Public safety divers are individuals who work in law enforcement or in search and rescue operations. There are a few things that distinguish public safety divers from recreational divers: their training, dive locations and dates as well as 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 is also equipped for law enforcement and all the tasks that it involves.
Training requirements
There are several training requirements for public safety divers. The first part of the course focuses on knowledge development in a classroom environment. The course will teach students about various techniques to conduct searches and resolve missions. Students will also learn about the different equipment required to conduct such missions. The second phase involves multiple dives where students can practice their search and recovery skills in controlled environments. These courses are beneficial for public safety divers who want to work in hazardous or contaminated waters.
The ERDI course is one of the most basic public safety diver training programs. It has been approved for training by OSHA, STATE, NFPA. 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. After completing the training, an ERDI certificate card will be issued. An ERDI instructor certified in your area of expertise will be able certify you.
Public safety divers play an essential role in law enforcement
It is vital to not underestimate the role of public safety diver in law enforcement. They are often undercover officers and may encounter suspects or criminals in the ocean. While these professionals play a vital role, they should not belittle the police officers and investigators. Both of these roles are quite different. 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. Divers will normally be deployed in patrol cars or small boats. Once they reach the water’s edge, they will change into scuba equipment. LEOs, investigators and police radio operators communicate using spoken codes during land-based investigations. These codes can't be used underwater. So, divers are likely to learn American Sign Language (ASL) in order communicate with investigators.
Gear is required
Public safety divers can choose from a range of safety equipment. Some gear can be provided by the agency and others must purchase their own. 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. The quality of the gear is equally important.
PSD courses combine parts from multiple diving 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. 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 may be called on to perform rescue and search missions in conditions that a sport diver would not encounter.