I would like to introduce myself...

[successoutdoors]

Hi,

My name is Dan, and kind of new to the diving scene. Im a member of a local sheriff's department SAR team and decided that I wanted to branch into dive rescue. I am finishing up my PADI OW in about 2 weeks, and shortly after that I hope to finish up my AOW and Rescue Diver. What I would like to know is what specialties are beneficial to rescue diving. I know I want Nitrox, Underwater Navigation, Altitude Diving, and Search and Recovery. What are some other specialties that I should look into?

Thanks in advance,
Dan

 

[Gary D.]

First off, Welcome aboard.

Now before you start getting the sport bad habits slow down on the sport path and look at the PSD route. Getting on a team is one of the first steps which sounds like you already have done.

Then determine if your team is Rescue or Recovery. If it is a Rescue team don't get into a hurry with Nitrox as it doesn't work well in that area. If you’re strictly Recovery go ahead.

Now start doing some reading and here is a good start.
http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Underwater-Investigations-Robert-Teather/dp/0941332268

That book has a certification along with it for just a few bucks more. But it will give you some insight as to what we do and what we have to deal with.

Seeing from the sidelines and actually doing the job is quite different. So much so it can ruin a sport diving carrier to the point people will never dive again.

Now the best piece of advise I can give you is this: DO NOT LET PEER PRESSURE PUSH YOU INTO ANYTHING YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING. You will live much longer following that advice.

Good luck and take it one step at a time. Get a real certification through a PSD origination and not some course an LDS has put together thinking they are the cats meow, those can be dangerous. We use DRI.

Go back through the past couple of years of the PSD forum and enjoy the reading. Again, Welcome aboard.

Gary D.

 

[Yotsie]

Dan

Welcome aboard!!!!

Some training you may be interested in is Dive Rescue I instructed by Dive Rescue international. It just so happens we are going to host a class in August of next year. The info is on Dive Rescue International's website under training.
http://www.diverescueintl.com/training.html

Good luck and let us know if you need anything at all, that's what we're all here for.

Paul