"Public Service Divers"???

[Lucy's Diver]

Local dry land public safety folks relying on self funded volunteers for public safety diving sounds like a recipe for disaster. Not only does doing this stuff require special training, but doing it safely is a team sport with very expensive gear that is unfamiliar to most recreational divers. It arduous, dangerous, and often very boring, and those three things intersect it can get very bad.

 

[Skidawg]

I just completed the Dive Rescue I class provided by Dive Rescue International. Outstanding class and outstanding instructor. While it trained you (the diver) in the basics of PSD, it really opened the eyes of the team as to how inadequately prepared we were to provide this service. Concerns include; comm equipment, compatible hoods, dry suit diving and search patterns and an SOG, for starters.

 

[scubajb]

I know that the rescue course won't come close to prepare me for that. Where should I go for additional training? Interested in it but need to learn more before starting down this road...

EXCELLENT INFORMATION!!! Thank you to all of you. I really don't know the resources that the local county search and rescue has to offer yet (my guess is limited because of location and size). I was contacted by some local members of the search and rescue asking if I was interested. I will ask a lot of questions of the county and see what they have to offer. If it looks interesting, I will be back on the forum for sure with questions. In the mean time, i will take a look at the resources mentioned here. Trust me, this is nothing i will walk into lightly. I've been accused of over-analyzing things to death, rather it be the issue than me! I really appreciate the info and the honest feedback!

j

 

[Gary D.]

One more thing I want to add is these certifications are not for life like Recreational Diving certifications are. They are only good for three years and then it’s back in class.

Also the book I listed earlier does not teach you how to become nor do PSD work. It is about evidence and the investigation side.

For those that think they know enough about evidence need to really take a look at it. The rules change once it hits the water.

A lot of years ago two of us spent hour after hour looking for any evidence that could connect a Dirt Bag with a homicide. After we recovered her body we just kept at it and found a small piece of a finger nail in the rocks.

A trip to the jail with the nail paid off. It filled in the broken finger nail on his hand perfectly. That was what sent him to the pen. Had we not found it he more than likely would have been acquitted.

Lucy’s Diver made a very good statement as did the others.

Gary D.

 

[116fire]

Six months, twice a week for 4 hours each time...And I'm still not done. And I was a decent swimmer and tech diver to begin with.