PADI developed a diving course for public safety teams (law enforcement, fire fighting, paramedic, EMT, dive rescue team, etc.) called Public Safety Diver. The goal of the course is to introduce and familiarize divers with the use of special procedures, equipment, scene handling, communication procedures, basic public safety diving search and rescue techniques, and documentation requirements.   True Blue Watersports offers the course to new and established dive teams year round.

Public safety diving can be an exciting and honorable service provided to our communities by divers who call themselves “Public Safety Divers.”  These specially trained divers provide underwater services ranging from rescue diving to recovery and underwater criminal investigations.  Although public safety diving can be a fun and exciting adventure, if not conducted by properly trained and equipped individuals, it can be dangerous and deadly.

Recreation dive training can lay down a solid foundation for public safety diving, especially if the diver has continued his diving education by going beyond his initial open water certification.  To convert to public safety diving, the diver needs to be trained in progressive steps, building a public safety diving foundation learning advanced techniques and equipment use specifically designed to allow the diver to safely and effectively participate in his particular environments and potential missions.

The philosophy of this course is focused on laying down a foundation in public safety diving that will allow the individual to participate in basic public safety rescue diving.  The goal is to introduce and familiarize the student with the use of special procedures, equipment, scene handling, communication procedures, basic public safety diving search and rescue techniques, and documentations requirements.

Student Prerequisites:

1. Certified PADI Rescue Diver or qualifying certification from another training organization.
2. Proof of affiliation/employment with a public safety team (law enforcement, fire fighting, paramedic, EMT,  dive rescue team, etc)
3. At least 18 years old.

Student Equipment Required:

1. All personal diving equipment
2. Two scuba cylinder (80cf or larger)
3. Two separate cutting devices (e.g. shears, knife, seat belt cutters, etc...)
4. Visual and audible surface signalling devices (e.g. whistle and surface marker buoy)
5. Pocket Mask
6. Log Book

Some of the topics which will be covered are:

1. Public Safety Readiness
2. Communications
3. Basic Search Techniques
4. Body Movement in water
5. Diver Self-Rescue Techniques
6. Diver Emergency Response

Over the past ten years, True Blue Watersports has trained and/or assisted the Calcasieu Parish Dive Team, Cameron Parish Dive Team, Natchitoches Fire Department, Sabine Fire Department, and personnel with Wildlife and Fisheries, SWAT, and the FBI.  Darrell Walker and Ryan Mareno conduct all instruction for these courses.

Public Safety Diver Course is a minimum of 30 hours, and will be conducted over three to five days depending on class size, and will include classroom, pool sessions, and a minimum of four open water dives.

Each diver will have the opportunity to qualify for the following certifications: PADI Public Safety Diver PADI Search and Recovery Diver PADI Underwater Navigation PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy