Public safety divers can be individuals working in law enforcement. The training and dive locations of public safety divers are different from recreational divers. They also have special equipment and specific dates. Public safety divers are responsible for protecting the environment and the lives of others on the surface. 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 part of the course focuses on knowledge development in a classroom environment. Students will be taught about the different methods of conducting searches and solving missions. Students will also learn about various equipment required for such missions. The second phase involves multiple dives where students can practice their search and recovery skills in controlled environments. These courses are for public safety divers, who may wish to dive in hazardous or contaminated areas.
The ERDI course is one of the most basic public safety diver training programs. It is approved and recognized by OSHA, STATE, NFPA. The next course is the ERDI Level II course, which covers advanced techniques for emergency response diving, including the use of dry suits and full face masks. The ERDI certification card is issued to those who complete the training. You will need to be certified by an ERDI instructor.
Role of public safety divers within law enforcement
Public safety divers are an important part of law enforcement. Many of them work undercover, and they may come across criminals as well as suspects in the sea. These professionals are not to belittle police officers or investigators. However, both these roles are important. In fact, the roles of both divers and investigators are critical to the success of law enforcement operations.
Sometimes, LEOs deploy dive teams to assist with crimes in water. But in many cases, they also respond to incidents that occur on the land. The divers will arrive at the water's edges in patrol vehicles or small boat and will then change into scuba gear. During land-based investigations, LEOs and investigators communicate using spoken codes on police radio frequencies. These codes are not effective underwater. To communicate with investigators, divers typically learn American Sign Language.
Gear is required
Divers in public safety have access to a wide variety of safety gear. Some of the gear is provided by agencies while others have to provide 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 generally dive in contaminated water or around submerged bodies or vehicles. Equally important is the quality of the gear.
PSD courses combine several dive specialties. These courses can be advanced, rescue, or master 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 might be asked to perform rescue and search missions under conditions not experienced by a professional diver.