Public safety divers are people who work in law enforcement, search and rescue, or both. 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. A public safety diver will also be well-equipped for the unique challenges of law enforcement work and the many tasks it entails.
Training requirements
Divers in public safety have to complete several training requirements. The first phase of the course involves knowledge development in a classroom environment. 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. Students will then practice their search and rescue skills in controlled conditions. Public safety divers that want to work in dangerous or contaminated waters will benefit from these courses.
The ERDI course is the most basic of the public safety diver training programs. It has been approved by NFPA and STATE as well as OSHA. 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 within law enforcement
The role of public safety divers in law enforcement is not to be underestimated. They are often working undercover and might encounter criminals and suspects in open ocean. While these professionals play a vital role, they should not belittle the police officers and investigators. Both of these roles are quite different. In fact, the roles of both divers and investigators are critical to the success of law enforcement operations.
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 be in patrol boats or small boats and then transform into scuba gear as soon as they reach the water's edge. LEOs, investigators and police radio operators communicate using spoken codes during land-based investigations. These codes are not effective underwater. So, divers are likely to learn American Sign Language (ASL) in order communicate with investigators.
Gear is required
Divers in public safety have access to a wide variety of safety gear. Some gear can be provided by the agency and others must purchase their own. All divers should be properly equipped so that zero visibility environments are easier to manage. A full-face mask is a must-have piece of gear. Public safety divers don't dive in contaminated water. Either way, the gear's quality is important.
PSD courses combine parts of several diving specialties. These may include advanced dives, rescue dives, and master divers. To aid in rescue and recovery operations, divers may be required to learn technical skills and use nitrox. 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 could be called upon to perform rescue or search missions in conditions not available to a sport diver.