Public safety divers are individuals who work in law enforcement or in search and rescue operations. Public safety divers differ from recreational divers in a few key ways, including their training, dive locations, and dates, and their special equipment. Public safety divers are responsible for protecting the environment and the lives of others on the surface. 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 first phase of the course involves knowledge development in a classroom environment. Students will learn about different techniques for conducting searches and resolving missions. Students will also learn about the different equipment required to conduct such missions. 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 has been approved by NFPA and STATE as well as 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 within 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. The role of these professionals is not to belittle the role of police officers and investigators, although both of these roles are very different. Both investigators and divers are crucial to law enforcement operations' success.
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 be in patrol boats or small boats and then transform into scuba gear as soon as they reach the water's edge. During land-based investigations, LEOs and investigators communicate using spoken codes on police radio frequencies. 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 are provided by the agency while others must provide 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 often dive in contaminated waters, around submerged vehicles, and around bodies of water. Equally important is the quality of the gear.
PSD courses combine parts from multiple diving specialties. These can include rescue dives, advanced dives and master divers. Divers can also learn technical skills, nitrox and how to help in recovery and salvage operations. PSD divers may need to be certified in other types or in a specific environment if they are required by a larger department. These divers might be asked to perform rescue and search missions under conditions not experienced by a professional diver.