Photo courtesy of Scott Foreman Participants in the Dive Rescue 1 course are shown.

ESCANABA — Local and regional divers from Michigan spent a recent weekend training to become public safety divers. The training, hosted by the Delta County Sheriff Dive Rescue Team, was taught by Dive Rescue International instructor Scott Foreman. Foreman, a fire chief in Henderson, Ken., and a corporate trainer for Dive Rescue international, flew in to conduct the training. The training included divers from Delta, Dickinson and Grand Traverse counties.

Divers spent time in the classroom learning the basics of Public Safety Diving, before moving to the pool at the YMCA to apply those basics in a controlled water environment. n addition, divers were required to demonstrate proficiency of basic scuba skills.

Day two started in the classroom before moving to the open-water environment near the Escanaba Harbor area.

“The objective for moving into the harbor is two-fold,” says Jonathan Smith, director of the Delta County Dive Rescue Team. “We have a fairly controlled environment with 15-20 feet of water for safety; and we have dark, murky water with poor visibility.”

Students were able to apply what they learned in the classroom to an environment very similar to what they will experience in a real rescue/recovery operation. Typically, recreational divers are accustomed to decent visibility. Since most divers begin as recreationally certified divers, the transition to an environment where there is limited or no visibility, is quite unnerving.

“The goal is to teach them to work as a team and build the skills necessary to run a successful operation,” said Foreman.

On the third and final day of training, divers were briefed with details of a realistic mock scenario. They were expected to respond to, and manage the scene. This activity is a culmination of the entire weekend and allows students to practice what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it in a stressful and chaotic environment, often present on-scene. Upon completion of field exercises, divers returned to the classroom for testing.

This was one of a number of trainings hosted by the Delta County Dive Rescue Team and Dive Rescue International over the years. The course was initially scheduled for May, but had to be rescheduled twice due to COVID concerns.

“I spoke at length with Sheriff Oswald and we decided to hold the August training as scheduled as it was deemed essential to our community.” said Smith. This urgency was also due to the handful of divers who registered from Dickinson County. “We’re helping Dickinson County rebuild their dive team from the ground up. We felt it imperative that we get their divers trained as Public Safety Divers as soon as possible. To cancel the training would mean that it would be delayed until next summer.”

Despite COVID concerns, both counties have seen a dramatic increase in water-related activities and the potential for accidents is always present.