Public safety divers work in law enforcement or search and rescue. Public safety divers differ from recreational divers in a few key ways, including their training, dive locations, and dates, and their special 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. Public safety divers will be equipped to handle the unique challenges and many tasks of law enforcement.
Training requirements
Public safety divers must complete several training courses. The first stage of the course includes knowledge development in classroom settings. 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 includes multiple dives, where students practice their recovery and search skills in controlled environments. These courses are beneficial for public safety divers who want to work in hazardous or contaminated waters.
The ERDI is the most basic course in the public safety diver training program. It is approved and recognized 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. A certified ERDI instructor will be able to certify you.
Public safety divers are an integral part of law enforcement
Public safety divers play a vital role in law enforcement. Many of them work undercover, and they may come across criminals as well as suspects in the sea. They are professionals, but they do not diminish the important role of investigators or police officers. Law enforcement operations can only succeed if both divers and investigators play a critical role.
Although LEOs sometimes use dive teams for responding to crimes in the sea, there are many instances where they will also respond on land to such incidents. 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 or investigators communicate via radio frequency using spoken codes. These codes are not effective underwater. To communicate with investigators, divers typically learn American Sign Language.
Gear needed
Divers using public safety gear have access to many different types of safety gear. Some safety gear is provided by the agency, while others are purchased from their suppliers. In order to make zero visibility environments more manageable and easier to maintain, it is ideal that all divers are properly equipped. 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 several dive specialties. These could include advanced dives or rescue dives. 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.