Rescue divers are in charge of rescuing people and carrying out underwater salvage operations in oceans, rivers, and other bodies of water. To become a rescue diver, you must first complete a diving certification course. Many divers are also employed by government agencies such as the military, coast guard, and police force, in which case they may be required to complete general military or police training. Applicants for these positions are frequently required to complete extensive training and be in excellent physical condition.
Diver certification classes are held by local or national government agencies in many countries, during which participants are taught various diving techniques. Attendees must typically be strong swimmers, and in some cases, they may be required to first complete a series of swimming certification classes. Basic diving classes are designed to teach people how to dive for fun, so rescue divers must usually take a series of increasingly difficult classes, some of which are held along the coast. Participants learn how to survive under water for extended periods of time, how to handle varying water currents, and a variety of other skills during these classes.
Aside from completing various certification classes, aspiring rescue divers may also be required to take a first aid course. Students learn techniques like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other basic medical and rescue procedures that may be required when people are rescued from bodies of water. Many rescue divers also participate in short-term stress or emergency management courses.
The navy employs some divers, who must first go through the same basic military training as other new recruits. Navy divers are frequently required to work as crewmembers on ships or frigates before being considered for diving positions. Navy diving courses typically last a few weeks or months, during which participants learn basic diving techniques as well as how to respond to the types of underwater emergencies that military divers frequently face. Similarly, someone who wants to work as a police or coast guard rescue diver must usually work in another job for a while before applying for the diving job.
Divers must be physically capable of pulling injured people or heavy objects from bodies of water. As a result, anyone interested in becoming a rescue diver must be physically fit, and many employers require applicants to pass rigorous fitness tests before being considered for diving positions. In addition, most companies require divers to be at least 18 years old. Due to the physically and mentally demanding nature of the job, people with minor physical disabilities such as vision problems, high blood pressure, and other ailments may be unable to work as divers.