Individuals who are involved in law enforcement and search and rescue are called public safety divers. Public safety divers differ from recreational divers in a few key ways, including their training, dive locations, and dates, and their special equipment. Public safety divers will protect the environment, people and property. Public safety divers will also be well-equipped to deal with the unique demands of law enforcement work and the numerous tasks it involves.
Training requirements
Public safety divers require a variety of training requirements. The first phase of this course is knowledge development in the classroom. Students will learn how to resolve and conduct searches. They will also become familiar with the various equipments required 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 is the most basic course in the public safety diver training program. It has been approved for training by OSHA, STATE, NFPA. The next course is the ERDI Level II course, which covers advanced techniques for emergency response diving, including the use of dry suits and full face masks. The ERDI certification card is issued to those who complete the training. ERDI instructors will be able certification you.
Role of public safety divers in law enforcement
It is vital to not underestimate the role of public safety diver in law enforcement. They are often working undercover and might encounter criminals and suspects in open ocean. These professionals are not to belittle police officers or investigators. However, both these roles are important. The success of law enforcement operations depends on the contributions of both investigators and divers.
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 or investigators communicate via radio frequency using spoken codes. When underwater, these codes are defeated. To communicate with investigators, divers typically learn American Sign Language.
Gear is required
There is a wide range of safety gear used by public safety divers. 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 must be part of your 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 parts of several diving specialties. These may include advanced dives, rescue dives, and master divers. Divers may also learn technical skills and nitrox to assist 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 required to rescue or search in situations that are not possible for a sport diver.