Public safety divers are individuals who work in law enforcement or in search and rescue operations. Divers who are public safety divers have a few key differences from recreational divers. These include their dive locations, training and equipment. Public safety divers will protect the environment, people and property. Public safety divers will also be well-equipped to deal with the unique demands of law enforcement work and the numerous tasks it involves.
Training requirements
There are several training requirements for public safety divers. The first phase of the course involves knowledge development in a classroom environment. Students will learn about different techniques for conducting searches and resolving missions. They will also learn the requirements for various equipment. Students will then practice their search and rescue skills in controlled conditions. These courses are beneficial for public safety divers who want to work in hazardous or contaminated waters.
The ERDI course is the most basic of the public safety diver training programs. It is approved and recognized by OSHA, STATE, NFPA. Next is the ERDI Level II course. This course covers advanced techniques in emergency response diving including dry suits and full-face masks. After completing the training, an ERDI certificate card will be issued. 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. The role of these professionals is not to belittle the role of police officers and investigators, although both of these roles are very 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 typically be deployed in patrol vehicles or small boats, and change into scuba gear once they arrive on the water's edge. LEOs (low-level officers) and investigators communicate over radio frequencies using spoken codes. These codes can be defeated underwater. So, divers are likely to learn American Sign Language (ASL) in order communicate with investigators.
Gear required
Divers can use a variety of safety gear. Some are provided by the agency while others must provide 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 face mask is an essential piece of gear. Public safety divers do not dive in contaminated water, or around vehicles or bodies that are submerged. Quality of the gear is also important.
PSD courses combine several dive specialties. These could include advanced dives or rescue dives. Divers may also learn technical skills and nitrox to assist in recovery and salvage operations. 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.