What Does a Diver Down Flag Look Like – Two Types

Emma Ong - PADI MSDT
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What Does a Diver Down Flag Look Like – Two Types

UPDATED AUG 2022

Scuba diving is a safe activity but it does have some risks. One of the main risks is boat traffic above the diver. If you are below a certain point and deep enough, then boat traffic is not a major concern as they can drive over you. It will be loud, but safe. However, if you are at a shallow depth, or in the process of descending and ascending from a dive, then this is where there is most risk of a boat running over you. This is why it is important to know what does a diver down flag look like, and why there are two types of diver down flags and what they mean.

Read More: How to Ascend Safety in Scuba Diving

What Does a Diver Down Flag Look Like

A Diver Down Flag indicates that a diver is scuba diving underwater. The diver down flag warns boaters to not come too close to the divers, thus, keeping the divers safe from the boat and propeller when going down or coming up from a dive.

Legally, the diver down flag should be flown from a vessel or a buoy when divers are in the water. From a vessel, the flag should be at least 20 inches by 24 inches and flown from the vessel’s highest point. When the diver down flag is attached to a buoy, the flag should be at least 12 inches by 12 inches.

A boat in the water. We want to know what does a Diver Down Flag look like
It is very important to make boats aware of divers below the surface. Photo by Roberto H / Unsplash

The Two Types of Diver Down Flags

There are two types of diver down flags that are recognized around the world. The red and white Diver Down Flag is the most highly recognizable scuba diving flag. It is red with a white stripe running across it diagonally. It is used in the water to indicate scuba diving and snorkeling activity close by.

The other diver down flag to know is the blue and white Alpha Flag. This is used internationally to indicate that a boat or vessel has divers in the water. This means the mobility of the vessel is restricted and that other boats should keep clear and lower their speed. This flag is to protect the boat from collisions, while the red and white flag is used more to protect the actual divers.

Diver Flag

Alpha Flag

Using both flags is the safest option, and may be required by law in certain states.

What Must Divers do in their Diving Area?

You should only fly a diver down flag when there are actual divers in the area. As a scuba diver you must assume that boaters and people on the surface do not know that you are underwater.

Scuba divers must adhere to some rules when using a diver down flag. According to the Diver’s Alert Network (DAN) divers must stay within 300 feet (90 meters) of the flag in open water, or 100 feet (30 meters) when diving in rivers, inlets or navigation channels. Divers should also aim to ascend within 150 feet (45 meters) of the diver down flag.

Read More: What Should Divers Do For Their Own Safety?

However, always check local regulations as they may differ. The general rule of thumb is for a diver to stay within 50 feet (15 meters) of your flag, and to ascend no further than 25 feet (7.6 meters) of the flag.

You should only ever fly a diver down flag if there is actual scuba diving or snorkeling activity in the water. You should also ensure that you do not dive or fly the flag in a high boat traffic zone or passageway.

What indicates Scuba Diving or Snorkeling?

These two types of diver down flags indicates scuba diving and snorkeling activity in the water. This is important as you can assume that somewhere great for scuba diving or snorkeling is also great for other water activities such as jet-skiing, wake-boarding, or para-sailing. Because they are going so fast, they may not necessarily see the signs that indicate that there is scuba diving or snorkeling activity. This is why flying a diver flag is very important, and why it may be law to do so depending on your location.

Other signs to indicate scuba diving include: bubbles in the water, flashlights shining underwater, or using a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) at the end of the dive.

What is a Surface Marker Buoy?

A delayed surface marker buoy (dSMB or SMB) differs from a diver down flag as the SMB is only deployed before a diver ascends from a dive – as opposed to a diver down flag which we know now should be deployed during the whole duration of the scuba dive.

Most typically, the SMB is inflated from below 5 meters / 15 feet at the end of a line from the diver before conducting a safety stop. It is usually long in length and neon in colour (most commonly neon yellow, orange, or red) to ensure it is highly recognizable on the surface of the water, and can be seen in choppy waters.

Delayed Surface Marker Buoy

Typically surface marker buoys are yellow, orange or red, however there are now various other colours such as hot pink, blue, or even black! I typically would still suggest the yellow or orange colours for safety reasons as these colours are most recognized from a far distance.

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Do I Need a Dive Flag for Snorkeling?

Don’t assume that because you are on the surface snorkeling that the boats and watercrafts can see you. Many times there will be sunlight reflecting off the water, blinding the captain of a boat. Or, there are waves or ripples on the surface that can hide a snorkeler. Sometimes, snorkelers will even duck dive down a few meters or feet to check out something underwater and be hidden from view!

Read More: How to Snorkel Underwater

This is why it is important to also use a diver down flag in the water and on the vessel/boat when snorkeling. The same flags used for scuba diving can also be used for snorkeling. Legislation in Florida defines ‘divers’ as “a person who is wholly or partially submerged in the waters of the state and is equipped with a face mask and snorkel or underwater breathing apparatus.” This does not include swimmers.

How to Tow a Dive Flag

When using the red and white diver down flag on a float or a buoy, you should stay within 50 feet (15 meters) from your dive flag. If you are venturing further than this distance, you will need to tow your dive flag. Here are some tips for towing a dive flag while scuba diving.

  • Use a reel and unspool the line as you descend, keeping it taut. If the line is loose this may get wrapped up and tangled.
  • Do not attach the line to your hand or your equipment. If the line is pulled by a strong current or in the worst case, gets tangled and pulled by a boat, then you should drop the line.
  • Try to hold the spool/line in your right hand, freeing up your left hand to use the inflator hose to control your buoyancy, and to check your SPG.
  • Keep the line at arm’s length so it doesn’t wrap around your tank or hoses.
  • You can use a heavy rock, or another object to secure the line if you plan on staying in one spot. Just be mindful to check the rock or object to ensure you don’t damage it or disturb any critters around.
  • If you are remaining at the same depth, then use a double-ended clip to ‘lock’ the length so it doesn’t unreel and loose.
  • You can also attach a small weight to the bottom on the line to keep it taut and easier to move along while you swim.
  • Give it to someone else to tow!

International Scuba Diving Flags

These two types of diver down flags are the international scuba diving flags, and the diver down flag and alpha flags look the same around the world. Divers in the UK will also use the same diver down flags, however, there may be different laws and regulations depending on how far you should stay within the dive flag. It is always recommended to double check local standards and laws prior to your dive.

How to Clean Snorkel Gear | Snorkeling Tips

DTS Contributor
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How to Clean Snorkel Gear | Snorkeling Tips

We are off snorkeling again! Such an exciting pass-time for the whole family. But whether you own your own snorkel mask or rented a shiny set from the dive shop, it is good to know how to clean snorkel gear.

How to Clean Snorkel Gear

Caring for snorkel gear is much easier than you might think. After you use it, simply rinse it in warm soapy water and rub the lens as well as the silicone or rubber skirt. Let the snorkel gear dry in a shaded area and store it out of direct sunlight.

That’s it! This is also how to clean full-face snorkel masks. The only difference being that there are more areas that are difficult to reach.

Why You Should Invest In Your Own Snorkel Mask

Snorkeling is a great introduction to the underwater world. Many people that snorkel fall in love with the ocean and pursue scuba diving later on. A good quality snorkel mask is more than able to serve your scuba diving needs as well.

You won’t have to worry about rental snorkel gear cleanliness having your own mask. Especially since your face and mouth are areas shared with other snorkelers. I always recommend rinsing rental snorkel gear thoroughly with anti-septic solution. Dettol is a fantastic option for this.

Cressi Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Kit

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OMORC Adult Snorkel Set

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WACOOL Adults Teens Snorkeling Set

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How to Fit a Snorkel Mask

Don’t let anyone rush you. Shops that try to push a sale are not where you want to get your mask from. Some masks fit perfectly for one person and are useless for another. You really have to take the time and try them on.

To do this, you want to:

  1. Look up and place the mask on your face
  2. Feel around the skirt for any large gaps
  3. Lightly push the mask down and breathe in through your nose
  4. It should form a vacuum and not press anywhere or feel uncomfortable

Once you have chosen your mask, ask the dive pro how to adjust the snorkel mask strap and figure out the best snorkel placement on the mask. Countless times I witnessed new divers and snorkelers not properly attaching their snorkels and losing them in the ocean.

I recommend using a silicone or rubber looped snorkel release. These are very easy to adjust, attach, and remove. You are also much less likely to lose your snorkel with one of these releases.

Silicone Snorkel Mask Strap Keeper

That’s all you need to know on how to care for your snorkel & mask. Properly maintained snorkeling gear will last you a very long time.

Read More & Learn How to Snorkel Underwater

How To Clean A Foggy Snorkel Mask

If you are already out there snorkeling, but your mask keeps fogging up, use these tricks.

New Masks

New snorkel masks tend to fog up a lot more. To stop this from happening you can ask a dive pro to “burn” the mask. Using a lighter they will burn off the protective layer from the tempered glass. With this layer gone, fog is unable to form as easily.

Read More: Tips on How to Fix a Foggy Mask

Some deem this method a little aggressive and prefer to coat the inside of the mask with white toothpaste over night. This has a similar effect.

In my experience, burning works. Just make sure you ask someone that knows how to do it properly.

Rental Masks or Your Own Mask

Spitting in your mask is still the easiest method. This prevents the mask from fogging.

Applying a thin layer of baby soap on the inside of the glass also prevents fogging.

You can also go fancy and apply a thin layer of dive mask anti fog, which is a very mild soap-like substance that achieves the same.

Now you know how to clean snorkel gear, you are ready for your next adventure in the ocean!

Snorkeling with a Beard or Mustache Comfortably

DTS Contributor
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Snorkeling with a Beard or Mustache Comfortably

Trying to enjoy some tropical snorkeling but your Lumberjack beard getting in the way? I don’t have this problem so much, as it takes a good few weeks for me to grow “facial hair”. However, it still gets in the way of snorkeling. Whether you feature a full beard or a mustache, snorkeling with a beard brings its own challenges.

There isn’t one solution to suit everyone. Over the years, I taught students with a variety of beards. These are my tips.

Table of contents

  1. Snorkeling with a Beard
    1. Traditional Snorkel Gear
      1. A properly fitted mask
        1. Trim the top of your mustache
          1. Petroleum jelly
            1. Get comfortable clearing a mask
              1. Shave
              2. Full Face Masks
                1. Swimming Goggles
                  1. Conclusion

                    Snorkeling with a Beard

                    The following tips also work for scuba diving. But, first and foremost, let’s focus on snorkeling with a beard.

                    Most of the time, the beard is not the problem. The mustache is the culprit. Most beards don’t grow up far enough on the cheek to prevent a proper seal with a snorkel mask. The mustache, however, often pushes the mask skirt away from the lips and allows for water to leak into the mask. A very bushy mustache will definitely leak.

                    Now there isn’t a best snorkel mask that will simply solve the problem. The best snorkel gear for snorkeling with a beard will really depend on the individual.

                    Let’s look at how to handle different gear.

                    Traditional Snorkel Gear

                    This is the most common choice as it is widely available and allows you to dive down as well. A simple mask & snorkel combination. This is also the equipment I recommend to use. In scuba diving, we don’t have much choice and need to make this gear work with a beard.

                    Here are my tips to help create a seal with a traditional mask and prevent leaking.

                    A properly fitted mask

                    Many shops will just try to sell you an expensive mask. Some masks are perfect for one person and useless for the next. It is important that an experienced professional helps you fit a mask. Some of my students found a mask that worked perfectly with their beard and mustache. As a general recommendation, a mask with an ample high-grade silicone skirt can seal very well with a beard.

                    Trim the top of your mustache

                    I need to emphasize here that the top is enough. As a joke, I told a student with a full beard to just shave the mustache off and he did. Now a full beard with no mustache is a unique look! By design, masks sit close to your nose. Shaving the top of your mustache is often enough to let the mask create a seal. This is how to snorkel with a mustache.

                    Petroleum jelly

                    Applying a small amount of petroleum jelly to the top of your mustache, helps the mask create a seal over the top. While this works quite well, it has a limited duration. The jelly will wash off over time and end up in the ocean. A good solution if you are worried about leaking the first time you snorkel. With practice you will learn to deal with it, which brings me to..

                    Get comfortable clearing a mask

                    My mask fits well and still, my mustache (due to laziness of regularly shaving) allows water in. I have gotten used to clearing my mask regularly. Pressing the top of the frame while exhaling through your nose and looking up clears the water from your mask. This works on the surface as well as underwater.

                    Shave

                    Depending on how attached you are to your beard, you can always shave it off. This allows the mask to seal properly. If you are snorkeling a lot and getting into scuba diving, this might be a good option. It will grow back!

                    Full Face Masks

                    Full face masks flip the problem. They do not seal well over a beard, however, a mustache does not interfere as much. A special full face mask for beards doesn’t exist. The problem with full face masks is that their silicone skirt attempts to seal your whole face in over your cheeks and chin. This is where your beard may be the fullest and the mask won’t be able to seal over the top. Applying petroleum jelly to such a large area won’t work very well either.

                    Cheap full face masks that you might rent on vacation also carry safety concerns with them. They often do not feature a proper ventilation system, meaning you breathe in a lot of the dead air space around you as opposed to fresh air. This means more CO2 in your breath, which can cause hypercapnia.

                    Read more: Is Snorkeling Dangerous?

                    Because full face masks do not allow equalising, you are also not able to dive down.

                    Read more: Learn How to Snorkel Underwater

                    Swimming Goggles

                    As the name suggests, they are designed for swimming not snorkeling, and may not be the most appropriate choice. You have a very limited field of view and attaching a snorkel does not work well. Furthermore, you cannot duck dive with swimming goggles as they do not allow you to equalise the airspace. The goggles would press into your eyes, which is very uncomfortable.

                    They do seal perfectly as their skirt seals around your eye sockets, not your cheeks, chin or lips.

                    Conclusion

                    So, there you have it. No need to shave it all off just to enjoy the reefs on your holiday. Just remember these simple tips, next time you’re snorkeling with a beard or mustache. Make sure you take all appropriate gear when you go snorkeling. Some of it may not be as obvious as you think..

                    Read more: What Do You Need To Go Snorkeling?

                    I hope this guide was helpful. Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below.

                    Diving in Malta, Gozo, and Comino

                    Emma Ong - PADI MSDT
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                    1
                    Diving in Malta, Gozo, and Comino

                    WHERE ARE WE GOING?

                    Today we are diving in Malta! An island country in the Mediterranean Sea and the world’s 10th smallest country. It consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino.

                    WHY ARE WE DIVING IN MALTA?

                    The Maltese islands are most famous for the abundance of shipwrecks. Malta boasts several historical wrecks as well as ships scuttled down that have created artificial reefs.

                    All 3 diveable islands of Malta (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) have fascinating wrecks, calm and clear waters, beautiful reefs, and unique cave and cavern formations.

                    Fun diving in Malta. Photo courtesy of Miranda Bowman.
                    Fun diving on the P29 wreck. Photo courtesy of Miranda Bowman.

                    Learning to dive in Malta is a fantastic choice as the accessibility is incredible. There are dive sites on virtually every corner of the country and most are accessible by shore. Beginners and advanced divers alike can appreciate the diversity of diving that Malta has to offer!

                    HOW DO WE GET THERE?

                    Malta has one airport, Malta International Airport, and is only a few hours flying time from most mainland European countries. The national airline, Air Malta, operates flights to all major European airports as well as North Africa and the Middle East. Many low-cost airlines fly in and out of Malta (Ryan Air, EasyJet). Several Mediterranean ports also have direct ferries to the island.

                    WHICH DIVE SITES ARE MUST-SEE?

                    There are so many dive sites in Malta but here are a couple of my favourites. All of the dives listed are accessible by shore!

                    Diving the P29 wreck in Cirkewwa
                    Diving the P29 wreck in Cirkewwa. Photo courtesy of Miranda Bowman.

                    P29 Wreck

                    (34m Max depth, 24m Avg) is a very popular wreck in Cirkewwa. It was a German patrol boat scuttled down for divers in 2007.

                    The Blue Hole Gozo

                    (25m Max depth, 15m Avg) The Blue Hole Gozo is a sinkhole formed in limestone that has created a sheltered pool which is also popular with snorkelers. There are large boulders to explore where the famous Azure Window collapsed.

                    The Blue Hole Gozo in Malta.
                    The Blue Hole Gozo in Malta. Photo courtesy of Miranda Bowman.

                    Cirkewwa Arch

                    (25m Max depth, 15m Avg) is a beautiful underwater archway. On the way to and from the arch, there is plenty of reefs to explore and a couple of swim-throughs.

                    The Inland Sea Tunnel

                    (Beyond 40m Max, 15m Avg) is a spectacular dive on Gozo in which an inland lagoon connects to the sea through an 80m long tunnel, on the seaside of the tunnel, the reef walls can be enjoyed at a variety of depths. 

                    The Um el Faroud

                    (36m max, 20m avg) The Um el Faroud was a Libyan oil tanker scuttled down for divers in 1998. The wreck is 115m (377 ft) long and weighs 10,000 tons. For many advanced divers, this wreck is on their bucket list!

                    Bristol Beaufighter Plane Wreck

                    The Bristol Beaufighter plane wreck is located about 900m offshore St. Julian’s in Sliema. The airplane wreck lies upside down at a depth of 38 m on a sandy seabed. Most of the plane is buried in the sand. The wings and the main fuselage are quite intact, while both undercarriage frames with shredded tyres stick out behind the radial engines, and the port side propeller is still attached to the engine! 

                    TELL ME MORE

                    Shore diving is the most popular way of diving in Malta! Every dive center has the appropriate vehicles to load all passengers and gear and get them comfortably around the islands.

                    Depending on where you stay in Malta, all dive sites are reachable within an hour. The boat diving available in Malta is generally for deeper dive sites or technical dive sites. If you wish to dive any sites on Comino, you will go with a dive boat.

                    Miranda diving the Bristol Beaufighter plane wreck.
                    Miranda diving the Bristol Beaufighter plane wreck. Photo courtesy of Miranda Bowman.

                    DO I NEED ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT?

                    There is no equipment that you need to bring that cannot be rented from the dive centers. For exploring many of the wrecks and caverns, a torch will be necessary as well as appropriate exposure gear. If you are visiting in winter, bringing your own drysuit is a good idea. However, plenty of divers stick to a 7mm or layering a warm long-suit with a shorty on top.

                    Read More: Use our Wetsuit Temperature Guide for Scuba Diving

                    WHAT LEVEL CERTIFICATION SHOULD I BE?

                    As the diving around Malta is so diverse, any dive certification is fine to enjoy the beautiful Maltese waters.

                    If you have specific wrecks or sites in mind, you may be required to have an Advanced certification or Deep Diver certification.

                    Read More: Find out how long your scuba certification lasts.

                    WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?

                    Diving in Malta is available year-round and visibility remains fantastic all year.

                    The main tourist season is June through September meaning a very crowded island but also very warm water temperatures.

                    In summer the sea reaches 28 to 29° Celsius. My favorite diving months are late September through to November as the dive sites are less busy and the water is still relatively warm.

                    In the winter months, the water can be as cold as 15°C, however, in a drysuit or appropriate exposure gear, the water is still pleasant and you can have dive sites all to yourself!

                    Um el Faroud, the largest wreck in Malta. Split in the middle
                    Um el Faroud, the largest wreck in Malta. This shows the “crack” that splits the wreck into 2 pieces, bow and stern! Photo courtesy of Miranda Bowman.

                    HOW MUCH WILL I SPEND?

                    Most dive centers offer dive packages with the option of renting a full kit, or bringing your own gear, with the latter having a reduced price.

                    Two dives range between 85 and 100 Euros including full kit rental. If you want to go boat diving, there is usually an extra fee.

                    Open Water courses range from 420 to 500 Euros depending on the certification agency and dive shop chosen.

                    WHERE TO STAY IN MALTA FOR DIVING?

                    Malta has many hotel, hostel and AirBnb choices as does Gozo. Comino only has one hotel but most people do not head to Comino for an overnight stay. Staying in the busier cities (St. Julians, Sliema, Bugibba) is ideal for some but for those who prefer quiet, there are also great boutique hotels and guest houses in rural Malta and on Gozo.

                    Divers in the inland sea tunnel in Malta
                    Divers in the inland sea tunnel in Malta. Photo courtesy of Miranda Bowman.

                    WHERE DID YOU STAY?

                    I have lived in Malta for 2 years now and although rent is high in my opinion, the cost of living otherwise is quite low.

                    DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

                    I would recommend diving in Malta to anyone looking to try diving or earn their first dive certification!

                    There are dive shops all over the country with many specializing in specific languages (French, German, Spanish, Polish and more).

                    For those already certified, there are incredible sites for every level to enjoy. If you are interested in wrecks, diving in Malta is truly the perfect place to visit.

                    WHAT DO WE DO ON SURFACE INTERVALS?

                    There is a ton to do and see in Malta when not underwater!

                    Because the islands are all so small, it is very easy to see the whole country in just a matter of days. I like to spend my dry days hiking (Victoria Lines is a must-do trek for any hikers!) and visiting the abundance of gorgeous beaches (Golden Bay, Ramla Bay, Riviera, St. Peter´s Pool) Malta has to offer.

                    For those interested in history, exploring the ancient cities (Mdina, Birgu, Senglea) and visiting the famous temples are a must. The Hypogeum in Malta is the only prehistoric underground temple in the world! Throughout the country, you will also find a variety of restaurants and cafes to try Maltese delicacies such as pastizzi, fenek, bigilla and ftira.

                    Q&A with a Public Safety Diver

                    Emma Ong - PADI MSDT
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                    Q&A with a Public Safety Diver

                    David Barile is a Public Safety Diver and a Deputy Sheriff in California, USA. One of his main duties includes coordinating underwater search and recoveries. Here he talks about his duties as a PSD and how he entered the industry.

                    Tell us about your current role.

                    My current job title is Deputy Sheriff. I was sworn in as a deputy sheriff in 1997. During the last 23 years, I have held assignments in our court security unit, uniformed patrol and robbery/property detectives.

                    One of my collateral duties is that of public safety diver on our Underwater Search and Recovery team. I have been on the dive team for the last 18 years. With the dive team, I am the senior diver and also a PADI certified dive instructor.

                    1 David Barile Public Safety Diver Closeup
                    David Barile during a training exercise. Photo courtesy of David Barile.

                    What is a Public Safety Diver?

                    A public safety diver is a person that is employed by a public safety agency, such as law enforcement, fire department or ambulance, and who is trained to perform underwater rescues or search and recoveries.

                    How did you get as started as Public Safety Diver?

                    I started my career path in law enforcement by completing the police academy. I was then hired by the Sheriff’s office where I completed my field training program. 

                    During my first assignment, I had a supervisor that had been on the dive team. Listening to him talk about his experiences on the dive team sparked my interest in learning to dive. I remember asking him what it was like looking for and finding a drowning victim in zero visibility. He told me, “It’s kind of like watching a scary movie, you know it’s coming, you just don’t know when.” At that point, I think I was hooked. A few months later I was told that there was going to be an opening on the dive team so I went to the local dive shop and obtained my open water certificate. Once a spot on the dive team opened up, I applied and interviewed for the position. I have been on the team ever since. 

                    David during LASO public safety diver training at an oil rig
                    David during LASO public safety diver training at an oil rig off the coast of Huntington beach Ca. Photo courtesy of David Barile.

                    What does a typical day look like for a Public Safety Diver?

                    We are not a full time team, meaning we all have other law enforcement duties and when there is a callout, we then change over to the diver mode and head to where ever the scene may be. When on a dive scene, the divers are prepping gear, setting up communications or loading up one of the boats.

                    What are the duties and responsibilities of a Public Safety Diver? 

                    There are 15 divers including me on the sheriff’s dive unit. When we get called out to a scene of a drowning, accident or evidence recovery, we will conduct a scene survey to see what will be the best way to conduct the search and recovery. We will evaluate the scene based on water and access conditions. We have different search techniques that we train in for different water types like still water vs current, deep vs. shallow, shore based vs. boat. 

                    While that is taking place, one of the divers will be assigned to interview any witnesses so we can get a firsthand account of what occurred. The witness will be taken back to where they were when they last saw the victim and try to give an exact location by using a swimmer in the water or landmarks.

                    Once a plan is in place then the whole team is briefed on what happened, what were are searching for and how we are going to conduct the search. Each diver is then given an assignment. 

                    For example, if we were going to conduct a shore search using a pendulum search pattern, we would set up a three-diver team with a line tender and communications officer. The three divers would be the primary diver, the safety diver and the third is the 90 percent.

                    The primary diver will be connected to the shore via a hardwire communications line. This serves as both a safety line and communications. The safety diver will be fully suited up and staged next to the line tender. He is also connected to the shore by a hardwire communications line. The safety diver can hear and contribute to all communications with the primary diver and communications officer. The 90 percent diver is staged on shore with all of his gear on except for his mask. 

                    Other team members that are not immediately diving will be assigned to assist the divers with getting ready, conducting safety checks, refilling air tanks or acting as downstream safeties when we are in moving water. 

                    If we are training I am a PADI certified dive instructor and my duties are to set up the training matrix for the day and conduct the training. I also complete all of the certifications for the new divers.

                    Recovering a boat from a fatal boat accident. Photo courtesy of David Barile.
                    Recovering a boat from a fatal boat accident. Photo courtesy of David Barile.

                    What skills do you need to become a Public Safety Diver? Are there specific courses for this role?

                    First and foremost, to be a public safety diver, you must be a member of a public safety agency, law enforcement, fire, medical.

                    For my agency, we don’t require you to be a certified diver, but it doesn’t hurt if you are. When we have an opening, we put out an agency-wide flier stating the requirements. The candidates are required to complete a swim fit test and an interview. Once you make it onto the team, I handle all of the certifications. Over the next year, the new diver will be certified from open water through rescue diver. 

                    There are specific courses that you can take to help with being a public safety diver. PADI, as well as NAUI, offers a public safety diver course. My agency sent me to a two and a half month course put on by the LA County Sheriff’s Office that was specifically for public safety divers. There are also companies like Dive Rescue International that certify public safety divers in search techniques, current diving, and salvage work. 

                    What equipment do you use?

                    Most of the gear that we use is standard recreational dive gear. We have two different suits, one wetsuit and a bio dry dry suit. We also have two different BCD’s. One is a standard minimal BCD and the other is a BIO hazard BCD. We use the Interspiro Divator mask with communication systems from Ocean Technology Systems. We have both through water and hardline communications. 

                    Can you describe the conditions you dive in; depths, temperature, visibility?

                    The county that I work for is inland, so no fun beach dives into the pacific for us. Inland diving locations consist of canals, rivers, ponds, and lakes, most of which go from a couple of feet visibility on a good day to no visibility on most days. We are used to diving in zero visibility because we train in zero visibility.

                    One lake in particular that we have several drownings in each summer not only has zero visibility but it has deep soft mud on the bottom and a type of weed called Hydrilla. The hydrilla grows in a band around the lake about 15 to 20 feet thick and is as tall as the water is deep, meaning if it is 10 feet deep the Hydrilla is 10 feet tall. It’s difficult enough diving in zero visibility water but when you add in a plant that wraps around all your gear, your arms and legs, it becomes dangerous…Continue reading

                    Read Part 2 of David Barile’s Interview

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