Five Members Earn Master Underwater CSI Certifications

Five Gaston Fire & Rescue members have earned PADI Master Underwater CSI certifications, the highest level in the PADI Public Safety Diver and Underwater CSI training progression.

The newly certified members are Master Public Safety Diver Cody Cooke, Chief Ed Porter Jr., Divemaster Richard Whitby, Lieutenant Nick Johnson, and Assistant Chief Eddie Porter III.

The certification was completed this past weekend, but the work behind it took years. Each diver completed more than 400 hours of formal training, logged over 100 dives, and spent additional time practicing, maintaining proficiency, and responding to incidents.

Their training covered rescue, search and recovery, evidence and body recovery, vehicle recovery, underwater crime scene investigation, and other specialized disciplines. The progression also requires the experience that comes from working as part of a public safety dive team above and below the surface.

Public safety divers may be called into cold, dark, contaminated, and hazardous water where visibility is measured in inches or disappears completely. They train to search without sight, work around submerged vehicles and other hazards, recover evidence and victims, and remain connected to the team supporting them from the surface.

Gaston Fire & Rescue thanks PADI Master Underwater CSI Instructor Ronnie McLamb for years of instruction and support. The department also thanks Joey McLamb and Pro Scuba Center for their continued assistance with the team.

This milestone was earned one class, one dive, one training evolution, and one call at a time. Gaston Fire & Rescue congratulates all five members on the discipline and experience required to reach this level.