ERDI Contaminated Water Operations
Develop the operational knowledge and practical skills required for public safety diving operations in contaminated and hazardous water environments
Duration
2 days, 4 dives
Max Depth
Dependent on operational configuration
Level
Advanced Public Safety Diving Operations
Next Step
ERDI Surface Supplied Ops / ERDI Confined Space Ops
Overview
The ERDI Contaminated Water Operations programme develops the knowledge and practical skills required to safely conduct public safety diving operations within contaminated and potentially hazardous water environments.
Public safety divers may encounter environments contaminated by:
- biological hazards,
- fuel and hydrocarbons,
- industrial chemicals,
- sewage,
- agricultural runoff,
- or unknown contaminants.
This programme prepares divers to:
- evaluate contamination risks,
- implement operational safety procedures,
- utilise encapsulation systems,
- conduct decontamination procedures,
- and operate safely within contaminated-water environments.
Training focuses on:
- hazard recognition,
- contamination control,
- diver protection,
- decontamination protocols,
- operational planning,
- communications,
- and emergency-response procedures.
At N9BO℠, this programme is delivered as advanced operational public safety diver training, emphasising procedural discipline, operational safety, contamination management, and real-world emergency response readiness.
This programme is available through all three ERDI role tiers: Awareness, Operations, Technician (learn more about ERDI role classifications and operational pathways on our main ERDI Public Safety Diving page).
Course Facts
- Course name: ERDI Contaminated Water Operations
- Level: Advanced public safety diving operational speciality
- Minimum prerequisites: Minimum age 18, ERD I certification (or equivalent), Current CPR, First Aid and Oxygen Administration certification (or equivalent), SDI/ERDI Dry Suit Diver (or equivalent), SDI/ERDI Full Face Mask Diver (or equivalent)
- Ratio: Conducted with controlled instructor supervision appropriate to contamination risk, operational complexity, and environmental conditions
- Configuration: Full encapsulation or contamination-protection systems, Dry suit system, Full face mask with communications, Redundant gas supply, Surface decontamination equipment, Tender and operational support systems, Public safety operational equipment
- Depth / environment: Contaminated-water operational environments, Black-water and limited-visibility conditions, Hazardous public safety operational settings
- Format: Knowledge development + contamination-control procedures + operational drills + practical operational dives + decontamination exercises
- Duration: 2 days, 4 dives
What You’ll Learn
- Learn confined-space operational hazards, risk assessment procedures, emergency protocols, operational planning
- Conduct tethered confined-space diving procedures, communications drills, restricted-access operations, diver/tender coordination
- Practice emergency egress procedures, lost-diver protocols, low-visibility operational procedures, confined-space team coordination
- Develop operational discipline, situational awareness, and overhead-environment procedures
- Apply public safety operational protocols within realistic confined-space scenarios
Prerequisites
- Be at least 18 years old
- ERD I certification (or equivalent)
- Current emergency care and oxygen provider certification
- Be medically fit for diving
FAQ
Contaminated-water diving involves operations conducted within environments that may expose divers to:
- biological hazards,
- chemical contaminants,
- sewage,
- hydrocarbons,
- or unknown hazardous substances.
Contaminated-water environments present elevated operational and health risks requiring:
- specialised equipment,
- encapsulation procedures,
- decontamination protocols,
- and operational safety procedures.
Yes. The course is designed around:
- real-world public safety diving operations,
- contamination management,
- and operational risk mitigation procedures.
Yes. Training includes:
- decontamination procedures,
- contamination isolation,
- diver-processing protocols,
- equipment management,
- and post-dive contamination-control procedures.
You will develop the operational knowledge and practical skills necessary to participate in contaminated-water public safety diving operations within the limits of your training, agency procedures, and environmental conditions.
Ready to Advance Your Public Safety Diving Capability?
Whether you are developing contaminated-water operational capability for your agency or progressing toward advanced public safety diving environments, we can help you determine the most appropriate ERDI training pathway for your operational goals and mission requirements.
Go Pro with ERDI Instructor
Train under operational public safety diving programmes delivered by an ERDI Instructor Trainer and continue progressing through advanced ERDI operational pathways. Develop the procedural discipline, operational mindset, and team-based capabilities required to function effectively within real-world public safety diving environments.
