Public safety divers work in law enforcement or search and rescue. The training and dive locations of public safety divers are different from recreational divers. They also have special equipment and specific dates. Public safety divers will protect the environment, people and property. Public safety divers are also well-equipped to tackle the unique challenges that law enforcement brings and the many tasks they require.
Training requirements
There are several training requirements for public safety divers. The first phase of the course involves knowledge development in a classroom environment. Students will be taught about the different methods of conducting searches and solving missions. They will also learn the requirements for various equipment. The second phase consists of multiple dives in which students will practice their recovery and searching skills in controlled environments. These courses are for public safety divers, who may wish to dive in hazardous or contaminated areas.
ERDI is the simplest of all public safety diver training programs. It is approved and recognized by OSHA, STATE, NFPA. Next is the ERDI Level II course. This course covers advanced techniques in emergency response diving including dry suits and full-face masks. After the training, you will receive your ERDI certification card. A certified ERDI instructor will be able to certify you.
Public safety divers are an integral part of law enforcement
Public safety divers are an important part of law enforcement. These divers often work undercover and can encounter criminals as well. These professionals are not to belittle police officers or investigators. However, both these roles are important. In fact, the roles of both divers and investigators are critical to the success of law enforcement operations.
In some cases, LEOs use dive teams to respond to crimes in water, but in many cases, they will also respond to incidents on land. Divers will normally be deployed in patrol cars or small boats. Once they reach the water’s edge, they will change into scuba equipment. LEOs (low-level officers) and investigators communicate over radio frequencies using spoken codes. These codes cannot be broken underwater. Divers will learn American Sign Language to communicate with investigators.
Gear required
Public safety divers can choose from a range of safety equipment. Some of the gear is provided by agencies while others have to provide their own. It is best for all divers to be uniformly geared up, as it makes zero visibility environments much easier to manage and allows for more efficient maintenance. A full-face face mask is an essential piece of gear. Public safety divers generally dive in contaminated water or around submerged bodies or vehicles. Equally important is the quality of the gear.
PSD courses combine several dive specialties. These can include rescue dives, advanced dives and master divers. Divers might also be trained in technical skills and nitrox for rescue and recovery. PSD divers might also need to be trained for other types of diving in a more specialized environment. These divers might be called upon to assist in rescue and search operations in circumstances that would normally be avoided by a diver.