The Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) Dive Team Open Water Certification Course, was held last month.
According to Dive Instructor Chief, Ricky Collett, “The Open Water Certification Course is the initial step in becoming a CCFES Public Safety Diver. This is the first time this course has been instructed in-house by fire department personnel. This new program will increase the number of trained divers available to respond to water emergencies.”
Chief Collett and Dive Master Candidate, Capt. John Bennett, were the instructors for the course. Upon completion of the course, six CCFES personnel were certified as Scuba Diver International (SDI) Open Water Divers. The new divers are as follows: Capt. Jeff Adamek, FAO Brad McDonald, FAO Drew Turner, Lt. Joe Ray, FAO Brandon Watkins, and Lt. Philip Carlisle.
The course also consisted of online learning and over 20 hours in-water skills.
The pool and classroom portions of the class were conducted at the Cherokee County Aquatic Center. The final certification dives were completed in Williston Florida at the Blue Grotto Springs.