Rules for the Public Safety Diver Competition

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1)   Current members of the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists (IADRS.org) can compete at "no charge." Competitors who are not IADRS members must pay a $25 registration fee that will entitle them to a one year IADRS membership, discounted IADRS conference registration and discounted tuition for Dive Rescue International training. Dive Rescue International is our corporate sponsor.

2)   Participants must register for the event with the understanding that only a certain number of teams will be allowed to compete. A registration form can be downloaded from this site. Participants must also sign a liability release form prior to participation. Participants understand that they are solely responsible for their own safety.

3)   Participation is limited to persons who are active divers on a recognized public safety dive team and certified to scuba dive by a recognized SCUBA training agency. A "recognized PSD team" is one that is dispatced through a 911 system or notified by a public safety organization.

4)   Participants must be 18 years old or older.

5)   For the purposes of the competition, two divers will constitute a “team.” The same two divers must compete in all events and no substitutions are allowed.

6)   Competitors will use SCUBA equipment that is mass produced and distributed for the purpose of diving underwater. This rule is to prevent “homemade gear” that might give a competitor an unfair advantage or which may be unsafe. Modifications to equipment that may allow an advantage over other competing teams is not allowed.

7)   Competitors will use conventional Luxfer 80, Luxfer S80, Catalina S80, Catalina C80 cylinders (or larger), with a tank height of at least 22 inches and a diameter of at least 7 inches. This rule prevents teams from using smaller or lighter weight cylinders that would possibly give them an unfair advantage over teams using standard 80 cubic foot SCUBA cylinders. If there is a question as to whether a cylinder meets the intent of this rule, the on-site judge reserves the right to substitute questionable cylinders with standard 80, S80 or C80 cylinders.

8)   Divers will terminate their dives with a minimum of 1,000 PSI (greater than 25 cubic feet of air in reserve).

9)   At the competitions hosted at the DUI "Risk Management for Public Safety Divers " events (see starred locations above) competitors will wear dry suits during the Equipment Assembly and Don. All competitors are strongly urged to wear dry suits and bonus points will be awarded to teams wearing dry suits. Environmental protection (both dry suits and wet suits) will cover the torso, arms and legs. Only the head, hands and feet may be exposed. Dry suits must be worn at the final competition in Charlotte and loaner suits are available to competitors who do not have access to dry suits.

10)  Divers will be equipped with alternate air sources (minimum) or redundant air sources.

11)  Competitors will assist as needed to assure the safety of fellow competitors.

12)  Equipment don rules:

a.   Competitors will begin with their dry suits or wet suits on.

b.  All equipment will be placed in a bin supplied at the venue. The regulator, tank and BC will be three independent and separate items; not pre-connected. At the designated time, competitors will move from a seated position and move to a pre-determined location where they will secure the BC to the SCUBA cylinder, attach the regulator to the tank valve, don the SCUBA unit and have low pressure inflator hoses properly attached to the BC inflator and dry suit inflation valve. The pressure gauge will be secured in such a manner that it is not dangling freely from the first stage. All second stage regulators (with the exception of full face masks and second stage regulators integrated with the BC inflator) must also be secured so they are not hanging freely from the first stage. The primary second stage may be secured or held in the divers mouth during the judge's inspection.

c.  The tank valve will be “all the way on” or within ½ turn of being all the way on.

d.  The SCUBA unit will not be donned using an “over the head” technique.

e.  Time will stop when the diver is in a standing position with all gear donned; LP hoses inflator hoses connected; pressure gauges secured; conventional style weight belt on (with right hand release, 6 pounds minimum lead in/on the belt); all buckles properly fastened; all straps adjusted to proper fit; both dive fins held overhead to signal the time judge.

f.   Both hands and fins are to be held overhead until the time judge completes the equipment inspection.

g.   A ten second penalty applies to each violation (each buckle unsnapped, each hose not secured/connected, etc).

h.   A fifteen second “bonus” will favor teams wearing dry suits.

13)   Surface swim rules:

a.   Divers will compete with all equipment in place (including gloves) with the exception of weights and the weight belt.

b.   Competitors will begin their swim at a designation location.

c.   One diver will simulate a victim while the second diver simulates a rescuer.

d.   On the first of two legs the victim will be pushed by the rescuer using a “fin push” technique. The victim’s fin tips and hands will remain out of the water. If the victim appears to assist the swimmer by kicks or arm strokes, a three minute penalty will be added to the time and a warning given. If the offense is repeated after a warning (second & third offence) additional three minute penalties will be added for each violation.

e.   At a point that is approximately 200 feet from the start point, the rescuer and victim will reverse roles.

f.   On the second leg (returning to the start point), the rescuer will tow the victim/dive partner using a “tank valve pull” technique. The victim will remain motionless with both fin tips and both hands out of the water. If the victim appears to assist the swimmer by kicks or arm strokes, a three minute penalty will be added to the time and a warning given. If the offense is repeated after a warning (second & third offence) additional three minute penalties will be added for each violation.

g.   The time will stop when both the rescuer and victim return to the starting point, both are upright in the water (standing if water depth allows) and both are touching the buoy or designated object.

h.   A thirty second “bonus” will apply to teams wearing dry suits.

14)   Arc sweep search pattern rules:

a.  One person will assume the role of the tender and the other will be the search diver.

b.  The search line will be attached to the diver via a quick release snap shackle and chest harness (provided at the venue). The diver will wear all appropriate SCUBA equipment and safety equipment including gloves.

c.  The tender will stand at a predetermined and fixed pivot point.

d.  Two “offshore” buoys that are approximately 50 feet apart and approximately 50 feet out from the pivot point will serve as the endpoints for the search pattern.

e.  The search line will have pre-tied “Figure 8” knots at five foot increments.

f.   The diver will search the bottom from a set location to locate a pre-determined number of items on the bottom giving appropriate line pull signals each time a target is located.

g.  The time starts when the diver submerges and ends when the diver reaches the second buoy at the 50 foot mark and gives the appropriate line pull signal.

h.  The diver must ascend adjacent to the buoy after making a SLOW, controlled ascent. A two minute penalty will be added for each target missed during the search, for ascents that are too rapid, and for ascents further than an arm’s reach of the buoy.

i.    A thirty second “bonus” will apply to teams wearing dry suits.

15)   Compass course rules:

a.   The course will cover a distance of approximately 200 feet and consist of several legs requiring a change in direction. Divers must attempt to swim each leg and are prohibited from swimming from the first point directly to the last point. Doing so will result in a disqualification for this event.

b.   Both divers will remain submerged during the entire course. If a diver’s head breaks the surface the team will not receive a score for this event.

c.   Divers will not spend more than 5 minutes under water. If the team exceeds five minutes under water they will not receive a score for this event.

d.   Divers must surface within ten feet of the last buoy on the compass course.

e.   At the last buoy, if either member of the team surface more than 10 feet from the buoy a five minute penalty will be assigned to the team’s total score.

f.   A two minute penalty will be assigned to a team that does not surface together.

g.   The team will need to tow a buoy to mark their location and limit their depth during the entire course.

h.   A thirty second “bonus” will apply to teams wearing dry suits.

16)  Points will be assigned based on the finish rank in each event. A team that scores first place on four events will have a score of 4. A team with two second place times and two third place times would have a score of 10. The team with the lowest overall score wins the regional competition. If there is a tie between scores, the timed equipment don will serve as the tie-breaker.

17) The team with the best score will win an opportunity to compete in the final competition in Charlotte, NC and receive complimentary IADRS Conference fees. The second and third place winners at the regional competitions are also eligible to compete in the final competition and the IADRS Conference fees will be reduced by 50%.

18) The IADRS Watermanship Test is added to the FINAL International Public Safety Diver Competition in September. A copy of the Watermanship Test can be downloaded at:  http://iadrs.org/media/IADRS_Watermanship_Test.pdf

19) Competition rules may be adjusted to prevent advantages not yet imagined by the rule making committee.

20) Diver safety and good sportsmanship are two attributes expected from all participants. The onsite judge may penalize a team if either attribute falls short of expectations. Penalties can range from a three point penalty against the team's total score, disqualification from an event, disqualification from a competition or ejection. Please remember that the goals of the competition are to learn, share information, enjoy the opportunity to network with other professionals and having a good time. With these goals in mind everyone can be a winner!