Individuals who are involved in law enforcement and search and rescue are called public safety divers. In a few ways, public safety divers are different than recreational divers. 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
Divers in public safety have to complete several training requirements. The first phase of this course is knowledge development in the classroom. Students will learn how to resolve and conduct searches. Students will also be familiarized with the equipment needed for such missions. Students will then practice their search and rescue skills in controlled conditions. These courses are for public safety divers, who may wish to dive in hazardous or contaminated areas.
The ERDI course is one of the most basic public safety diver training programs. It is approved by NFPA, STATE, and OSHA. The ERDI Level II is the next course. This covers advanced techniques for emergency diving, such as the use of dry suits or 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 important to recognize the importance of public safety divers for law enforcement. 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. Law enforcement operations can only succeed if both divers and investigators play a critical role.
While LEOs may use dive teams in some cases to respond to water-related crimes, in most cases they can also respond to land-related incidents. The divers will typically be deployed in patrol vehicles or small boats, and change into scuba gear once they arrive on the water's edge. LEOs, investigators and police radio operators communicate using spoken codes during land-based investigations. When underwater, these codes are defeated. Divers will learn American Sign Language to communicate with investigators.
Gear is required
There is a wide range of safety gear used by public safety divers. Some safety gear is provided by the agency, while others are purchased from their suppliers. 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 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 elements from several diving specialties. These include advanced diving, rescue dives and master diving. Divers might also be trained in technical skills and nitrox for rescue and recovery. A larger department may also require PSD divers to be trained in other types of diving or in a specialized environment. These divers could be called upon to perform rescue or search missions in conditions not available to a sport diver.