Underwater search and recovery

[nb 1][citation needed] Underwater search and recovery used to form a mandatory component of the Advanced Open Water Diver training course for many North American diver training agencies,[nb 2] which, in addition to learning basic search and recover skills, also assisted in teaching students to cope with task loading.

[citation needed] Although the scale, value and equipment used in commercial and recreational search and recovery are enormously different, the basic premise remains the same in each case.

[citation needed] In simple search operations, the patterns will usually be conducted by the divers simply looking visually for the object.

Traditional search and rescue methods, which typically involve dive teams, face many challenges, including the safety of dive teams working in dangerous environments, time and depth restrictions, search inaccuracy, deployment requirements, and cost.

There are numerous benefits to using ROVs in Search and Recovery, including increased safety for divers, extended dive time, the ability to perform deepwater searches, advanced imaging and sensor capabilities, documentation and evidence preservation, and target recovery.

[citation needed] Similarly, small objects can be recovered directly by lifting by an ROV or crewed submersible with manipulator capability.[4]: Ch.

The most common hazard is entanglement with lines whilst filling the lifting bag from the diver's alternate air source.

This risk, when coupled with the possibility of rapid ascent following the freeing of the object from suction caused by it being embedded in the bottom sediment, can seriously compromise the safety of the recovery team if done improperly.

Search and recovery operations are part of the professional diver's working skill set, and will be included in entry-level training.