Fire Departments

What water hazards do you have in town? Do you know your

potential water hazards? If a water rescue was needed are you

prepared? Do you have a dive team or do your want to establish a

dive team? If you currently have a dive team, would you like to

bring your dive team up to the new Illinois State Fire Marshals standards?


We would like to extend our services to your department in

the Public Safety Diving field. On our staff we have two career

firemen who are active MABAS Division dive team leaders. They

are certified instructors through Emergency Response Diving

International (ERDI). ERDI is a nationally recognized public

safety diving agency accepted by the Illinois State Fire Marshall.


Our staff can put together a program specifically designed for

your department’s needs. We bring our services to your location, so

there’s no need to send your personnel out of district when hosting

a class. By using our training, we can keep taxpayer’s revenue in

Illinois. You will not send your personnel out of state anymore.

Besides instructional training we also help you develop SOG’s

for your department. Along with helping you continue your ongoing

training, we would come to you and set up scenario-based

incidents to simulate actual calls. 

Meet our three experienced instructors :


Patrick Hammer

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40 Years Diving Experience

Full-Time PADI Course Director

25 Years Public Safety Training

Certified PADI Instructor Trainer 1975

Medic First Aid Master Trainer 1980

Certified Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer 2004

Certified PADI Master SCUBA Diver Trainer 1974

Certified DAN Instructor Trainer 1988

Founder SCUBA EMPORIUM
1974



Matt Gruca

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12 Years Diving Experience

Full-Time Firefighter/Paramedic for 7 Years

13 Years in the Fire Service

9 Years Experience in Public Safety Diving

Palos Heights Fire Protection District Dive Team Coordinator

MABAS Division 19 Training Coordinator from 2004-2007

Currently MABAS Division 19 Team Leader (30 Members)

Certified as an ERDI Instructor in 2006

Certified as a SDI Instructor in 2002

Certified as a PADI Open Water Instructor in 2001

OSFM Water Operations Instructor

He has worked with and trained the following departments:

Blue Island Fire Department

Mokena Fire Dist

Orland Fire Dist

Palos Fire Dist

Palos Heights Fire Dist

Palos Park Police Department

Plainfield Fire Dist

...

Jason Martin

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6 Years Diving Experience

Full-Time Firefighter/Paramedic for 2 Years

7 Years in the Fire Service

2 Years Experience in Public Safety Diving

Palos Heights Fire Protection District Dive Team Coordinator

MABAS Division 19 Training Coordinator 2007- Present

Certified as a PADI Open Water Instructor in 2006

Certified as an Emergency First Responder Instructor in 2006

Certified as an PADI Master Scuba diver Trainer Instructor in 2006

Certified as an Dan Instructor in 2006

Certified as a SDI Instructor in 2007

Certified as an ERDI Instructor in 2007

Certified PADI IDC Staff Instructor in 2008

He has worked with and trained the following departments:

Blue Island Fire Department

Chicago Fire Department

Mokena Fire Dist

Orland Fire Dist

Palos Fire Dist

Palos Heights Fire Dist

Palos Park Police Department

Plainfield Fire Dist