ID
6-508-1005
Name
Public Safety Dive Team
Status
Published
Version
1.10
Updated
11/19/2019 2:02:39 PM
Original Release
07/30/2007
Last Major Release
11/19/2019
Description
The Public Safety Dive Team is a group of divers who perform underwater functions, including search and recovery for evidence and remains
Resource Category
Law Enforcement Operations
Primary Core Capability
On-scene Security, Protection and Law Enforcement
Secondary Core Capability
 
Resource Kind
Team
Overall Function
The Public Safety Dive Team: 1. Searches for, locates, identifies, and retrieves objects, including remains and evidence, from under the surface of the water 2. Helps locate and recover drowning victims, abandoned vehicles, and (if properly trained) evidence in criminal cases 3. Provides safety divers for special events 4. Assists the Waterborne Search and Rescue Team
Composition and Ordering Specifications
1. Discuss logistics for deploying this team, such as working conditions, length of deployment, security, lodging, transportation, and meals, prior to deployment 2. Requestor specifies the nature of the mission, as not all dive teams that meet a typing requirement are equipped to dive in certain climates or environments (for example, ice diving) 3. The number of dives each diver can make in a given period depends on environmental and physiological conditions, including depth, dive conditions, altitude, and other factors, based on the Dive Team Leader’s assessment; typically, the maximum is two dives in a two-hour period 4. Requestor orders two or more teams, based on area to be covered, time and energy spent on dives, complexity of operation, and environmental and physiological conditions 5. Requestor and provider discuss replenishment and replacement of equipment during the operational period, including air cylinders 6. Requestor specifies specialties necessary when requesting a Type 1 team 7. This team is not deployable in a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) event
Supporting Core Capabilities
None
Components
Component Notes  
Minimum Personnel Per TeamNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2Same as Type 3
Type 39
Type 46
Management And Oversight Personnel Per TeamNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 11 – National Incident Management System (NIMS) Type 1 Dive Team Leader
Type 2Same as Type 3
Type 3Same as Type 4
Type 41 – NIMS Type 2 Dive Team Leader
SUPPORT PERSONNEL PER TEAM1. The Paramedic or EMT is familiar with dive team operations. 2. The Assistant Safety Officer – Dive Team knows safety measures for dive team operations and reports to the incident Safety Officer. This is not a NIMS typed position.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 14 – NIMS Type 1 Diver 2 – NIMS Type 1 Tender 1 – NIMS Type 1 Paramedic or EMT 1 – Assistant Safety Officer – Dive Team
Type 24 – NIMS Type 2 Diver 2 – NIMS Type 2 Tender 1 – NIMS Type 1 Paramedic or EMT 1 – Assistant Safety Officer – Dive Team
Type 34 – NIMS Type 3 Diver 2 – NIMS Type 2 Tender 1 – NIMS Type 1 Paramedic or EMT 1 – Assistant Safety Officer – Dive Team
Type 42 – NIMS Type 4 Diver 1 – NIMS Type 2 Tender 1 – NIMS Type 1 Paramedic or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) 1 – Assistant Safety Officer – Dive Team
Dive Depth Capability Per TeamNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Capable of diving in depth greater than 130 feet
Type 2Capable of diving in depth up to 130 feet
Type 3Capable of diving in depth up to 100 feet
Type 4Capable of diving in depth up to 60 feet
Technical Capabilities Per Team1. The list of Type 1 team specialists is not comprehensive; other specialties may exist. 2. Requestor specifies necessary Type 1 team specialties.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2, PLUS: Can perform specialty dives, such as: 1. Confined space/cave search dives 2. Hazardous materials (hazmat) and contaminated water dives 3. Ice dives
Type 2Same as Type 3, PLUS: 1. Has a total lifting bag capacity of 4,000 lbs. (including large vehicles) 2. Can use underwater metal detectors 3. Can perform grid searches 4. Can use side-scan sonar equipment 5. Can perform boat-based search patterns
Type 3Same as Type 4, PLUS: 1. Can perform evidence marking and recovery 2. Has a total lifting bag capacity of 2,000 lbs. (including small vehicles and heavy objects, such as safes) 3. Can map floor of water body 4. Can record underwater scene
Type 41. Can perform basic search patterns 2. Can operate with a tethered diver 3. Can perform victim rescue and body recovery 4. Can operate in black water conditions
Dive Equipment Per TeamEach response or mission may require additional specialized equipment.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2Same as Type 3, PLUS: 1. Full face mask with dive communications 2. Dredging equipment 3. Mask-mounted lighting system
Type 3Same as Type 4, PLUS: 1. Gear for attaching lift bags to objects (chains, webbing, rope) 2. Floor or sonar mapping equipment 3. Recording cameras
Type 41. Dive flag 2. Assorted buoy markers 3. Assorted ropes and throw bags 4. Evidence containers 5. GPS tracking/marking device 6. Air compressor 7. Basic first aid kit 8. Jackstays 9. Body bags 10. Mesh collection bags 11. Underwater lighting system 12. Personal flotation devices for all personnel
Dive Eqiupment Per Diver1. Each response or mission requires its own specialized equipment. 2. Weight belt is not required if BCD has an integrated weight system or if diver uses a harness system with weights. 3. Diver needs at least two cutting devices. 4. Diver needs adequate protection against hypo- or hyperthermia.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2, PLUS: Equipment for specialty dive conditions, such as: 1. Dry suit and full face mask for diving in a hazmat environment 2. Detection and monitoring equipment for diving in a hazmat environment 3. Rebreather 4. Ice suit
Type 2Same as Type 3, PLUS: 1. Full face mask 2. Mask-mounted lighting
Type 3Same as Type 4, PLUS: Dry suit
Type 41. Wet suit 2. Scuba gear 3. Redundant air supply suitable for the underwater depth 4. Buoyancy Compensator Device (BCD) 5. Scuba regulator 6. Weight with weight belt 7. Mask 8. Gloves suitable for dive conditions 9. Fins 10. Snorkel 11. Dive boots 12. Cuttings devices, such as dive knife, shears, or wire cutters 13. Timing device 14. Whistle or surface noisemaking device
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment Per Team MemberPPE is mission specific; additional PPE may be necessary depending on the mission or environment.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2Same as Type 3
Type 3Same as Type 4
Type 4Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes: 1. Life preservers 2. Helmets 3. Protective gloves 4. Protective footwear
Communications Equipment Per TeamNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2Same as Type 3
Type 3Same as Type 4, PLUS: Hardwire or radio-based diver-to-surface and diver-to-diver communications equipment
Type 44 – Short-range, handheld two-way portable radio 4 – Cell phone or satellite phone
Transportation Equipment Per TeamBoats are capable of communicating on marine frequencies.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2, PLUS: 1 – Support vehicle
Type 2Same as Type 3, PLUS: 1 – Support vehicle 1 – Boat for boat-based search patterns and transportation
Type 3Same as Type 4
Type 41 – Support vehicle
747747747
Notes
References
Reference
FEMA, NIMS 508: Waterborne Search and Rescue Team
FEMA, NIMS 509: Dive Team Leader
FEMA, NIMS 509: Diver
FEMA, NIMS 509: Tender
FEMA, National Incident Management System (NIMS), October 2017
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.410: Commercial Diving Operations, latest edition adopted
Published Versions
Version Publish Date Document Type
1.10 11/19/2019 2:02:39 PM PDF
1.9 9/28/2018 5:09:09 PM PDF
1.8 6/29/2018 5:26:56 PM PDF
1.7 6/19/2018 11:41:27 AM PDF
1.6 6/19/2018 10:21:42 AM PDF
1.5 6/18/2018 11:35:43 PM PDF
1.4 4/8/2016 9:45:04 AM PDF
1.3 8/21/2014 5:04:02 PM Unavailable
1.2 8/11/2014 8:24:07 PM Unavailable
1.1 4/8/2014 6:33:39 PM Unavailable
1.0 12/12/2013 5:59:43 PM Unavailable