My fire dept is in the process of starting a dive team. I am the only FF with experience (YMCA open water and SLAM...yes, I'm getting old). It's been a little over 10 years since I've been active recreationally, but I have still been given the task to put together a proposal for the city bean counters. I have been told to purchase quality equipment, however, we do not have a local dive shop to work with. I have contacted several PSD companies for recommendations. I understand that each dept. may have different needs, therefore what they have may not be what we need, but it's a start. I am in a "chicken or the egg" situation. We can't get approval without first submitting quotes for specific gear, yet we don't know exactly what we need. Most advice I've seen online is to go to advance training before deciding on gear, but we will not be sent to school unless a dive team is approved.
I'm listing what has been recommended to us and have a few questions. My dive experience is limited to older simple sport diving gear. Our operations will include a man-made 1000 acre lake, small private ponds and lakes etc. with mud bottoms and low to no visibility. Based on needs of the last few years, we will only be called for a body recovery once every year or two and assist police/sherriff with evidence searches or recovering vehicles slightly more often. We are located about 8 minutes from the 1000 acre lake, so we do not expect we will have much of a chance for rescue unless it's in the dead of winter. We will be spending much more time training than working.
Zeagle 911 BC
80cf aluminum tanks (DIN)
Guardian full face mask
Zeagle Flathead 7 1st stage (DIN)
Zeagle 20cf Pony system
Liquivision Kaon computer
5000psi 32" hose
Enviro Com 10 Dry Suit
BARE 3mm wet suit, gloves, 6mm boots
Turtle fins
Various small stuff such as weights, Spyderco folding knife, alert markers, water recovery body bags, SCBA to DIN fill adapter, etc.
Questions:
Is the 20cf Pony system going to be too cumbersome and what is the preferred way to carry/mount it?
Any advice on this dive computer and any console recommendation for the diving conditions we will work under?
Is the Enviro Com 10 sufficient for our purpose?
Dry suit glove and boot recommendations?
Boat recommendations? There is current discussion between military surplus, civilian volunteer, etc. and no specific type or size has been discussed at this point. Right now, they are wanting us to get our gear and get training.
Any other general advice other than telling me to forget about gear until we go through the PSD courses? I have to submit before we commit.
I'm listing what has been recommended to us and have a few questions. My dive experience is limited to older simple sport diving gear. Our operations will include a man-made 1000 acre lake, small private ponds and lakes etc. with mud bottoms and low to no visibility. Based on needs of the last few years, we will only be called for a body recovery once every year or two and assist police/sherriff with evidence searches or recovering vehicles slightly more often. We are located about 8 minutes from the 1000 acre lake, so we do not expect we will have much of a chance for rescue unless it's in the dead of winter. We will be spending much more time training than working.
Zeagle 911 BC
80cf aluminum tanks (DIN)
Guardian full face mask
Zeagle Flathead 7 1st stage (DIN)
Zeagle 20cf Pony system
Liquivision Kaon computer
5000psi 32" hose
Enviro Com 10 Dry Suit
BARE 3mm wet suit, gloves, 6mm boots
Turtle fins
Various small stuff such as weights, Spyderco folding knife, alert markers, water recovery body bags, SCBA to DIN fill adapter, etc.
Questions:
Is the 20cf Pony system going to be too cumbersome and what is the preferred way to carry/mount it?
Any advice on this dive computer and any console recommendation for the diving conditions we will work under?
Is the Enviro Com 10 sufficient for our purpose?
Dry suit glove and boot recommendations?
Boat recommendations? There is current discussion between military surplus, civilian volunteer, etc. and no specific type or size has been discussed at this point. Right now, they are wanting us to get our gear and get training.
Any other general advice other than telling me to forget about gear until we go through the PSD courses? I have to submit before we commit.