADI DiveMaster, EFR is a hard prerequisite. For everyone else, it's about as useful as a certification gets: the skills work on any emergency, anywhere, not only underwater.
EFR is required before PADI Rescue Diver. If you plan to take PADI Rescue Diver during your trip, complete EFR on Day 1 and start Rescue Diver on Day 2. We can schedule both in the same visit.
PADI EFR — Full Course Content
Primary Care — CPR and Rescue BreathingAssessing an unresponsive victim, CPR compression technique and rate, rescue breaths, one-rescuer and two-rescuer CPR on adult mannequin.
AED — Automated External DefibrillatorStep-by-step AED operation on a training unit. When to use it, how to attach pads, reading prompts, delivering shocks in sequence.
Secondary Care — Patient AssessmentHead-to-toe secondary survey, identifying injuries: bleeding, fractures, burns, shock, spinal injuries. Treatment priorities and immobilisation.
First Aid for Common EmergenciesBleeding control (direct pressure, tourniquet), treating shock, managing unconscious breathing victims, hypothermia and heat emergencies.
Emergency Oxygen AdministrationNon-rebreather mask and demand valve operation. When to administer O2 to a diving casualty. DAN Divers Alert Network protocol and contact procedure.
EFR Documentation and HandoverDocumenting the incident, communicating to EMS on arrival, legal considerations for first responders.
Who Can Take PADI Emergency First Response
Age 10 or older
No diving experience required — course is entirely land-based
No medical background required
No prior first aid training required
EFR is open to anyone. Divers, non-divers, families, resort staff — the skills are universally applicable.
PADI EFR — Land-Based Format, No Diving Required
PADI EFR is a land-based course. All practical training takes place in a classroom and practice area — no pool, no ocean.
Practice equipment used: Adult CPR mannequin, training AED (simulates real AED decision sequence), pocket face mask, non-rebreather oxygen mask, demand valve, O2 cylinder, first aid kit. Every student handles all equipment personally — no demo-only sessions.
Because EFR is land-based, it can be scheduled on any day — arrival day, a non-diving rest day, or the morning of your first dive day. We make it fit your itinerary.
What's included in this course
EFR self-study materials
Video presentations and knowledge reviews
Primary care training — CPR and rescue breathing on mannequin
Secondary care — first aid for common injuries
AED operation training
Emergency oxygen administration training
PADI EFR certification card and quick reference cards
Not Included
- Accommodation
- Pick-up and drop-off
- Personal expenses
Certification: Your digital certification card is issued immediately upon successful completion. You are certified before you leave Goa and can dive anywhere in the world.
After PADI EFR Certification
Hard prerequisite satisfied for PADI Rescue Diver
Required for PADI DiveMaster certification
Cert valid for 2 years — renewable with a refresher
Life-saving skills applicable in any emergency
Qualifies you to administer O2 to a diving injury casualty
Recognised by most occupational health and safety frameworks
PADI recommends renewing EFR every 2 years to keep skills and muscle memory current. A renewal session takes approximately half a day.
Why train with FlyingFish in Goa
Here's what actually sets us apart.
ScubaPro Equipment — Maintained on Schedule
Pro-grade gear serviced every 100 dives or 6 months, not when it fails. MK25/S620 regulator, Hydros Pro BCD, Aladin Sport dive computer. You train on the same equipment working instructors use.
Maximum 4:1 Diver-to-Instructor Ratio
Your instructor knows where you are underwater at all times. No crowded groups. If a skill needs more practice, you get the time — not the time left over after 8 other students.
Both SSI and PADI Certifications at One Centre
We teach both agencies at the same location. You choose which certification fits your future dive plans. We give you honest advice, not a push toward whichever we sell more of.
Professional Base at 5-Star Novotel Candolim
Proper briefing rooms, clean equipment rinsing stations, structured course schedule. The difference between a dive school and a beach shack matters when you are doing a multi-day certification course.
Do EFR and PADI Rescue Diver back-to-back in one trip
EFR on Day 1, PADI Rescue Diver on Days 2–4. You leave with both certifications and all the prerequisites in place for PADI DiveMaster. We structure combined EFR + Rescue Diver trips regularly — contact us to plan the schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
PADI EFR and SSI React Right are the respective agency first aid certifications — equivalent in content (CPR, AED, first aid, O2 administration) and recognition within their agency networks. PADI EFR is required for PADI DiveMaster and Rescue Diver; React Right for SSI DiveMaster and Stress & Rescue. Choose based on your agency pathway.
PADI EFR certification is valid for 2 years from the date of issue. After 2 years, a renewal course (typically half a day) is required to maintain the certification. PADI Rescue Diver enrollment requires EFR to have been completed within the past 24 months.
Yes — PADI EFR (or equivalent first aid certification within 24 months) is a hard prerequisite for PADI Rescue Diver. At FlyingFish, we schedule EFR on Day 1 of a combined EFR + Rescue Diver trip. You do not leave until both certifications are in hand.
Yes — hands-on CPR practice is the core of the primary care section. You will perform compression-only CPR, full CPR with rescue breaths, and transition to AED use on a mannequin. Practice continues until the sequence is correct and confident. Observation without practice is not part of this course.
Yes — EFR is open to anyone aged 10 or older regardless of diving status. Many non-divers take it as a standalone life safety certification. The diving-specific content (O2 administration, DAN protocol) is additional value, not a barrier.
Core CPR and first aid content is similar. PADI EFR adds diving-specific content: emergency oxygen administration (demand valve and non-rebreather mask), DAN Divers Alert Network contact protocol, and diving-specific injury recognition. EFR is specifically designed to integrate with PADI's rescue diving pathway. A Red Cross first aid cert is accepted as equivalent for the prerequisite, but will not include the diving-specific components.
