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San Marcos Area Recovery Team

Associations Organisation Scuba Diving (English)

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Company description SMART became a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization in 1997 and was incorporated into the South Hays Fire Department in June 2004. SMART combines the unique skills of police officers, fire-rescue, and EMS trained personnel with the field of search and recovery diving to form a specialty team of investigators above and below the water. SMART specializes in evidence recovery and documentation of the underwater scene with advanced video technology. This is a highly trained dive team that includes dive instructors, dive masters, underwater archeologist, specialty-advanced divers, haz-mat specialist, swift water rescue, deep technical, topside technicians, K9 handlers, and cave divers.
It is the primary mission of the San Marcos Area Recovery Team (SMART) to assist law enforcement agencies with underwater search, recovery, and evidence processing and documentation of the underwater crime scene. Our secondary missions include: providing services to individuals, non-profit organizations, governments, community service groups, public service agencies, and other entities with; lake and river clean up projects, underwater cave restoration and exploration, underwater archeology, scientific dive operations, underwater survey and photography, water sampling, recovery, and other underwater related operations that provide benefits to the community as needed. SMART will respond throughout the State of Texas.
Initiating a response
Unless exigent circumstances exist, SMART operations will be scheduled for daylight hours, during suitable weather, and under conditions which minimize the risk to SMART personnel. All SMART members will be called and notified of each operation unless special circumstances exist which limit the number of SMART members who can be present at the scene. Unless otherwise directed, SMART personnel should wear SMART uniforms and shirts and meet the designated time and place indicated on the alpha-numeric pager. Whenever possible, EMS personnel having jurisdiction at the operation location, will be notified of the operation and be requested to ``standby`` on location throughout the SMART operation. Vehicle and boat operations will be performed by those members who are in good standing and have shown proficiency in the operation of such equipment.

Scene assessment
On location, SMART personnel will sign in on the roster sheet and will be directed by the dive team leaders. Team leaders will gather intelligence information from witnesses, the requesting agency, and/or other sources to determine the risk benefit factor and type of operation to be performed. The benefits of the evidence and recovery operation is balanced against the risk of the dive operation to determine if the operation is safe to perform with minimum acceptable risk to SMART personnel. Usual hazards include petroleum products from vehicles, entanglements, depth, darkness, fishing lines and hooks, debris, black water visibility, contaminated water, wildlife, and currents. Since each operation is unique, a risk benefit factor is performed at each scene to determine if SMART will perform the operation. The on scene dive commander will have the final decision as to the operations of SMART personnel.

Operations
If the risk benefit factor is in favor of the operations, team leaders will conduct a pre-dive briefing with SMART personnel to plan and coordinate the operation. Each SMART member participating in the operation will have a specific assignment. Assignments will be determined by the on scene commander according to the skill level of the diver or support person, special qualifications, necessary equipment, and needs of the operation. The operation is then initiated under the direction of the dive team leaders. The entire operation will be performed using the established SOP and general rules of evidence as a guideline for the specific type of operation.
Location description: We offer Cave Diving Training
The best way to become a safe cave diver is to first become a certified scuba diver and to accumulate open water diving experience. Then seek out a cavern and cave diving course. Do not attempt to go cave diving without first acquiring cave diving training. Remember, the vast majority of cave diving fatalities were untrained in cavern or cave diving, and were making one of their first cave dives. Remember also that reading a book about cave diving is no substitute for the in-water training and skills you will acquire under the expert guidance of an experienced, certified cave diving instructor.
A highly experienced and seasoned cave diver once said that to go from visiting an open water reef to exploring an underwater cave -- while causing the minimum damage to both the diver and the fragile cave environment -- requires a quantum leap in experience and expertise. The NSS-CDS and the NACD have developed the following courses designed to provide you with the skills necessary to begin to cave or cavern dive safely. Levels:
*Cavern Diver
Many of the most interesting features of the cave can be found within the ``cavern,`` that area of the cave which receives surface light. The objective of the course is to introduce the student to the cave environment using virtually all regular open water equipment. Lasting a single weekend, the course covers the cavern environment, techniques, and philosophy. It also includes in-water practice of safety and emergency procedures, and three cavern diving sessions.
*Introduction to Cave Diving
This course is for those cavern divers who wish to explore beyond the cavern zone, but are not ready to undertake a full cave diving course. It lasts one weekend and emphasizes the skills and equipment necessary to dive that portion of a cave accessible on a single-tank air supply.
*Cave Diver Courses: Apprentice Cave Diver, Full Cave Diver
A two-stage program encompassing approximately 4 days or more of highly specialized, private instruction in which the student is taught the fundamental and more advanced aspects of cave diving, including complex dive planning, advanced guideline protocols, surveying and cartography, and stage diving (diving beyond the normal limits of a dual-cylinder air supply). Completion of both stages of the Cave Diver program is highly recommended before the student attempts any unsupervised complex cave dives.
*Conservation
You can choose between risking your life and cave diving safely, but the cave has no choice -- it`s there, and it and the surrounding property are vulnerable to vandalism. Caves have unique scientific, recreational and aesthetic values that should be preserved for future generations to study and enjoy. NSS-CDS members must pledge to do nothing that will deface, mar, or otherwise spoil the natural beauty and life forms in caves.

Website: Preview http://www.smartdivers.com by Thumbshots.org http://www.smartdivers.com
SMART Divers was organized to assist public service agencies and organizations with underwater search, recovery, and crime scene investigations.

Contact information:

Phone: (512) 353-1671
Street Address:
1401 West San Antonio Street
San Marcos
Texas
United States
78666
Spoken language(s): English
Open: from 09-00 till 17-00
Local time:  GMT - 6 Mexico, Monterrey, Guadalajara
Note: No guarantee is made to the accuracy of these details.

If you are a representative of San Marcos Area Recovery Team , you may update your options or details in our scuba diving directory. Please use contact form or email us at info@divingfinder.com.


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