Public Safety Diver

Public Safety Diver course

About the Course

Learn the fundamental skills required to work as a public safety diver or assist local authorities. Through scenario practice in real-world environments, gain experience as the primary diver, safety diver, dive supervisor and in a surface support role. You do not need to be part of a public safety dive team to take this course.

Learn How to

  • Size up and manage a scene
  • Rescue and recover victims
  • Communicate via rope pulls
  • Conduct an arc search

Take This Course If You Want to

  • Become a public safety diver
  • Join a team or gain experience
  • Serve your community
  • ​​Improve your search and recovery skills

How to Become a Public Safety Diver

Overview

Public safety diving requires special training and the right mindset. In the PADI Public Safety Diver course, you’ll learn the basic skills required to pursue opportunities on a public safety dive team and earn a certification recognized worldwide.

Prerequisites

  • Minimum age: 18
  • Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Rescue Diver (required to certify)

PADI eLearning

Complete the independent study part of your course online or offline, using a computer or mobile device. Contact a PADI® Dive Shop or PADI Professional who offers the PADI Public Safety Diver course to get access to Public Safety Diver eLearning and schedule in-water training.

Time commitment: 6-8 hours

With Your Instructor

During four open water dives you’ll learn rope-pull signals, conduct arc searches, use cutting tools and practice self-rescue. You’ll also participate in realistic public safety diving scenarios such as underwater body recovery.

Time commitment: 2-4 days

After This Course

In the Advanced Public Safety Diver course, you’ll learn how to search for a missing vehicle underwater, perform vehicle-related victim rescue and practice marking and recovering evidence. Completing the PADI Dry Suit Diver and Full Face Mask Diver courses may also help you be better prepared. Every PADI Specialty you earn gets you one step closer to becoming a PADI Master Scuba Diver.

Junior Divers