# Submerged Victim Recovery

Part of the Lifesaving Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/lifesaving/guide/index.md)

*Unconscious Victim Rescues*

> **14.** Discuss with your counselor how to respond if a victim submerges before being reached by a rescuer, and do the following:

> **14a.** Recover a 10-pound weight in 8 to 10 feet of water using a feetfirst surface dive.

> **14b.** Repeat using a headfirst surface dive.

When a victim goes under before you reach them, the rescue becomes a recovery — and the stakes could not be higher. The window between submersion and irreversible brain damage is only 4–6 minutes. Your ability to pinpoint where they went down, dive to the bottom, and bring them back to the surface can determine whether they survive.

### When a Victim Submerges

If you are swimming toward a victim and they go under before you arrive, here is what you should do:

1. **Mark the spot.** Pick a landmark on shore — a tree, a sign, a dock post — and line it up with the spot where the victim was last seen. If possible, pick two landmarks (one on each side) to create a cross-reference.
2. **Swim to the last-seen location as fast as possible.** Use a strong crawl stroke.
3. **Upon arrival, perform a surface dive** to search the bottom.
4. **Search systematically.** Start at the last-known position and expand outward in a circle.
5. **If you do not find them on the first dive, surface, breathe, and dive again.** Repeat.
6. **Call for help.** Make sure 911 has been called. Professional divers and equipment may be needed.

> **Safety First!**
>
> Searching for a submerged victim in deep or murky water is extremely dangerous. Know your depth limits. If the water is deeper than you can safely reach, or if visibility is near zero, do not risk your own life. Mark the location, call professional rescue teams, and guide them to the spot.

### Surface Dives: Two Types

A surface dive is how you transition from swimming at the surface to swimming toward the bottom. Both types get you to the same place — the difference is how you enter the dive.

### Requirement 14a: Feetfirst Surface Dive

The feetfirst surface dive is the safer of the two methods. You enter vertically, feetfirst, which means you can see what is below you on the way down and you will not hit your head on an unseen obstacle.

**Step by step:**
1. **Tread water** at the surface over the target area.
2. **Press both arms downward** powerfully against the water — this pushes your body upward.
3. **As your body rises,** squeeze your legs together and straighten them below you.
4. **Let your body sink** feetfirst. Keep your arms at your sides to reduce drag.
5. **Once submerged**, use a sweeping arm motion (like a breaststroke pull) to push yourself deeper.
6. **When you reach the desired depth**, tuck your body and roll forward to swim horizontally along the bottom.
7. **Search with your hands** if visibility is low. Feel along the bottom.
8. **Grab the weight (or victim)** and push off the bottom toward the surface.

> **Tip**
>
> When practicing the feetfirst surface dive, focus on the initial press-down with your arms. The higher you push your body out of the water, the more momentum you have on the way down. Think of it like a piston — push the water down, your body goes up, then gravity takes over.

### Requirement 14b: Headfirst Surface Dive

The headfirst surface dive (also called a pike dive) gets you to the bottom faster because you are streamlined — head pointed down, body straight. However, it requires clear visibility to avoid hitting your head on the bottom or an obstacle.

**Step by step:**
1. **Swim forward** with a breaststroke or crawl stroke at the surface.
2. **At the dive point**, bend sharply at the waist — pike your body so your head points straight down.
3. **Lift your legs out of the water** — the weight of your legs above the surface drives you downward.
4. **Extend your arms in front of you** (toward the bottom) in a streamlined position.
5. **Once fully submerged**, use a breaststroke pull to propel yourself deeper.
6. **Level off** at the bottom and search.
7. **Grab the weight (or victim)** and swim toward the surface.

![Side-by-side illustrations showing the feetfirst surface dive and headfirst pike dive with body positions at each stage](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/lifesaving/guide/surface-dives-comparison?v=f21155f0)

### Comparing the Two Dives

| Element | Feetfirst | Headfirst (Pike) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry position | Vertical, feet down | Bent at waist, head down |
| Speed to depth | Slower | Faster |
| Visibility on descent | Good — you can see below | Limited — head is pointed down |
| Risk of head injury | Low | Higher in shallow or unclear water |
| Best for | Unknown depth, murky water | Clear water, known depth |
| Starting position | Treading water | Swimming forward |

### Tips for the 10-Pound Weight Recovery

The requirement asks you to recover a 10-pound weight from 8–10 feet of water. Here is how to succeed:

**Weight Recovery Tips** — Set yourself up for success

- [ ] Equalize the pressure in your ears on the way down by pinching your nose and gently blowing (Valsalva maneuver). Ear pain will stop your dive short.
- [ ] Exhale slowly on the way up — never hold your breath tightly during ascent.
- [ ] Grab the weight securely with both hands before pushing off the bottom.
- [ ] Push off the bottom with your feet for an extra boost toward the surface.
- [ ] Kick hard on the way up — 10 pounds feels much heavier underwater than on land.
- [ ] Practice your dives multiple times at shallower depths before attempting the full 8–10 feet.

> **Did You Know?**
>
> Free divers — people who dive to extreme depths on a single breath — use a technique called "duck diving" that is essentially a more streamlined version of the headfirst surface dive. The world record for a single-breath dive is over 700 feet. Your 8–10-foot dive might not set any records, but it could save a life.

> **Be Prepared! You Cannot Find the Victim on the First Dive**
>
> You dive to the spot where you last saw the victim, but they are not there. The water is murky and you cannot see more than a few feet.
>
> - **Surface and breathe.** Do not stay down until you are out of air — you need reserves.
> - **Expand your search pattern.** On the next dive, search 5 feet in each direction from the original spot.
> - **Use the current.** If there is any water movement, search downstream of the last-seen spot — the victim may have drifted.
> - **Have someone on shore continue directing you** by lining up the landmarks.
> - **Call for professional rescue.** Dive teams have equipment (sonar, underwater cameras, tethered divers) that you do not.

[YMCA Water Safety Resources](https://www.ymca.org/what-we-do/youth-development/swim/water-safety): Water safety programs and education from the YMCA, including swimming and lifesaving skill development.

---

- Previous: [Unconscious Rescue](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/lifesaving/guide/req13/index.md)
- Next: [Spinal Injury Management](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/lifesaving/guide/req15/index.md)