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My fire department has formed a new dive team (in addition to swift water rescue). Every firefighter is at least a certified Padi Open Water Diver. Some of us (myself included), are Advanced Open Water, Drysuit, and Search and Recovery (all taught through PADI). A few more have been certified with the PADI "Rescue Diver" course... Well the higher ups seem to think that this is sufficient to take on the responsibility of Public Saftey Diving, and no effort has been given toward taking an approved PSD course. As a matter of fact a RD1 class was held in the next city over, but nobody showed any interest in taking it. Nobody on the department, or the team for that matter are certified PSD's- everyone has varied levels of the recreational certifications.
Does not NFPA state that recreational certs are insufficient for PSD? 1680 maybe? I want to get my ducks in a row before I make my case that we're moving in the wrong direction by throwing money at Padi.
Presently our "training" consist of going to the lake and swimming around. No real direction, no real skills. They have adapted some stuff from the PADI courses, but that is about it. Most of the divers have been certified for less than two years (I've been for 12 years now- but only dive on vacation), and don't have much experience- and most of those are the ones running the "training". We have a lot of equipment, courtesy of some very good grant writers.
I have considered taking a PSD class on my own, but I won't do it because the department will not reimburse me at this point. Most importantly I have no interest in PSD or diving for that matter, outside of work. However if we are to perform this service I want to be properly trained, credentialled, and equipped.
Any suggestions?
Does not NFPA state that recreational certs are insufficient for PSD? 1680 maybe? I want to get my ducks in a row before I make my case that we're moving in the wrong direction by throwing money at Padi.
Presently our "training" consist of going to the lake and swimming around. No real direction, no real skills. They have adapted some stuff from the PADI courses, but that is about it. Most of the divers have been certified for less than two years (I've been for 12 years now- but only dive on vacation), and don't have much experience- and most of those are the ones running the "training". We have a lot of equipment, courtesy of some very good grant writers.
I have considered taking a PSD class on my own, but I won't do it because the department will not reimburse me at this point. Most importantly I have no interest in PSD or diving for that matter, outside of work. However if we are to perform this service I want to be properly trained, credentialled, and equipped.
Any suggestions?