26/10/2026
Competency in Underwater Search.
Is an underwater search of any use if it isn't effective? To be effective relies on it being competent.
Competency = Knowledge + Training + Experience + Skills
We've recently showed how low visibility it can be underwater, and why equipment such as Sonar is important. But equipment alone doesn't constitute Competency and Effectiveness.
As a voluntary organisation we have lower budget equipment then most who receive funding, yet we have a very high operational success rate. Why? Because equipment is only part of competency.
• Knowledge - Our Operators have 16 Qualifications in Sonar and Underwater Forensics, aswell as many hours of seminar and webinar learning. This has provided an understanding of how Sonar works, not just how to operate it. Combined with our In Water Qualifications this provides us with a large understanding of how to read different waterways, each and every waterway is different.
• Training - If we're not searching, we're training. Hours on the Sonar in different conditions and environments is the only way to understand what you're seeing on the Sonar. Making Training REALISTIC can be difficult,.and training shouldn't be result focused, training results don't automatically guarantee real life results
• Experience - With 19 years experience of Sonar Operating, 8 of those in Search & Recovery, this is the MOST IMPORTANT section. Competent and Effective Sonar operating requires 100s of hours of experience. It doesn't matter what the price of the equipment is without experience. That can't be gained by opening a box or a weekend course. Combined with the experience from the 100s of search operations we have conducted we've built an experience base that delivers results.
Picture 1 - AquaEye locating our team member during training
Picture 2 - Footprints in silt on a low budget system
Picture 3 - Underwater Structure
Picture 4 - Directing Diver to Manikin for recovery
