This course prepares public safety personnel to conduct organized, safe, and effective drowning victim search and recovery operations using Tow-Fish SONAR platforms and incident command best practices. Emphasis is placed on decision-making, documentation, interagency coordination, and hands-on application.

Day 1 – Foundation & Initial Operations (8 Hours)

• Course Orientation, safety, and PPE
• Stages of Drowning
• ICS for Water Operations / IC Checklist (IAP, Logistics, Ops)
• Initial Response Considerations
• Rescue Mode vs Recovery Mode / Decomposition Factors
• Law Enforcement Integration & Recovery Planning
• Case Studies, Images, Video Footage
• Lakebed Topography, Hazards, and Debris Fields
• Sonar Theory & Fundamentals
• Transom Sonar, Tow-Fish Sonar, ROV Multi-Beam
• Search Area Planning: Small / Medium / Large

Day 2 – Search Technology & Planning (8 Hours)

• Hands-On Equipment Drills
• System Setup, Equipment Configuration
• Personnel Positions and Responsibilities
• Boat Handling for Search Operations
• Mapping Systems, GPS Data, Documentation
• Working Topography
• Working Deep Searches, Entanglement Hazards, and Debris Fields
• Target Identification and Interpretation
•  Setting Baskets

Day 3 – Recovery Operations Scenarios (8 Hours)

• Multiple Full-Scale Scenario-Based Exercise
• After-Action Review, Lessons Learned, Course Closeout