NAUI Forensic Diver Course 828-329-9911 scubanaui@gmail.com OVERVIEW This is a continuing education certification course directed towards Certified Scuba Divers with Advanced Training who desire greater knowledge and training as Underwater Crime Scene and Forensic Divers. This course emphasizes additional knowledge, diving skills, safety and management with practical applications designed specifically to provide Forensic Divers with advanced training and skills necessary to assist them during these types of diving activities. QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES Graduates of this course are considered competent to participate in Forensic Diver Activities, provided those activities engaged in and the areas dove approximate those in which the diver has training. WHO MAY TEACH Any active-status NAUI Instructor may teach this course who has successfully completed this course of training and obtains proper approval from the NAUI Training Department. PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE Age: 18 years of age Scuba Certifications by NAUI or a recognized training agency is required for each of the following: Scuba Diver Advanced Scuba Diver Underwater Search and Recovery High Altitude Diver (if diving at altitude) Rescue Diver Suggested additional scuba training before attending this course, to assist the students in completion of assigned tasks would be: Advanced Navigation Light Salvage Limited Visibility Diving Boat Operations Night Diving Underwater Search Patterns Buoyancy Control (will need to be very good) 1
Underwater Field Sketching Underwater Measurements Underwater Photography Nitrox Full Face Mask with communications Dry Suit Diving Cold Water Diving Underwater Photography Basic Underwater Hand and Rope signals Public Safety Diver At least some type of formal training in the Criminal and Civil Justice System before attending this course: Basic Evidence Procedures Basic Criminal and Civil Law Basic Testifying in Court Basic Courtroom Procedures At least 40 logged dives A log book or computer printout with students name will be required as proof of 40 dives. At least 10 logged dives in the last 12 months A log book or computer printout with students name will be required as proof of 10 dives within the past 12 months. Equipment. Student shall furnish and be responsible for the care and maintenance of their diving equipment during the course. All scuba diving equipment may be inspected by the instructor to ensure the scuba diving equipment will be sufficient for student to complete all aspects of their training. The followings items are mandatory. Members from the same department may share equipment: Underwater Digital Camera and Video Camera (the same camera may be used for both) Two 300 foot nylon tape measures Three underwater marking devices such as marker buoy Dive Slates: two 8x10 and two 3x5 One 25 pound lift bag Underwater compass for each diver. Checked prior to course for accuracy. Small Mesh Bags for recovery of evidence Evidence Tape Evidence Bags or similar style bags 2
Three rebar stakes, three feet in length with protective caps or eye-bolt style tops or like approved device Heavy Duty Rubber Gloves Medical Approval: No contraindications to scuba diver training or a NAUI Medical Evaluation Physicians Medical Approval completed by the first day of in-water training. COURSE POLICIES Ratios: Standard ratios apply (see Policies Applying to All Courses ) Hours: Academic: 24 hours are estimated. This includes classroom sessions, on-site discussions, briefing and debriefings as necessary to prepare for or conclude a dive s activity in confined or open water. Confined Water Dive: At least one confined water training session may be required to allow students to demonstrate their competency and proficiency of Basic Scuba Diving Skills. Any student who lacks Basic Scuba Diving Skills as determined by the instructor will not be allowed to continue with this course. Open Water Dives: Six open water dives are the minimum number required. Additional dives may be required depending on the dive locations, types of dives and skill requirements for each dive. One of the dives should be conducted in limited visibility water (less than 10 feet visibility). Students are required to successfully complete all assignments. Multi-dives may be required to complete each assignment. Mandatory Decompression dives are not allowed! All dives will be logged in a Log Book, checked for accuracy by the instructor and a copy kept in the student folder. ACADEMICS REQUIREMENTS The following topics should be covered in the academic portion of the training: Multi-Agency Operations Who is In-Charge How to get additional assistance Risk vs. Benefits Task Loading by Divers What is the cause How to reduce the stress on divers 3
Contaminated Water Diving in Low Visibility (less than ten feet of visibility) Diving in Dark Water (less than three feet of visibility) Diving after hours of Darkness Boat Operations Shore Operations Dive Briefings and Debriefings Underwater Search Patterns Handling Underwater Evidence Marking Underwater Evidence Permanently Marking Underwater Evidence Locations Photographing Underwater Evidence Recovery of Underwater Evidence Drawing Underwater Field Sketches Problems, mistakes and accuracy Scale drawings of Underwater Crime Scene Who to get to assist and what they may need Underwater notes on evidence and location Underwater Crime Scene Operations Interviewing Witnesses Record Keeping Evidence Log Chain of Custody Lead Law Enforcement Agency Who will make any Criminal Charges Law Enforcement Personnel District Attorney s Personnel Media Rescue Personnel Roster Recovery Personnel Roster Crime Scene Personnel Roster Completing a Underwater Case File Testifying in a Forensic Diver Court Case SKILL REQUIREMENTS Confined Water. Student is to properly demonstrate the following skills before proceeding to open water activities: NAUI Basic Scuba Diving Skills Open Water. Students are to demonstrate their competency in the following skills: General Skills to complete: Underwater Communications Proper Buoyancy Control 4
Low Visibility Diving (Less than 10 feet visibility) Working around Underwater Obstacles Light Salvage Skills Underwater Navigation Underwater Search Patterns Underwater Photography Handling Evidence Shore Diving Skills Boat Diving Skills Demonstrate Proper Use of Dive Tables Demonstrate Proper use of Computer (If using a Dive Computer) Dive Briefing Dive Debriefing REQUIREMENTS for Court Preparation: Students will complete an Underwater Crime Scene Case File. Have file ready to take to the Stand and Testify in Court as to the findings in the following areas which apply: Processing an Underwater Crime Scene: Date and time called Reason for call out Arrival Date, Time and Location Officer In Overall Charge of Operations Officer In-Charge of Dive Operations Dive Team Members and Job Descriptions Name of all Dive Teams involved Field Sketch Photographs, Digital and Video, of: Crime Scene Surrounding area Evidence Water Conditions Weather Conditions Description of any Specialized Underwater Equipment used Method of Search Description of Evidence and Location Method of Evidence Recovery Conclusions from Evidence, if any Conclusions from Location of Evidence about Crime, if any Measurements Triangulation Measurements Witness notes 5
Log Sheets: Rescue Operations Recovery Operations Crime Scene Operations Evidence Log Chain of Custody Divers notes on Underwater Crime Scene Completed Case File Case File will be graded for completeness and accuracy on a Pass/Fail score. Student may be required to Testify on the material in the Case File in a Mock Court setting. EXAMINATION 80% on the written final examination. 100% completion of all practical skills assigned by Instructor. 100% on the Case File. 6
Candidates Name: Prerequisites for entering Course met: Date Verified: / / Medical Approval Signed and Filed NAUI Waiver Signed and Filed Academic Training completed: Confined Water Skills completed, if required: Date: / / All Open Water Dive Skill Completed: Date: / / Case File Examined and Graded for Completeness and Accuracy. Final Written Exam: Score: % Course Completed: Course paid in full: C-card Issued: 7