Individuals who are involved in law enforcement and search and rescue are called public safety divers. The training and dive locations of public safety divers are different from recreational divers. They also have special equipment and specific dates. 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
Public safety divers require a variety of training requirements. The course's first phase involves knowledge acquisition in a classroom setting. The students will learn different techniques to solve missions and conduct searches. They will also learn the requirements for various equipment. The second phase consists of multiple dives in which students will practice their recovery and searching 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 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. After completion of the training, the ERDI card is issued. ERDI instructors will be able certification you.
Role of public safety divers in law enforcement
Public safety divers are an important part of law enforcement. These divers often work undercover and can encounter criminals as well. They are professionals, but they do not diminish the important role of investigators or police officers. Effective law enforcement operations are dependent on both the divers and the investigators.
In some cases, LEOs use dive teams to respond to crimes in water, but in many cases, they will also respond to incidents on land. 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. Therefore, divers will typically learn American Sign Language in order to communicate with investigators.
Gear required
Divers in public safety have access to a wide variety of safety gear. Some are provided by the government, others must supply their own. 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 is a must-have piece of gear. Public safety divers often dive in contaminated waters, around submerged vehicles, and around bodies of water. It is equally important to have high-quality gear.
PSD courses combine different 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. PSD divers might also need to be trained for other types of diving in a more specialized environment. These divers may be called on to perform rescue and search missions in conditions that a sport diver would not encounter.