Public safety divers are individuals who work in law enforcement or in search and rescue operations. 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 are responsible for protecting the environment and the lives of others on the surface. 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 must complete several training courses. 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. They will also become familiar with the various equipments required for such missions. The second phase is comprised of multiple dives. This allows students to practice their search, recovery, and search skills in controlled settings. These courses are for public safety divers, who may wish to dive in hazardous or contaminated areas.
The ERDI is the most basic course in the public safety diver training program. 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. You will need to be certified by an ERDI instructor.
Public safety divers play an essential role in law enforcement
The role of public safety divers in law enforcement is not to be underestimated. They are often undercover officers and may encounter suspects or criminals in the ocean. Although these professionals have a unique role, it is important to not minimize the importance of investigators and police officers. Both investigators and divers are crucial to law enforcement operations' success.
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 usually be transported in small boats or patrol vehicles and then change to scuba gear when they reach the water's edge. LEOs and investigators communicate with each other using spoken codes via police radio frequencies when conducting land-based investigations. These codes cannot be broken underwater. To communicate with investigators, divers typically learn American Sign Language.
Gear required
Divers can use a variety of safety gear. Some are provided by the agency while others must provide their own. As a rule, divers should all be equipped in the same manner. This makes it easier to manage zero visibility areas and simplifies 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 parts from multiple 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. In order to become a PSD diver in a larger department, they may need to be trained in different types of diving and in specialized environments. These divers might be required to rescue or search in situations that are not possible for a sport diver.