Public safety divers are people who work in law enforcement, search and rescue, or both. Divers who are public safety divers have a few key differences from recreational divers. These include their dive locations, training and equipment. You will be responsible to protect the environment, lives and property of all those you care for. Public safety divers are also well-equipped to tackle the unique challenges that law enforcement brings and the many tasks they require.
Training requirements
Public safety divers require a variety of training requirements. The course's first phase involves knowledge acquisition in a classroom setting. Students will be taught about the different methods of conducting searches and solving missions. Students will also learn about various equipment required for such missions. The second phase involves multiple dives where students can practice their search and recovery skills in controlled environments. This course is for public safety divers who wish to work in dangerous or contaminated water.
The ERDI is the most basic course in the public safety diver training program. It is approved by NFPA, STATE, and 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.
Public safety divers play an essential role in law enforcement
Public safety divers play a vital role in law enforcement. They often work undercover and may encounter suspects, as well as criminals, in the ocean. The role of these professionals is not to belittle the role of police officers and investigators, although both of these roles are very different. The success of law enforcement operations depends on the contributions of both investigators and divers.
Sometimes, LEOs deploy dive teams to assist with crimes in water. But in many cases, they also respond to incidents that occur on the land. The divers will usually be transported in small boats or patrol vehicles and then change to scuba gear when they reach the water's edge. LEOs, investigators and police radio operators communicate using spoken codes during land-based investigations. When underwater, these codes are defeated. For communication with investigators, divers will often learn American Sign Language.
Gear required
Public safety divers can choose from a range of safety equipment. Some are provided by the government, others must supply 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 mask is essential 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 parts from multiple diving specialties. These include advanced diving, rescue dives and master diving. Divers can also learn technical skills, nitrox and how to help in recovery and salvage operations. PSD divers may need to be certified in other types or in a specific environment if they are required by a larger department. These divers might be asked to perform rescue and search missions under conditions not experienced by a professional diver.