INDIANA— Two Indiana Conservation Officers (ICOs) have completed a rigorous series of advanced public safety diving instructor programs, significantly boosting the operational readiness of the state’s underwater rescue and recovery efforts.
Officers Logan Hodges, assigned to Crawford County, and Luke Tincher, serving Vermillion County, earned their credentials through Dive Rescue International, a globally recognized leader in rescue-response training. Their achievements provide key support for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Law Enforcement scuba team, which manages critical underwater rescue, recovery, and evidence operations across Indiana.
Hodges joined the division in 2014 and became an ICO scuba diver in 2016, while Tincher joined the division in 2021 and began diving in 2023. Both officers now rejoin a specialized statewide scuba team consisting of approximately 40 officers.
The critical need for this specialized team is underscored by their recent operational volume. In 2025 alone, the DNR scuba team completed more than 600 dives, which included:
- More than 35 body recoveries.
- 40 vehicle recoveries.
- Numerous underwater evidence searches.
- A wide range of specialized training missions.
A Rigorous Training Pipeline
All ICO divers are required to undergo an extensive six-week public safety scuba program. This foundational training secures certifications in Public Safety Diving, Dive Rescue Technician, Drysuit Diving, and Full-Face Mask Diving through a mixture of classroom instruction, pool work, open-water skills, and real-world operational scenarios. Divers also master high-stress specialties like Critical Skills Diver and Rapid Intervention Techniques to prepare for dangerous underwater emergencies.
Hodges and Tincher, however, have advanced well past the standard requirements. The duo earned certifications as Public Safety Scuba Instructors (PSSI) and Dive Rescue 1 Trainers (DR1T). These instructor-level programs require immense physical and academic dedication, including more than 80 hours of pre-course study.
To qualify for the instructor pipeline, candidates must maintain active rescue certifications, undergo medical training, document logged operational dives, and receive formal public safety agency sponsorship. Both officers also completed specialized “Med Dive” training as part of their progression.
Expanding In-House Training Capacity
By graduating from these elite instructor courses, Hodges and Tincher are now fully certified to train and license new Public Safety Divers and Dive Rescue Specialists directly within the DNR. This internal capability heavily enhances Indiana’s statewide training capacity, ensures strict operational standardization, and lowers training overhead.
Dive Rescue International emphasizes that its curriculum is built and taught by active public safety divers with real-world operational experience. Moving forward, Officers Hodges and Tincher plan to continue their education by pursuing additional instructor-level credentials in Drysuit Diving and Full-Face Mask Diving to keep Indiana’s team at the forefront of public safety diving.
