Public safety divers can be individuals working in law enforcement. In a few ways, public safety divers are different than recreational divers. Public safety divers will protect the environment, people and property. Public safety divers will be equipped to handle the unique challenges and many tasks of law enforcement.
Training requirements
There are many training requirements for public safety divers. The course's first phase involves knowledge acquisition in a classroom setting. The course will teach students about various techniques to conduct searches and resolve missions. Students will also learn about various equipment required for such missions. The second phase consists of multiple dives in which students will practice their recovery and searching skills in controlled environments. These courses are useful for public safety divers looking to work with hazardous or contaminated water.
ERDI is the simplest of all public safety diver training programs. It has been approved by NFPA and STATE as well as OSHA. Next is the ERDI Level II course. This course covers advanced techniques in emergency response diving including dry suits and full-face masks. After the training, you will receive your ERDI certification card. You will need to be certified by an ERDI instructor.
Public safety divers play an essential role in law enforcement
It is important to recognize the importance of public safety divers for 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. In fact, the roles of both divers and investigators are critical to the success of law enforcement operations.
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 usually be transported in small boats or patrol vehicles and then change to scuba gear when they reach the water's edge. LEOs (low-level officers) and investigators communicate over radio frequencies using spoken codes. These codes can't be used underwater. Therefore, divers will typically learn American Sign Language in order to communicate with investigators.
Gear needed
Divers in public safety have access to a wide variety of safety gear. Some are provided by the government, others must supply their own. Ideally, all divers should be geared up in the same way, which makes zero visibility environments easier to manage and streamline maintenance. A full-face mask should be a standard 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 courses can be advanced, rescue, or master dives. 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 might be required to rescue or search in situations that are not possible for a sport diver.