When the call comes, be ready.
Search, recovery and evidence-handling training for fire, rescue and law-enforcement dive teams, and for the divers who want to join them. Taught in North Georgia by instructors who serve on public safety dive teams.
Join the interest listTraining for agenciesWhat to expect
The PADI Public Safety Diver course is four demanding days that train you to work as part of a real search and recovery team. You'll spend a day in the classroom and a day in the pool, starting with a swim and skills test. The last two days are four open water dives covering tethered search patterns, entanglement and diver rescue, and full victim-recovery scenarios run as a team. Expect black water, cold temperatures, heavy gear and long days. Everyone takes turns as primary diver, safety diver and line tender. Those who finish earn both the PADI Public Safety Diver and Surface Support Specialist certifications.
Classroom
Readiness, scene evaluation, dive planning, communications, search techniques, self-rescue and victim recovery.
Pool
Swim and skills test, quick-dress drill, line signals, knots, and search practice.
Open water
Dives 1 and 2: skill stations, tethered arc search, entanglement and diver-rescue drills.
Open water
Dives 3 and 4: full team victim-recovery missions, including a diver medical emergency.
Who it's for
Agency dive teams
Fire, sheriff, police and volunteer rescue teams. We train your people locally, on your schedule and in your water, with a skills sign-off sheet for every diver and annual requalification days.
Experienced divers
Advanced Open Water and Rescue divers looking for the hardest course we teach, or a path onto a volunteer or career public safety team.
Non-diving team members
Tenders, line handlers and command staff earn the PADI Surface Support Specialist card in the same class, with no diving required.
Prerequisites
Public Safety Diver
- 18 years or older
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification)
- PADI Rescue Diver, or completing Rescue alongside PSD
- First aid/CPR training within the last 24 months
- Medical form, with physician sign-off where required
- At least 20 logged dives, some in cold or low-visibility water
- Dry suit experience for cold-water classes
Surface Support Specialist
- 18 years or older
- First aid/CPR training within the last 24 months
- No dive certification needed
Not everyone gets in
Public safety diving is physically and mentally demanding, so we're selective on purpose. Every applicant completes a short questionnaire, a phone interview and a pool water check before class. If you're not ready yet, we'll tell you exactly what to work on, or offer you a place as a Surface Support Specialist.
How to get a seat
Questions
When are the classes?
The first classes run in 2027. Dates and pricing will be announced in early 2027, and the interest list hears first and gets first pick of seats.
Do I need to be on a dive team?
No. You don't need to be part of a public safety dive team to take the course, though many of our students will be.
Can you train our whole department?
Yes. We run contract classes for agency teams on your schedule and in your water, plus annual requalification days. Contact us to talk through your team's needs.
What gear do I need?
Standard scuba gear, two tanks, two different cutting tools and signaling devices. A dry suit and full face mask are strongly encouraged. We'll send a full gear list when you register.
Where is the training?
Classroom at our Alpharetta shop, a local pool, and North Georgia open water sites, all within about an hour of the shop.
Join the interest list
Be first to hear the 2027 dates and pricing, and get first pick of seats in our founding classes.
Join the interest list20,000 Leagues Scuba and Outdoors · Alpharetta, GA
