Anybody that has been around me has heard me preach about gear standardization between members and use gear suited for PSD work. I have also said, a lot of sport gear will just not work well at all. The past three days proved that to a lot of people.
We have a new small team forming in the area but in another jurisdiction. First they got a ton of grant money for diving. Then they sent three of their officers to one of the two LDSs in the area for OW training which they finished a couple of months ago.
The shop knew they had this ton of money and sold them a whole load of gear, prior to OW class, which taped into this ton of money rather deep.
The first mistake made was they didnt contact any other teams and relied on the information the shop told them. Because the shop told their Police Chief they were the real Rescue Diver Experts in the area.
Now, after not diving after OW they are tossed into DR-1. Im on the same class team as one of them who I have known for quite a few years.
The second half of the first training day was basic scuba skills in the 12 pool. I was flippin shocked when my buddy had some serious weight issues, could not clear a mask and didnt use his feet as propulsion. This isnt his fault at all but just another strike against that LDS.
First off they train in a 6 plastic above ground pool. Two of the three from this other team can stand up anywhere they like. Id have room for an ESA.
The gear they sold was suited for sport but not this job. They got split fins, but were instructed to kick like regular fins. These guys are big and over powered them so bad they just sat there so they go around the pool using their arms.
The Jacket BCs had the small weight pockets and were not big enough for the weight needed to get them down. Then they had the DUI harness system that they were told to wear under the BC which wouldnt fit without some modification. Belts are the normal rule for PSD work.
Then the suit issue. Lovely wet suits that would blend right in with the Keys that were way to thin for anything we do over 40 even in the summer.
And to top it off the shop knew this stuff would be going under the ice and be in haz-mat situtiations. The gear was a mix between mid and lower quality stuff and the regs were not sealed or even suited for ice.
To put it bluntly they were a mess to start out with. But they overcame their problems and got the job done anyway. They will make good PSD in the very near future and all of us have agreed to work with them as much as needed.
What Im getting at here is not to embarrass anyone getting the point across as to why you need to go to an LDS that really knows PSD work and not get sold a bill of goods.
This is not sport diving and it looks like the feds may be moving us on the tail end of the commercial diving scene. A step like that could mean more controls over PSD.
As a final note, the other LDS is a PSD, Commercial shop that knows the needs of both.
Gary D.
We have a new small team forming in the area but in another jurisdiction. First they got a ton of grant money for diving. Then they sent three of their officers to one of the two LDSs in the area for OW training which they finished a couple of months ago.
The shop knew they had this ton of money and sold them a whole load of gear, prior to OW class, which taped into this ton of money rather deep.
The first mistake made was they didnt contact any other teams and relied on the information the shop told them. Because the shop told their Police Chief they were the real Rescue Diver Experts in the area.
Now, after not diving after OW they are tossed into DR-1. Im on the same class team as one of them who I have known for quite a few years.
The second half of the first training day was basic scuba skills in the 12 pool. I was flippin shocked when my buddy had some serious weight issues, could not clear a mask and didnt use his feet as propulsion. This isnt his fault at all but just another strike against that LDS.
First off they train in a 6 plastic above ground pool. Two of the three from this other team can stand up anywhere they like. Id have room for an ESA.
The gear they sold was suited for sport but not this job. They got split fins, but were instructed to kick like regular fins. These guys are big and over powered them so bad they just sat there so they go around the pool using their arms.
The Jacket BCs had the small weight pockets and were not big enough for the weight needed to get them down. Then they had the DUI harness system that they were told to wear under the BC which wouldnt fit without some modification. Belts are the normal rule for PSD work.
Then the suit issue. Lovely wet suits that would blend right in with the Keys that were way to thin for anything we do over 40 even in the summer.
And to top it off the shop knew this stuff would be going under the ice and be in haz-mat situtiations. The gear was a mix between mid and lower quality stuff and the regs were not sealed or even suited for ice.
To put it bluntly they were a mess to start out with. But they overcame their problems and got the job done anyway. They will make good PSD in the very near future and all of us have agreed to work with them as much as needed.
What Im getting at here is not to embarrass anyone getting the point across as to why you need to go to an LDS that really knows PSD work and not get sold a bill of goods.
This is not sport diving and it looks like the feds may be moving us on the tail end of the commercial diving scene. A step like that could mean more controls over PSD.
As a final note, the other LDS is a PSD, Commercial shop that knows the needs of both.
Gary D.
