Tender Ops Course

ERDI Tender Ops Course: The Unsung Hero of the Dive Team

The tender is the lifeline for a public safety diver – the crucial link between the diver and the surface. The ERDI Tender Ops Course provides the specialized training needed to excel in this demanding, non-diving role. This isn't just about holding a rope; it's about being a proactive, knowledgeable, and indispensable member of the dive team.

This course is for any team deploying divers, and for individuals who want to be prepared to support diving operations. You'll learn:

• Team Structure: Understand the roles and responsibilities within a public safety dive team.
• Effective Communication: Master line signals and electronic communication techniques to stay connected with the diver.
• Diver Safety: Learn how to choose the right diver for the conditions, calculate air consumption, and monitor the diver's well-being.
• Scene Evaluation and Documentation: Develop skills in assessing the dive scene, mapping, and documenting operations.
• Proper PPE for Tenders: Understand the personal protective equipment needed for tenders and how to use it effectively.
• Crime Scene Recognition: Learn to identify and preserve potential evidence at an underwater scene.
• Search Patterns: Understand how search patterns are used and how to support divers conducting them.
• Decontamination Procedures: Learn proper decontamination procedures for equipment and personnel.

You'll gain hands-on experience in both confined water and open water settings, mastering tending skills and working as part of a team. The most experienced divers may even fill this role.

What You Get: Upon successful completion, you'll be a more valuable and prepared member of your public safety dive team, ready to provide critical support in any situation.

Key Topics:

• Team structure
• Effective communication with the diver (line signals, electronic communication)
• Diver safety (choosing the right diver, air consumption calculations)
• Mapping and documentation
• Scene evaluation
• Proper PPE for the tender
• Crime scene recognition
• Search patterns
• Decontamination procedures
• Confined water session (4 hours minimum)
• Open water training (6 hours minimum)

Outcomes: 

• Increased team capabilities
• Improved preparedness for dive operations.