The evidence discovered at underwater crime scenes must be handled with the same attention to proper chain of custody procedures as with any other type of investigation. Improper handling of these scenes can lead to evidence being lost, unrecognizable, destroyed, contaminated, or rendered inadmissible at the time of trial. Updated and expanded, Underwater Forensic Investigation, Second Edition presents a comprehensive approach to the processing of an underwater crime scene and the steps necessary to conduct the operation. The book summarizes the history, physics, and laws applicable to underwater investigations and includes topics such as team formation, roles, deployment, and accountability. Explaining procedures that can make a true difference in the final outcome of water-related incidents, the author also debunks myths associated with submerged evidence. This second edition contains several new chapters on photography, contaminated sites, preservation of evidence, and release of the crime scene, and includes expanded information on death investigation and organizing the dive team. Nearly 100 color illustrations supplement the text. The science of water-related investigations is still in its infancy, and hence, the field needs accurate and useful sources of education. This text will assist law enforcement professionals and those in other areas of public safety in gaining the knowledge that has historically been lacking. The incorporation of the procedures presented will enable those tasked with working these scenes to develop a greater degree of professionalism, objectivity, thoroughness, and accuracy relating to the investigation of water-related incidents—increasing the chance for successful resolution of these difficult cases.

The first book of its kind to provide comprehensive training open water course instruction, this work is the official course text for a PADI approved Distinctive Specialty course. The text has also been used by law enforcement divers throughout the U.S. and the world.The book provides detailed information on organizing, training and specialized equipment, as well as establishing and protecting crime scene boundaries, underwater navigation, search patterns, light salvage technique, locating, preserving and processing evidence recovered from underwater.Guidelines are provided in processing boats, planes and submerged autos, underwater crime scene sketches, photography and more.

This guide was developed by a PADI Master Instructor for use in training police divers for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.A PADI Distinctive Specialty Certification was authorized for students completing the course and a Specialty Instructor's Certification can be obtaind from PADI using the Instructor's Certification Guide available from the California Investigative Academy.This course and the Guide was designed to be used in conjunction with the Underwater Crime Scene Investigation textbook, which was the first book of its kind to provide comprehensive training open water course instruction. The companion textbook has also been used by law enforcement divers throughout the U.S. and the world.The Instructor's Guide book provides detailed information on course standards, requirements & prerequisites, equipment requirements, certification requirements, course schedule, academic modules, open water training modules, outlines, written test & the entire text of the course textbook "Underwater Crime Scene Investigation" by Eric Tackett.Instructions and assistance are available separately for PADI Instructors wishing to obtain a Distinctive Specialty Instructor's rating in underwater crime scene investigation. With this rating, a qualified PADI instructor can certify students in this specialty.

The Water's Edge is the most in-depth manual ever written on police diving techniques and is written by one of the most experienced public safety divers in the world. Mike Berry is one of the world's leading trainers and authorities in Public Safety Diving and specializes in teaching others how to succeed and survive in this ever demanding and challenging profession. Mike is recognized internationally as a Master Underwater Criminal Investigator and one of the most experienced Public Safety Divers/Underwater Criminal Investigators in the world with 40+ years of active service.This manual is based on his 2,000 plus underwater operations and covers topic like: - Diver Readiness- Equipment Readiness- Information Readiness- Establishing your Crime Scene- Interview Techniques- Crime Scene Photography and Sketching- Advanced Underwater Communications- Medical Aspects- Search Patterns- Location and Marking Evidence- Evidence Recovery and Preservation- The Oxidation Process- Metal Preservation- Non-Metal Evidence Preservation- Submerged Fingerprints- Touch DNA- Body Movement and Body Recovery- Underwater Body Bagging Techniques- Chemical and Polluted Water Diving- Light and Heavy Salvage- Vehicle Recovery- Case Preparation- Courtroom TestimonyThe manual is written as if Mike is talking to you personally on how to conduct criminal investigations underwater and the steps needed to become a true professional in this field of investigations.

From the Back Cover: The fundamental concept of Underwater Forensic Investigation is the knowledge that submerged evidentiary items do not necessarily lose their forensic value, and that in some instances water serves as a preservative. Underwater Forensic Investigation presents the most current thinking on processing underwater crime scenes, and the foundations set forth are the procedures that have accompanied underwater investigations from its very inception.