Public safety divers are people who work in law enforcement, search and rescue, or both. 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 have to be responsible for protecting the natural environment, human lives, 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
Divers in public safety have to complete several training requirements. The course's first phase involves knowledge acquisition in a classroom setting. The students will learn different techniques to solve missions and conduct searches. Students will also be familiarized with the equipment needed for such missions. The second phase consists of multiple dives in which students will practice their recovery and searching skills in controlled environments. This course is for public safety divers who wish to work in dangerous or contaminated water.
The ERDI course is the most basic of the public safety diver training programs. It has been approved by NFPA and STATE as well as OSHA. The next course is ERDI Level II, which covers advanced techniques of emergency response diving. It also includes the use full face masks and dry suits. The ERDI certification card is issued to those who complete the training. An ERDI instructor certified in your area of expertise will be able certify you.
Role of public safety divers within law enforcement
It is important to recognize the importance of public safety divers for law enforcement. They often work undercover and may encounter suspects, as well as criminals, in the ocean. They are professionals, but they do not diminish the important role of investigators or police officers. Effective law enforcement operations are dependent on both the divers and the investigators.
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. The divers will be in patrol boats or small boats and then transform into scuba gear as soon as they reach the water's edge. LEOs, investigators and police radio operators communicate using spoken codes during land-based investigations. These codes can't be used underwater. To communicate with investigators, divers typically learn American Sign Language.
Gear is required
Divers using public safety gear have access to many different types of safety gear. Some gear can be provided by the agency and others must purchase their own. All divers should be properly equipped so that zero visibility environments are easier to manage. A full-face mask is a must-have piece of gear. Public safety divers often dive in contaminated waters, around submerged vehicles, and around bodies of water. Equally important is the quality of the gear.
PSD courses combine parts from multiple diving specialties. These include advanced diving, rescue dives and master diving. To aid in rescue and recovery operations, divers may be required to learn technical skills and use nitrox. An additional requirement for PSD divers may be to be trained in another type of diving or in a special environment. These divers could be called upon to perform rescue or search missions in conditions not available to a sport diver.