Public Safety Diving
Law Enforcement · Fire Rescue · Search & Recovery · First Responder Dive Teams
PSD
Instructor Trainer on Staff
3
PADI PSD Courses Offered plus Supporting Courses
NFPA
1006 & 1670 Compliant Training
NE
Teams Served Across the Northeast
What is Public Safety Diving?
Public safety diving is a specialized discipline practiced by law enforcement divers, fire department rescue teams, emergency responders, and volunteer dive rescue organizations. Unlike recreational or technical diving, public safety divers operate in some of the most demanding conditions imaginable — zero visibility, cold water, swift currents, contaminated environments, and high-stress scenarios where the stakes are real.
Public safety dive teams are called upon to search for missing persons, recover evidence in criminal investigations, inspect submerged structures, perform submerged vehicle rescues, and conduct recovery operations. Their work requires a fundamentally different mindset than sport diving — and specialized training, equipment, and teamwork to match.
Why PADI Public Safety Diver Training?
PADI’s Public Safety Diver program has the highest diver prerequisites in the industry — requiring Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver certification before completion. Training takes place in real-world environments, not swimming pools. Courses meet and address NFPA Standards 1006 and 1670 and are designed to be compliant with applicable OSHA regulations. Many of the Northeast’s most active dive teams train to PADI PSD standards.
PADI Public Safety Diving Courses
Three distinct courses covering every role on a public safety dive team — from in-water divers to surface support personnel.
Public Safety Diver
Foundation Course · In-Water
The foundational course for any diver joining a public safety team. Covers scene handling, communications (including rope-pull signals), search patterns, knot tying, arc search techniques, victim recovery, and self-rescue. Training takes place in real-world environments — not pools — across four open water dives and classroom sessions. Includes two realistic rescue scenarios.
Prerequisites
- Minimum age 18
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent)
- PADI Rescue Diver certification required by course end
- Affiliation with a public safety team (not required for students — required for instructor)
Surface Support Specialist
Support Role · No Diving Required
A critical course for non-diving team members — tenders, scene managers, and surface support personnel who work alongside in-water divers. Covers diver preparation, line tendering techniques, emergency signal response, equipment setup, witness handling, documentation procedures, and scene management. No dive certification required. Run in conjunction with the PSD course.
Prerequisites
- No diving experience required
- Open to all public safety team members
- Ideal for tenders, scene managers, and first responders who support the dive team from the surface
Advanced Public Safety Diver
Advanced Course · Experienced Divers
Builds on the PSD foundation for more complex missions. Focuses on away-from-shore operations, boat-based diving, submerged vehicle rescue, introductory recovery skills, and redundant systems. Introduces evidence handling and law enforcement recovery diving. Designed for experienced PSD team members expanding their operational capabilities.
Prerequisites
- PADI Public Safety Diver certification
- Active member of a public safety dive team
- Recommended: dry suit and full face mask experience
Why Train with Scuba Shack?
We are one of the most credentialed public safety dive training facilities in New England.
🏆 PADI Public Safety Instructor Trainer
Scuba Shack’s Course Director, Monty Fitzpatrick, holds the rating of PADI Public Safety Instructor Trainer — the highest level attainable within the PADI Public Safety Diving program. This means Monty is not only qualified to teach public safety divers, but to train and certify the instructors who will go on to run their own PSD programs. There are very few PSD Instructor Trainers in the Northeast.
Dedicated PSD Instructors on Staff
Beyond Monty, Scuba Shack has multiple PADI Public Safety Diver Instructors on staff with real-world public safety diving backgrounds. Our instructors bring operational experience to the classroom — not just textbook knowledge. We understand the conditions, equipment, and mindset your team will face in the field.
Team Training & Custom Scheduling
We understand that first responder teams operate on their own schedules and training calendars. We offer flexible scheduling for department and team training events — evenings, weekends, or multi-day blocks. Contact us to discuss your team’s specific training needs and we’ll build a program around you.
Meet Your Instructor Trainer
Monty Fitzpatrick is a PADI Elite Course Director with 18 years of experience training divers and dive professionals throughout New England. Within the PADI Public Safety Diving program, Monty holds the rating of PADI Public Safety Instructor Trainer — the highest credential attainable in the PSD program — qualifying him to train not only public safety divers and PSD instructors, but to certify new PSD instructors who will go on to run their own programs.
Monty has trained over 250 PADI instructors in his career, none of whom have ever failed the PADI Instructor Examination. In 2025 he was recognized with the PADI Professional Excellence Award — one of the highest honors PADI bestows on dive educators worldwide. When your team trains with Scuba Shack, they are learning from the most credentialed public safety dive educator in the region.
18 Years
PADI Elite Course Director
250+
Instructors Trained · 0 Failures
🏆 2025
PADI Professional Excellence Award
PSD Instructor Trainer
The PADI Public Safety Instructor Trainer rating is the highest level within the PADI Public Safety Diving program — the equivalent of Course Director status specifically for PSD training. Holders are authorized to certify PSD instructors, making them among the most elite dive educators in the public safety field.
Very few in the Northeast hold this rating.
Equipment We Stock for PSD Teams
Public safety diving demands equipment you can trust in zero visibility, contaminated water, and high-stress conditions. We carry the gear that professionals depend on.
AGA & Interspiro Full-Face Masks
The AGA full-face mask by Interspiro is the industry standard for public safety and professional diving. Complete facial seal, integrated communication capability, and military-grade construction. We stock, service, and can fit your team.
DUI & Santi Drysuits
Cold water, contaminated environments, and year-round operations require drysuit proficiency. We carry DUI and Santi drysuits and offer drysuit training and service. Essential for Northeast public safety operations.
Halcyon & Hollis Technical Systems
Backplate and wing systems, stage rigging, lights, and reels for teams operating in complex environments. The same gear trusted by cave and technical divers worldwide — proven in demanding conditions.
Ready to Train Your Team?
Whether you’re standing up a new dive team or advancing your current program, we’ll build the right training plan for your department or agency.