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Dive Info

General Public Safety Diver Team Structure  

The search and recovery dive team is normally composed of law enforcement, fire department or volunteer personnel. Some commercial dive response teams also exist and provide their services on a pay per dive job or dive contract basis. Names vary from Public Safety Dive teams (PSD) to Emergency Response Diver (ERD) teams but all are essential in their roles. Some smaller safety dive teams might have one person taking more than one responsibility – this is also covered in depth on the program. Mermaid's Dive Career Development Center teaches within the program all aspects of the team play. In order to join a service dive team further training specific to that team would be required.

• Public Safety Diver - Level 1 (Non-vocational training experience)

• Public safety Diver - Level 2 - (Non-vocational training experience - Night time response diving and submerged vehicle recovery)

A Public Safety Diver / Emergency Response Diver Team is generally divided into:

Team Director - Usually an administrative position and the person ultimately responsible for the dive team. The Team Director position is usually filled by a diver with much hands-on emergency response diving experience. To physically know the dive environments and appreciate and understand an emergency response divers' feelings is essential. Coupled with excellent scene management and organizational skills this is a demanding position - one that is usually well earned.

Team Leader - Usually appointed by the Director, ad with a solid extreme dive experience background the TL is generally responsible for the planning and organization of the dive missions and training. The Team Leader usually oversees most facets of the dive team and reports to the Director.

Assistant Team Leader - For support to the TL.

Incident Command - This is a flexible position assigned at the time of the of the dive mission. The Incident Commander (IC) is usually the Team Leader (TL), but this position may be delegated to another member. The IC oversees the operation of the mission.

Diver - Responsible for, but not limited to the underwater search and recovery, pre and post dive safety, dive equipment checks and reporting underwater conditions.

Dive Training Coordinator - This member is responsible for the evaluation and coordination of dive and ERD training. It is helpful if the Training Coordinator is also certified through a respected ERD agency or some other recognized public safety training agency as an Instructor Trainer or at least an ERD Dive Leader.

Equipment Coordinator - Responsible for maintaining, storing and delivering dive team equipment as required for a dive mission. They should maintain a record of equipment inspections and repairs, to ensure that all equipment is in proper working order and immediately available.

Line Tender / Shore Technician - One of the most important positions in an ERD team. The Tender / Tech is totally responsible for the diver he is assigned to. They should see to every need of the diver, including the reduction of stress and fatigue as much as possible. The responsibilities include:

• Carrying and assembly of equipment.
• Searching for possible diver entry and exit points.
• Assisting the diver with donning and removal of equipment / check dive communications.
• Assisting the diver in and out of the water.
• Maintaining constant communication with the diver via a tether or under water communications equipment.
• Logging information about the divers profile and water conditions.
• Observe and report any conditions about his diver which may prohibit the diver operation.
• Any additional duties assigned by the Director or Team Leader.

Dive Medical Coordinator (MC) - The MC should be certified to at least an Emergency Medical Technician.

Record Coordinator - Responsible for maintaining any appropriate records and submitting these reports to the appropriate personnel for approval and maintains a record of events for team files. Liaising directly with police and fire departments as the situations demand.

Public Relations Coordinator - This person will be responsible for any media releases, talking to the victim’s family, and any news releases for the team.

Mermaid's CDC PERT program conducted in Pattaya Thailand Dive Training Academy - not vocational training.