ERDI Public Safety Diving Training in Stuart, Florida

Build the diver, tender and supervisor skills your public safety team needs. Stuart Scuba offers ERD I, ERD II, ERD Supervisor, ERD Tender, ERD Dry Suit Ops and ERD Full Face Mask Ops training for qualified candidates and teams.

Illustration of an ERDI diver and tender preparing for public safety diving training in Stuart, Florida — Public safety training illustration.

Train the whole public safety dive team

A public safety dive depends on the people on shore as well as the diver in the water. Scene assessment, clear communications, equipment checks, a ready backup team and useful records all matter. Our ERDI course pathways cover those jobs, from a new tender learning line management to an experienced diver preparing to supervise a team.

We are based in Stuart and work with students and teams from the Treasure Coast and South Florida, including Port St. Lucie, Palm City, Hobe Sound, Jupiter, West Palm Beach and Vero Beach. Call (772) 600-8288 to discuss your team, current qualifications and training objectives.

Choose your ERDI course

ERD I — Emergency Response Diver I

The entry public safety diver course develops search, diver–tender communication, scene evaluation, evidence handling and emergency response skills. Entry requires an Open Water certification or equivalent, age 18 or older, and current emergency care and oxygen provider qualifications. The standard course includes four open-water training dives.

ERD II — Emergency Response Diver II

Continue with recovery planning, lifting considerations, encapsulation, documentation and team operations. Candidates need ERD I or equivalent and at least 10 additional logged public safety dives with a recognized team. The standard course includes six open-water training dives.

ERD Supervisor

Prepare to coordinate divers, tenders, scene resources and incident scenarios. Entry includes ERD II or equivalent, 50 logged public safety dives with a recognized team, current emergency care and oxygen qualifications, and a current diving medical examination.

ERD Tender

This is the non-diving pathway for surface support personnel. Practice line tending, communications, scene assessment, documentation, equipment support and decontamination tasks. The course includes practical confined-water and open-water training for the tender role.

ERD Dry Suit Ops

Develop dry suit control and emergency skills for public safety work, with discussion of equipment selection, environmental hazards and decontamination considerations. This ERDI operations component is distinct from the recreational SDI Dry Suit Diver course.

ERD Full Face Mask Ops

Practice full-face-mask fit, use, communications, mask recovery and alternate-air procedures. This ERDI operations component is distinct from the recreational SDI Full Face Mask Diver specialty.

How the training pathways fit together

ERD I establishes the public safety diving foundation. ERD II develops the next level of response skills and experience. Dry Suit Ops and Full Face Mask Ops add equipment-specific training. ERD Supervisor builds on the diver pathway. ERD Tender gives surface personnel their own practical training route.

ERDI offers Awareness, Operations and Technician participation levels. Online academics alone do not complete the practical Technician qualification. We will identify the intended course and certification level before enrollment.

Team training and enrollment

Send us your current certifications, recent training history, team size and the work your team performs. We will review prerequisites, equipment, training locations, the practical schedule and a written course quote. Training sites and dates are confirmed for the individual program.

Required learning materials and electronic certification are included with Stuart Scuba courses. Certification follows successful completion of the relevant academic, practical, watermanship and examination requirements. Specialized equipment, site costs and any other charges will be identified in your quote.

Public safety diving questions

Is ERDI the same as recreational rescue training?

No. ERDI addresses public safety team roles and response operations. Recreational Rescue Diver training does not replace ERDI course prerequisites or your department’s operating procedures.

Do I need to be a diver to become a tender?

The ERD Tender course is a non-diving program. Candidates still need to meet its entry requirements and complete the required surface-support practical training.

Can our department arrange a group course?

Contact us with the number of candidates and their current qualifications. We will build a course proposal around the appropriate standards, staffing, equipment and training conditions.

Does a dry suit or full face mask make every environment suitable to enter?

No. Equipment-specific training does not replace a hazard assessment, appropriate protective equipment or any additional operations qualification required for a particular environment. Team procedures and the limits of training remain part of the decision.

Where do the courses take place?

Stuart Scuba is at 3317 SE Federal Hwy, Stuart, FL 34997. Classroom and practical locations are confirmed for each program; contact us before arranging travel.