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Police Diver – Part 1

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Police Diver

In the first of a series of blogs, PC Steve Morgan talks about his work as a Police Diver for the Metropolitan Police’s Marine Policing Unit.

Prior to being a Police diver I held a PADI open water qualification. My diving generally consisted of ‘holiday diving’ in clear warm waters, surrounded by colourful coral and fish.  I’d been a marine officer for three years driving police boats on the Thames and responding to water related incidents within London (you have to be a marine officer to join the dive team).  An opportunity arose within the unit to join the dive team. I’d always enjoyed my diving and love new challenges. I was a PADI diver; how different could it be?! Having been successful in the application process I was soon to find how wrong I was to compare recreational diving with police diving.

I completed an eight-week police dive course (which is almost the same as a commercial dive course) in Scotland during winter time. Upon returning to the warmer waters (or so I thought) of London, I was welcomed onto the team to find a big ‘L’ sign on my locker.

My first dive was to search a pond for clothing connected to a murder enquiry. We were acting on information passed to the enquiry team suggesting clothing had been discarded in the pond. Visibility is almost always nil. We use a number of search methods, but most commonly a “Jack stay”, where we search along a rope with a heavy weight attached to each end. The weight gets moved an arms length and the process repeated, effectively zigzagging along the bottom of the search area. We search by touch due to the ‘nil’ visibility, and often elbow deep in thick silt.

As a new diver and keen to impress my new team mates, you’d be amazed how many pieces of clothing I found… or so I thought. Each time I surfaced I was holding either an old carrier bag, a clump of weed or a fishing net. I also had to contend with a discarded fishing line and hooks not getting tangled in my umbilical (we use surface supply wherever possible). We dive for approximately an hour at a time, but that first dive felt more like two. Nothing was found on that enquiry, despite the pond being thoroughly searched and cleared of its plastic bags by me!

We often dive at the request of HMRC for items being smuggled into the UK on the hulls of container ships. I recently experienced how scary it is searching the side of these huge ships and hearing the engine humming away as you approach the water inlet, hoping that the chief engineer has closed the valves that would almost certainly suck me through the engine if it was open.

Again on this occasion nothing was found, but we always respond to information submitted to our intelligence systems.

As well as searching for property, we also have the task of searching for bodies. My phone rang one Sunday afternoon (we work weekdays, but are available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week), calling me into work to search for a man who was seen to enter the water but not surface. After 40 minutes of searching, I discovered the man. Despite knowing what you are searching for, you still get a shock when bodies are found. A second diver joined me and the body was placed on a stretcher and covered underwater, prior to surfacing, to preserve dignity and evidence.

I completed over 70 dives in my first year, ranging from 2-18 metres. A year on, the sign on my locker has changed to a green ‘P’, so I guess I’m making progress!

Part 2 coming soon!

Discuss this blog in the Scubaverse Forum.

Steve Morgan is a police diver for the Metropolitan Police’s marine policing unit. He has been a police officer for 23 years and a police diver for just over a year. Steve is the newest member of the dive team and hopes to share his experiences with the Scubaverse audience on a regular basis.

Blogs

RAID: The Globally Respected Agency

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If you ever wondered what’s the exciting buzz around the RAID Diver Agency, we can tell you right here!

The prestigious Royal Thai Marine Police have chosen RAID as their trusted agency for their Underwater Operations Course.

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This intense and rigorous course is designed to equip the force with the specialized skills and expertise needed for all underwater operations, ensuring they are totally prepared for the challenges of their critical missions.

With RAID‘s comprehensive training, the Royal Thai Marine Police will be well-prepared to handle the demands of their underwater tasks.

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Why RAID? Truly Different?

The RAID philosophy is we are divers, not Recreational or Technical, just divers.

We all start with our first breath underwater with limited knowledge and experience. How much theoretical knowledge individuals may want is a personal choice.

However, when it comes to practical experience, there should be no difference to the required skill foundation and learning the fundamentals of diving is crucial.

With the roots of RAID International being founded in a technical background, the ethos is to provide all divers with solid fundamental skills of diving buoyancy, hover & trim which provide a robust platform for any future training in whatever direction they decides interests them.

How do RAID do that?

RAID conduct all dive skill training how you would use it practically. Perfect buoyancy with good hover and trim position.

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Other agencies teach you to sit on the bottom and do skills! Do you go to the bottom every time you want to clear your mask?

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Dive training in a class of its own.

RAID FREe-Learning.

No smoke and mirrors with RAID, there is nothing to hide.

Everyone can access any and all of RAID course theory and skills manuals online and downloadable without any charge or commitment.

Truly FREe-Learning

You bet that wasn’t popular with the book selling agencies!

If that wasn’t enough, additionally, all the skills videos, are available on YouTube with FREE access.

The core of RAID‘s ethos is to provide all divers with solid fundamental skills of diving buoyancy with perfect hover & trim providing a robust platform for any future training.

To enable that, RAID Professionals must have skills honed to the highest level, always performed with consummate ease and completely naturally.

To access the whole FREe-Learning library completely without any commitment or cost, simply register with RAID by scanning the QR code.

No one will contact you, you are free to download and peruse whatever you want to.

Should you decide you would like to know more or would like to take a course contact James at RAID UK and he will direct you to your local RAID centre.

RAID UK 
James Rogers
www.diveraiduk.com
info@diveraiduk.com
+44 191 4324644

RAID – A Global Agency

RAID has Regional Offices around the world all fully embedded in the governing bodies of diver training.

WRSTC Member USA, ERSTC Member EU, Worldwide ISO Certified, RTC founding member.

RAID Dive Centres are in all corners of the UK!

All ready to offer divers and beginners a friendly welcoming new standard of service. Whether you are ready to take your first breath or an experienced exploration diver, make visiting a RAID Dive Centre your next step.

Here are just a few suggestions.

Bay Divers
Swansea
www.baydivers.co.uk
+44-7859-018970

West Coast Diving
Kilmarnock
www.westcoastdiving.co.uk
+44-7904-539512

SevernTec Diving
Shrewsbury
www.severntecdiving.com
+44-1939-291303
 
 
 
 
Pirates Dive Club
Tyne and Wear
www.piratesdiveclub.co.uk
+44-7969-825646
 
 
 
 
 
Dive South
Poole
www.divesouth.co.uk
+44 7976 392686
 
 
 

RAID – Holiday Destinations

Looking to take a dive trip with your club or personally, here are just a few popular RAID dive holiday destination ideas for the UK based diver.

Egypt 
Maldives 
Bali 
Thailand 
South Africa 

Click to contact the Regional Office for a full list of dive destinations in that region.

EGYPT

Pharaoh Dive Club
Roots Red Sea, El Quseir, Egypt
info@pharaohdiveclub.com
www.pharaohdiveclub.com
+20 10068 22000

Multi award winning centre offering special ‘Dive & Stay’ packages

Scuba Dreamer Diving College
Park Regency, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
www.scubadreamer.it
info@scubadreamer.it
+20 122 7150550

Based at Park Regency & Beach Promenade providing a full 5* package

MALDIVES

Fehivina Dhangethi &
Dhodhi – Dhiffushi – North Male’ Atoll

www.scubadivinemaldives.com
scubadivinedhangethi@gmail.com
scubadivinedhiffushi@gmail.com
+96 07913075

Range of accommodation options available

Jerrys Dive Club
Rasdhoo, Maldives
www.jerrysdiveclub.com
hello@jerrysdiveclub.com
+960 772 7876

Stay at Jerry’s Guest House

BALI

Prana Dive
Kabupaten Karaangasem, Bali, Indonesia 
www.pranadive.com
info@pranadive.com
+62 813 3877 5345

Why not stay with us at Teratai Boutique Resort

THAILAND

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Roctopus Dive
Ko Tao, Thailand
www.roctopusdive.com
‍info@roctopusdive.com
+66 99 470 4566 
Not just a dive centre; a vibrant community of ocean enthusiasts deeply rooted in the tropical waters of Koh Tao.
 
Roctopus Dive excels as a premier dive center on Koh Tao, celebrated for our exceptional partnership with RAID dive training. With a robust focus on professionalism and safety, we’ve cultivated a team renowned for their dedication to diver safety and education.
 
 

SOUTH AFRICA

Adventure Mania
Sodwana Bay, South Africa
www.adventuremania.co.za
info@adventuremania.co.za
+27 82 653 7824

Adventure Mania takes pride in providing personalised, eco-conscious dives that highlight the beauty of protected coral reefs and marine life. This family diving business, nestled within a Marine Protected Area, offers a diving experience that is as educational as it is exhilarating.

Adventure Mania’s expert instructors and staff have a deep-rooted passion for ocean conservation. They not only guide divers through breathtaking underwater landscapes but emphasise the importance of marine preservation. Teaching diving with Adventure Mania goes beyond imparting technical skills; it embraces fostering a respect for the ocean.

ScubaCo
Durban, South Africa
www.scubaco.co.za
info@scubaco.co.za
+27 79 779 4242

ScubaCo is a boutique RAID Dive Centre operating on the Kwa-Zulu Natal coastline of South Africa. ScubaCo are specialists in both shark and reef diving as well as featuring the annual Sardine Run migration as they are so well positioned to offer the best of the best.

Many clients enjoy our wonderful packages with ScubaCo Guest House accommodation coupled to amazing dive options – Shark Diving, Big 5 Safari & Diving the Sardine Run.

This destination is a must for every Diver and should be on your bucket list for dive travel.

Make sure to add Aliwal Shoal to your next Diving holiday and let Tamara and her team take fantastic care of you while in South Africa.

Dive & Travel the RAID way

When you see the RAID emblem at a dive centre around the world you can be assured that the  highest standards of diver training are being provided, knowing all RAID professionals have met the testing criteria to achieve their professional rank.

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Blogs

The BiG Scuba Podcast Episode 180: Dawn Kernagis

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Dawn Kernagis

Gemma and Ian chat to Dawn Kernagis.  Dawn joined DEEP in 2023 as the Director of Scientific Research.   DEEP is an ocean technology and exploration company with a mission to ‘Make Humans Aquatic.’ DEEP’s undersea habitat and submersible systems, combined with multi-phased diver and human performance training, will create the next evolution of subsea science, research, and exploration capabilities.   Dawn is a NASA-trained NEEMO Aquanaut, Explorer’s Club Fellow and Women Divers Hall of Fame Inductee and who is also tasked to establish DEEP’s first US presence in North Carolina.   Dawn has also been a diver with numerous underwater exploration, research, and conservation projects since 1993, including the mapping and record-setting exploration of some of the deepest underwater caves in the world.

https://www.deep.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-kernagis-995383152/

The BiG Scuba Podcast is brought to you by Narked at 90.   “Beyond Technical”   Narked at 90    If you are thinking of moving across to tech diving or completely new to diving, Narked at 90 can advise and guide on the best equipment and set up for your personal or commercial requirements  https://www.narkedat90.com/.  There is currently a code for you to use for purchases and the code is  BIGSCUBA2024.

If you are interested in the INSTA360 action camera we discussed then please click this link:   https://www.insta360.com/sal/x3?utm_term=INRAI8S

We hope you have enjoyed this episode of The BiG Scuba Podcast.  Please give us ★★★★★, leave a review, and tell your friends.   Contact Gemma and Ian with your messages, ideas and feedback via The BiG Scuba Bat Phone    +44 7810 005924   or use our social media platforms.   To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us:

We are on Instagram                     @thebigscuba

We are on Facebook                      @thebigscuba

We are in LinkedIn                          https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian%F0%9F%A6%88-last-325b101b7/

The BiG Scuba Website                  www.thebigscuba.com

Amazon Store :                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thebigscuba

Visit   https://www.patreon.com/thebigscubapodcast and subscribe – Super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.

🎧You can listen to the BiG Scuba Podcast on all major podcast platforms including …. iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify and Stitcher 😀.  ISSN Number 2752-6127

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