Work with local authorities, be part of a rescue team, and, quite possibly, assist in underwater criminal investigations.

Description

If you have the opportunity to work with local authorities and be part of a scuba diving rescue team or conduct search and recovery dives, and maybe even underwater criminal investigations, this is the course for you. Although public safety diving can be a fun and exciting adventure, it's serious and requires special training. The PADI Public Safety Diver Specialty course gives you a solid foundation to build upon and teaches you both surface and underwater skills that you may need on the job.

Pre-requisites

To enroll in a Public Safety Diver course, you must be:

At least 18 years old
Certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
PADI Rescue Diver by the end of the PSD course
Any ancillary courses necessary to carry out public safety diving in the local area (drysuit, full face mask, etc.)

Equipment

Beyond your basic scuba equipment, you'll want to have gloves, a dive knife, and an additional cutting tool, plus at least two scuba tanks. Your PADI Instructor will advise you about other gear you may need, which may include technical diving equipment.

Program

You'll be introduced to the special procedures, equipment, scene handling, communications, and documentation requirements for a public safety diving operation. During four open water dives, you'll practice compass navigation, knot tying, arc search techniques, victim recovery, rope-pull communications, and rescue techniques for a distressed public safety diver, plus plenty more.