Intent

Minimum Instructor Rating

• An active status Rescue Team Diving Instructor may conduct the Rescue Team Diver program.

Student Prerequisites

• Minimum age: 18 years old.

• Be a member of a public safety team.

• Complete the Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire and Physician’s Approval to Dive.

• Public Safety Diver

Duration

Depth Limitations

• Maximum open water depth limit: 12 meters.

Minimum Supervision

• An active status SSI Professional certified to conduct the program must directly supervise all academic and in-water activities.

• During the open water training dives, a diver tethered to a line tender is considered directly supervised as long as a qualified SSI Professional is directly supervising the line tender and all associated surface support personnel.

In-Water Ratios

Pool/Confined Water

• The student-to-instructor ratio is 8:1.

Open Water

• The student-to-instructor ratio is 6:1.

Proximity

• During the pool/confined water skill evaluations, the students must remain under direct supervision of the SSI Professional so that physical contact can be made at any time.

Requirements for Completion

• Complete all academic sessions and assessments outlined in the applicable instructor manual.

• Complete the program’s final exam.

• Complete the SSI PSD Water Fitness Evaluation.

Practical Application Sessions

• Complete all of the required skills while acting as Team Leader and Line Tender as outlined in the instructor manual.

• Complete at least three (3) pool/confined water session as outlined in program’s instructor manual.

• Complete at least one (1) open water training dive as outlined in the program’s instructor manual.

Sequence

• Pool/Confined Water Session 1 may only be conducted after the student successfully completes the SSI PSD Water Fitness Evaluation.

• Open Water Training Dive 1 may only be conducted after the student successfully completes all academic training and Pool/Confined Water Sessions 1 through 3.

Certification

Non-Diving Option

• Upon completion of all academic and land-based skill requirements, the SSI Professional may issue the non-diving version of the program’s digital certification card.

• This certification qualifies the holder to act as surface support personnel for a period of three years after the certification is issued.

• A non-diving certification card may be upgraded to a full Rescue Team Diver certification after completing all of the completion requirements for Rescue Team Diver (Diving Option).

Diving Option

• Upon completion of all academic and in-water requirements, the SSI Professional may issue the program’s digital certification card.

• This certification qualifies the holder to act as an SSI Rescue Team Diver for a period of three years after the certification is issued.

Update Procedure | Rescue Team Diver

Intent

Student Prerequisites

• Have an SSI Rescue Team Diver certification, or have held a valid SSI Rescue Team Diver certification within twelve (12) months of the update.

Requirements for Completion

• Provide proof of at least 18 logged public safety operations in the past 36 months.

• Provide proof of at least 6 logged public safety operations in the past 12 months.

• Complete the SSI PSD Water Fitness Evaluation.

• Complete the program’s final exam.

• Complete a Scuba Skills Update, including all emergency ascent skills.

Certification

• Upon completion of the update program, the responsible SSI Training Center must process the student in the MySSI System.

• The student will receive the applicable digital certification card. Certification is valid for three years.