Southern Marin Fire District & Alameda Fire Department Hosts Intensive Public Safety Diver Series with Regional Partners

Sausalito, CA – May 26, 2025 — The Southern Marin Fire District (SMFD), in conjunction with the Alameda Fire Department and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, concluded the 2025 Public Safety Diver (PSD) Training Series, conducted May 19–23. This extensive, scenario-driven training initiative represented a significant advancement in operational preparedness for the fifteen students representing various Public Safety agencies within the Bay Area. 

Instruction was provided by Instructor Sean Hidalgo, an accredited SDI/ERDI Instructor Trainer and Fire Captain with the City of Stockton. Possessing over 35 years of experience in public safety, Mr. Hidalgo offered exceptional expertise in emergency diver training, public safety consulting, and critical dive operations. His guidance facilitated a rigorous and realistic training experience for the students, designed to simulate actual underwater emergency scenarios.

The program commenced with a classroom module at Alameda Fire Station 3, addressing fundamental topics such as Emergency Response Diving, drysuit utilization, diving in contaminated environments, and the correct implementation of full-face masks. Subsequently, two days of controlled water training were held at the College of Marin’s Indian Valley Campus pool in Novato. These sessions emphasized zero-visibility entanglement protocols, underwater communication during search patterns, collaborative team operations, and specialized mission-specific skills.

The culminating two days involved open water scenario-based training exercises conducted in Alameda and Sausalito, during which students rotated through all dive team roles. They performed object retrieval exercises, vehicle submersion with occupant entrapment scenarios, and subsurface evidentiary recovery operations, all while operating from challenging ingress and egress points. All students utilized the apparatus of each Dive Team, SMFD’s Dive Tender-1, AFD’s Rescue 3, and the MCSO’s Dive Unit to carry out these complex operations.  “This series embodies more than skill enhancement; it signifies a dedication to fostering mutual trust and interoperability between regional dive teams,” stated Engineer Joe Frazier, SMFD Dive Team Leader. “Instructor Hidalgo’s expertise and professional demeanor surpassed expectations, equipping our personnel for the realities of emergency dive team response.”

The SMFD Dive Team operates with a clear and powerful purpose, below is the District’s Dive Team Mission statement:

"Our mission is to provide a safe and professional team that exceeds the expectations of both the community and our organization. This mission mandates that our members join an elite, highly trained, all-risk rescue and recovery dive unit dedicated to life preservation and the retrieval of those lost to the perils of any body of water.  We operate with precision, discipline, and unwavering commitment."

This was SMFD’s third multi-agency PSD course and serves as a model for continued regional collaboration. Each diver now brings increased capability and readiness to their home agency, enhancing coordinated responses across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dive Team Leader Joe Frazier extends particular gratitude to Sarah Paoli, Program Coordinator of Facility Rentals at the College of Marin, and the entire staff of the Miwok Aquatic Center at the IVC campus. Their support and flexibility were instrumental to the success of this class.  Furthermore, acknowledgement is due to Bay Model Operations Project Manager Taylor Baughn and Chief of Navigation & Structural Branch Adam Leach of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for granting full property access and providing comprehensive support with the vehicle dive prop.  Lastly, special recognition goes to ERDI Lead Instructor Sean Hidalgo, AFD Dive Team Leader Captain Mike DeWindt and Sergeant Donna Brickell, Marin County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team Lead, for their involvement and collaboration in making this class a success.

Southern Marin Fire District’s New Dive Team Members:

Firefighter Grant Ginilo

Firefighter/Paramedic Josh Scofield

Firefighter Jason Robinson

Firefighter Kevin Schwach

[ID: SMFD Public Safety Diver Instruction Bay Model Drowning Recovery.] 

[ID: SMFD Public Safety Diver Instruction College of Marin Indian Valley Campus.] 

[ID: SMFD Public Safety Diver Instruction Bay Model Drowning Recovery.] 

[ID: SMFD Public Safety Diver Series, Alameda Fire Dept, Southern Marin Fire, Marin County Sheriff Office, with SDI/ERDI Instructor Sean Hildago.] 

[ID: SMFD Public Safety Diver Instruction Bay Model Weapon Recovery.]  

For more information, please contact:
Kim Huff
Acting Communications Coordinator
Southern Marin Fire District
communications@smfd.org | 415-388-8182