The ERDI I Technician Course is the first step into the world of Public Safety Diving PSD. This entry level Emergency Response Diver training is designed for certified scuba divers who will operate in mission focused environments as part of an organized public safety dive team.

This course bridges the gap between recreational diving and emergency response operations. Students learn how public safety diving differs from recreational scuba and develop the skills mindset and operational awareness required for search and recovery dive missions.

Training covers public safety dive team roles responsibilities and structure risk assessment and mission planning PSD equipment selection and setup underwater search patterns navigation line based operations diver tender communication emergency procedures and basic recovery concepts. Emphasis is placed on diver safety team coordination and repeatable procedures that support real world operations.

While SDI Advanced Open Water Diver certification is not required we strongly recommend it prior to starting ERDI training. A strong recreational diving foundation ensures divers are comfortable underwater before adding the complexity of public safety operations. We view this the same way as being a good everyday driver before attending high performance race car driving school.

From a team and agency perspective this approach helps reduce diver turnover and protects training investments by ensuring participants already have proven diving ability before entering the ERDI pathway.

The ERDI I Technician Course is ideal for firefighters law enforcement officers EMS personnel rescue professionals and certified divers preparing for advanced ERDI operations and specialty public safety diver training.