Pool Dive Skills Circuit for Public Safety Dive Team

Summary

In this video, Brett Halderson demonstrates how to set up an underwater skill circuit for public safety pool diving. The circuit includes stations for mask removal, cutting exercises, marker buoy deployment, body bagging, evidence recovery, knot tying, out-of-air drills, lift bag deployment, and gear exchange. Additional stations focus on underwater gear-up, entangled diver, and confined space escape. The video showcases a comprehensive training regimen to enhance diver skills in a controlled pool environment before open water scenarios.

Takeaways

• 🏊‍♂️ The video introduces an underwater pool circuit designed for public safety dive teams to enhance their skills.
• 📈 The circuit includes a variety of skill stations such as no-mask swim, cutting, marker buoy deployment, body bagging, evidence recovery, knot tying, out-of-air drills, lift bag deployment, and gear exchange.
• 👥 Divers perform skills in pairs with one acting as a safety to ensure safety during the drills.
• 🧭 A rope anchored to the pool bottom guides divers through the circuit, with skill reminders attached via Q cards.
• ✂️ Divers practice cutting different materials using various tools to determine the most effective cutting methods.
• 🧵 The body bagging station helps divers become accustomed to handling body bags underwater in low visibility conditions.
• 🔍 Evidence recovery emphasizes the careful handling and transportation of evidence while preserving trace evidence.
• 🪢 Knot tying is practiced to ensure divers can perform essential knots underwater, which is crucial for various diving operations.
• 🤿 The out-of-air drill tests a diver's ability to supply air to a buddy and handle mask removal and replacement underwater.
• 💨 The lift bag station prepares divers for potential future scenarios where they might need to surface heavy objects.
• 🧰 The gear exchange station builds confidence in handling gear underwater and can be beneficial in unexpected situations.
• 🤿 The underwater gear up drill simulates retrieving and donning gear from the pool bottom, enhancing problem-solving skills in unfamiliar situations.
• 🪢 The entangled diver station practices resolving entanglement issues, which is crucial for diver safety.
• 🚫 The confined space escape is a new addition, preparing divers for the possibility of having to remove gear to escape through tight spaces.

Q & A

What is the purpose of setting up an underwater skill circuit for a public safety pool dive?

The purpose is to enhance the divers' techniques and increase their time in the pool before using them in open water scenarios, ensuring they are well-prepared for real-world situations.

What areas of the pool are used for the underwater circuit?

The circuit is set up in both the shallow end (4 to 7 ft) and the deep end (12 to 14 ft) of the pool, with the greatest depth change occurring between two vertical DOA lines.

How long does it take to set up the underwater skill circuit?

It typically takes about 30 minutes for a team of four divers to set up the circuit.

What is the significance of the no mass swim in the circuit?

The no mass swim is a crucial skill for divers to master, as it involves the regular practice of removing and replacing dive masks, which many dive teams often overlook.

What materials are used for the cutting station and what tools do the divers use?

The cutting station includes polypropylene rope, small nylon cord, and heavy-duty scuba webbing. Divers use a fixed blade knife, medical shears, and a seat belt cutter.

Why is marker buoy deployment an important skill to practice?

It's important to master marker buoy deployment to avoid common pitfalls associated with using a small reel, which can be crucial during actual operations.

How does practicing body bagging in a pool help divers?

Practicing in a pool allows divers to get accustomed to managing body bags underwater and to develop techniques for placing a body inside, which can be especially challenging in low or no visibility conditions.

What evidence recovery practices are performed in the pool?

Divers practice placing a piece of evidence, such as a pry bar, into an evidence container for transport while preserving any trace evidence.

Why is the notot station included in the circuit despite being the least favorite?

The notot station challenges divers to tie specific knots underwater, which, once mastered, becomes a routine part of the circuit and enhances their overall diving skills.

What is the purpose of the out of air drill in the circuit?

The out of air drill allows divers to test their skills and equipment by supplying air to another diver while swimming, also providing an opportunity to practice mask removal and replacement underwater.

How does the gear exchange station benefit the divers?

The gear exchange station increases divers' confidence in handling their gear underwater and prepares them for potential future scenarios where such a skill might be necessary.

What is the underwater gear up drill and how is it set up?

The underwater gear up drill involves divers starting on the side of the pool and retrieving their equipment from the pool bottom. It simulates a situation where divers must don their gear underwater, starting with the mask, fins clipped to the BCD, and the tank knob turned on to charge the regulator lines.

What is the confined space escape and why is it included in the training?

The confined space escape is a recent addition to the training, simulating a situation where a diver must remove their gear to fit through a restriction to escape. It provides experience in a critical skill that could be necessary in an emergency.