Public Safety Diving vs. Recreational Diving

Public Safety Diving or, PSD is a specialty that is designed to meet the needs of public safety professionals involved in aquatic incidents. PSD certifications are above and beyond and separated from all sport diving rescue certification.  PSD certifications are a requirement to be recognized at the federal level and are also needed for a Homeland Security rating.  The classes standardize and prepare the divers to coordinate and operate with other public, state and federal emergency dive agencies. 

Public Safety Diving is a specialized activity taking place in a hazardous environment.  Recreational Divers require certification to access equipment, air fills and dive sites.  The recreational certification (called open water) qualifies divers to dive in reasonably calm, clear conditions at depths not to exceed 60 feet.  In the recreational diving industry, that certification is frequently referred to as a permit to learn, just as a learner's permit is issued to a person completing high school drivers education.  Many Public Safety Agencies use open water training to qualify divers to dive in the hazardous environments encountered by the Public Safety Dive Team. These PSD teams can not maximized their potential and are limited by Recreational Rescue Diver Certifications .  Recognizing the need for additional training the dive team administrators will seek out "Professional Assistance" from the local recreational dive store.  The dive store instructor provides all that they are able to provide, a recreational certification as a Rescue Diver.  Most recreational training agencies, PADI, NAUI, SSI and others, define their Rescue Diver Course as a "Self" and "Buddy Rescue" program.  This is adequate for helping your buddy who gets in trouble at 45 feet in clear water off Catalina, but not much assistance in the Public Safety Environment.  Moving the into the PSD sector creates a more qualified emergency diver and expands the capacity of the dive program which in turn provides greater value for the community it serves and aligns the program with other PSD agencies around the country.


To find out more about Public Safety Dive agencies and accredited instructors see the following links:


Dive Rescue International
Emergency Response Dive International