Rescue divers must complete scuba certification courses and may need to undergo military or police training. They must also be strong swimmers and physically fit, and may need to attend first aid and emergency management courses. Some divers are employed by the navy and must complete basic military training.
Rescue divers are responsible for rescuing individuals and carrying out underwater rescue operations in oceans, rivers and other water-based locations. Someone who wants to become a rescue diver must first take a scuba certification course. Additionally, many divers are employed by government agencies such as the military, coast guard, and police force, in which case divers may have to undergo general military or police training. These positions routinely require candidates to undergo rigorous training and be in excellent physical condition.
In many countries, local or national government agencies organize scuba diving certification classes, during which participants learn different diving techniques. Typically, class participants must be strong swimmers, and in some cases, participants may have to undergo a series of swimming certification lessons first. Basic scuba diving classes are designed to teach people to dive for recreational purposes, so rescue divers typically have to attend a series of increasingly difficult classes, some of which are located in coastal regions. Throughout these classes, participants are taught how to survive underwater for extended periods, how to deal with varying water currents, and a variety of other skills.
In addition to completing several certification classes, someone wanting to become a rescue diver may also have to attend a first aid class. Students learn techniques such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other basic medical or rescue procedures that may need to be performed on individuals rescued from bodies of water. Many rescue divers also attend short courses on stress or emergency management.
Some divers are employed by the navy and these divers must first complete the same basic military training as other new recruits. In many cases, marine divers have to spend time working as crewmen on ships or frigates before they can apply for diving roles. Navy diving courses typically last weeks or months and participants learn basic diving techniques as well as how to respond to the types of underwater emergencies that military divers are likely to encounter. Likewise, someone who wants to become a rescue diver employed by the police or coast guard often needs to spend some time working in another position before applying for the scuba job.
Divers need to have enough physical strength to pull injured people or heavy objects out of bodies of water. Therefore, anyone wishing to become a rescue diver must be in good physical shape, and many employers require applicants for diving roles to pass rigorous physical fitness tests. Also, most companies have minimum age requirements for divers. People with minor physical disabilities, such as poor eyesight, high blood pressure and other illnesses, may not be able to work as divers due to the physically and mentally demanding nature of the job.
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