If you are looking to collaborate with local authorities as part of a scuba diving rescue team, perform search-and-recovery dives, or engage in underwater criminal investigations, the PADI Public Safety Specialty course is an excellent fit for you. Public safety diving is a serious and adventurous endeavor that requires specialized training, and this course provides a strong foundation with essential surface and underwater skills.

 

What You Will Learn

You’ll be introduced to the unique procedures, equipment, management, communication protocols, and documentation requirements specific to public safety diving operations. Through open water dives, you'll practice:

 

• Compass navigation

• Knot tying

• Arc search techniques

• Victim recovery

• Rope-pull communications

• Rescue techniques for distressed public safety divers

 

Key Highlights of the PADI PSD Course

• Highest Prerequisites: The PADI PSD course has the highest prerequisites in the industry.

• Globally Recognized Certification: A PADI Public Safety Diver is the most highly trained and certified Public Safety Diver globally.

• Comprehensive Certification: Unlike most other Public Safety Diver courses that only require an Open Water (Basic) certification, the PADI PSD Diver is certified as an Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and Rescue Diver.

• Worldwide Recognition and No Expiration: Your PADI certification is recognized worldwide and never expires, thanks to PADI being the largest dive training agency.

 

Important Note

The Public Safety Diver course is a foundational step into the field of public safety diving and is not intended to cover everything you need to know. It is structured to introduce divers to the essential skills, knowledge, planning, and techniques.

 

Key topics include:

• Introduction to Public Safety Diving

• Public Safety Diver Readiness

• Scene Size-Up

• Medical Considerations

• Body Movement In Water

• Specialized Public Safety Diving Equipment

• Communication Procedures

• Public Safety Diving Basic Search Technique

• Witness Handling and Interviewing

• Public Safety Diver Self-Rescue Techniques

• Public Safety Diver Emergency Response

• Attempting a Non-Diver Victim Rescue

 

Water skills will cover various dive rescue techniques and team roles, such as primary diver, safety diver, surface support, and dive supervisor. This program aligns with important National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines in NFPA 1006 and 1670 (excluding Ice, Surf, or Swift disciplines).

 

Enrollment Requirements

To enroll, you must be an Advanced Open Water diver or hold an equivalent certification and be at least 18 years old. The required Rescue Diver course can be taken either before or after your PSD training and can even be integrated into the course. Upon completion, you will be certified as both a PADI Diver and a PADI Public Safety Diver – a unique benefit not offered by any other Public Safety Diver course!

 

Next Steps

Upon completion of the Public Safety Diver course, you can immediately advance to the Advanced Public Safety Diver course to further expand your knowledge and experience in different areas of diving.