2024 Annual Public Safety Diving Conference
October 15-18, 2024
ERDI Introduction to Underwater Post Blast Investigations
Conference cost: $100.00 (Limited to 50 participants)
Includes: Conference Admission, T-shirt, Raffle Ticket, Social Beverage Ticket, Lake Entry, 2 airfills per day, 2 lunches, and awards banquet!
The event will include classroom seminar, diving, vendor presentations, and PSD competition!!
2024 Conference Schedule
October 15 Tuesday |
October 16 Wednesday |
October 17 Thursday |
October 18 Friday |
Welcome/Classroom (9 am at The Mammoth Room)
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Lake Dive Day (9am at Mammoth Lake Texas) |
Debrief (9am at The Mammoth Room) |
Team Competition (9am at Mammoth Lake Texas) |
Break/Lunch (12-1PM Not provided) |
Lunch Provided by Kenjo BBQ (12-2pm) |
Vendor Presentations (Lunch provided) |
Awards Banquet (12:30 to 2:30 pm at Guadalajara Grill) Raffle Draw (Must be Preset to Win)
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Classroom Instruction (1pm – 4 pm)
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Vendor Demo/Lake Diving (1pm -???) |
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Welcome Social at Hardin Creek (5-10pm) |
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Conference Instructor Staff
Eric Therkildsen began diving in 1998 with his father and brother. In 2007, he joined the Houston Police Department and became a certified Public Safety Diver in 2009. Afterwards, Eric joined the Houston Police Dive Team as a Part-Time Diver in 2009 and then a Full Time Diver in October of 2015. In March of 2015, he became a PADI Instructor and Master Underwater Criminal Investigator.
Throughout the years, Eric attended many training diving courses to understand the difference of methods and procedures being used by different dive teams and to keep furthering his knowledge about diving.
In 2018, Eric became an SDI and ERDI instructor and began focusing on ERD training courses since their procedures and methods were a better fit for the training needs of the local teams. Eric has taught Underwater Ship Hull Searching, Contaminated Water Operations, Underwater Threat Assessment, Explosives Recovery, ERD I and ERD II to the HPD Dive team throughout the years.
In 2020, Eric began his journey with the Houston Police Bomb Squad where he graduated from the FBI Hazardous Devices School in 2021. Since then, he has attended numerous schools for explosives including the FBI’s Underwater Post Blast, Underwater Search, and MOBT programs.
Eric is still currently enjoyably operating within the Houston Police Department on the Bomb Squad and Dive Teams.
Eddy Godwin has been with the Houston Police Department for over 22 years. He has worked Patrol, Gangs, Homicide, Major Assaults, Family Violence, and has been the Sergeant over the Dive Team for the past 9 years. He started diving in 2015 and quickly came to love it both professionally and recreationally. He became a Public Safety Diver in 2016 and has continued his training and knowledge quest ever since.
In 2018, Eddy became a certified Master Underwater Criminal Investigator and continues today to use those techniques and procedures to accomplish various dive missions in Southeast Texas. He has trained all over the country and has worked with various dive teams from around the country to further his knowledge about diving and the PSD Industry. Throughout his PSD career, he has utilized sonar and has become a knowledgeable resource on sonar technique for dive teams around the region.
In 2021, Eddy became an SDI and ERDI Instructor and started focusing on training his team in ERDI procedures and methods as those fit the team better. In doing so, several local teams now have come to the Houston Police Department for their training needs. Eddy is always willing to train with other teams and work together to enhance the mutual aid opportunities in our region.
Eddy remains the Sergeant for the Houston Police Department Dive Team as well as an active Public Safety Diver.
Sponsored By:
Venue Addresses
The Mammoth Room at VME Mammoth Lake Texas Hardin Creek
545 Wilson Road 330 N Dixie Dr, Bldg F 219 Parking Way St
Freeport, Texas 77541 Lake Jackson, Texas 77566 Lake Jackson, Texas 77566
Hotel Accommodations
Best Western Plus Courtyard Lake Jackson Comfort Suites Lake Jackson
702 TX-332 159 State Hwy 288 296 Abner Jackson Pkwy
Lake Jackson, TX 77566 Lake Jackson, TX 77566 Lake Jackson, TX 77566
(979) 529-2020 (979) 297-7300 (979) 297-5545
Mammoth Lake Texas also has an on-site RV Park available at $25 per night. Includes city water, electric (30-50amp), and city sewer. For RV Park reservations, email Maggie at info@divemammoth.com.
Note: To participate in Team Competition, you must bring your own equipment that is in good and serviceable condition!