Public safety divers are individuals who work in law enforcement or in search and rescue operations. Divers who are public safety divers have a few key differences from recreational divers. These include their dive locations, training and equipment. As a public safety diver, you will be responsible for protecting the environment, the lives of those on the surface, and the property of those in your care. A public safety diver is also equipped for law enforcement and all the tasks that it involves.
Training requirements
Public safety divers require a variety of 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. They will also become familiar with the various equipments required for such missions. The second phase involves multiple dives where students can practice their search and recovery skills in controlled environments. These courses are useful for public safety divers looking to work with hazardous or contaminated water.
ERDI is the simplest of all public safety diver training programs. It is approved by NFPA (STATE) and OSHA. Next is the ERDI Level II course. This course covers advanced techniques in emergency response diving including dry suits and full-face masks. After completing the training, an ERDI certificate card will be issued. ERDI instructors can certify you.
Public safety divers play an important role in law enforcement
Public safety divers are an important part of law enforcement. They are often undercover officers and may encounter suspects or criminals in the ocean. While these professionals play a vital role, they should not belittle the police officers and investigators. Both of these roles are quite different. The success of law enforcement operations depends on the contributions of both investigators and divers.
Some LEOs will use dive teams to combat crimes in the water. However, many times they will respond to incidents on the ground as well. 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, investigators and police radio operators communicate using spoken codes during land-based investigations. These codes cannot be broken underwater. Divers will learn American Sign Language to communicate with investigators.
Gear is required
Public safety divers can choose from a range of safety equipment. Some are provided by the agency while others must provide their own. All divers should be properly equipped so that zero visibility environments are easier to manage. A full-face mask should be a standard piece of gear. Public safety divers are not permitted to dive in contaminated waters or near vehicles or submerged bodies. The quality of the gear is equally important.
PSD courses combine different diving specialties. These could include advanced dives or rescue dives. Divers may also learn technical skills and nitrox to assist in recovery and salvage operations. An additional requirement for PSD divers may be to be trained in another type of diving or in a special environment. These divers might be asked to perform rescue and search missions under conditions not experienced by a professional diver.